The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-05-26
ofDaniel mcfarland.
From the New York Standard.


The town-meeting over which Recor-
der Hackett has so long presided with pa
thence and dignity, adjourned yesterday
afternoon, amid what the reporters call
"a scene of wild excitement" Twelve
citizens had been selected because they
had not read the newspapers, knew moth
! ing definately of ali event which had ex-
cited New York, and did not belong to
the churches of Mr.. Beecher or Mr..
othipgham.--Thtse twelve men
had been summoned to pass
upon the guilt or innocence of another
citizen who had slain his fellow in broad
day, after having publicly threatened to
slay him twenty times during the past two
| years. Eminent counsel labored for
many days to show that he was insane
But the selected twelve paid no attention
to the evidence, and decided that he was
not insane; that what he did was in cold
blood, with clear, conscious intellect and
that although he took the life IF fellow
being, suddenly, without warning, he did
no wrong This was what the jury said,
and the declaration was approved "amid
loud cheering"
1t is hard to analyze such verdict, or
even to find logical reason for it. For
I if Dir. Vance and DR.. Hammond are to be
believed. Daniel Mcfarland was insane
so insane as to be totally irresponsible.
/ What we dwell upon are the dramatic
incidents of the trial We call it a "town
meeting" although it will be recorded IA
the books of law,-as a great law case.
i There were highly dramatic surround
ings Mr.. Spencer opened with speech
which would have had an immense effect
in some Republican headquarters. Mr..
Graham from the beginning addressed
himself to an audience far beyond the
court room,--the roaring public outside,
which had long since declared that his
client was the victim of Free Love COM
binations, and that he haG made himself
a proper defense with his pistol. The
court room was arranged with theatrical
effect There were so many fine points OF
bv-pay,-the wrath of Graham against
Davis,-the anger of Ludiow,-the pres.
ence of little Percy, who, beinga child Of
ten Years, it was necessary to have his
mature judgment on points of law. This
OR some more controlling rcason-must
have dictated the presence of child at
the denunciation of his mother He was
probably the only human being in that
strange co'npany, upon whose mind ST.
scene would make the least impression
He cannot live long enough to forget it,
and nthe course of nature after Judge
and jury, Prisoner and Counsel have
passed aW ay. he must remember, not with
out bitterness of spirit and deep pain, the
terrible declarations of his mothers
shame. Some strange wisdom must have
! dictated his presence, for all nature re-
volts against it. ~ lt'..
The release of Daniel Mcfarland is
| gratifying to us.--for with some know-
edge of his character and history, we be-
lieve he killed Mr.. Richardson in mo-
ment of frenzy The evidence showed
that he was subject to frequent attacks
bordering on mania. AS we understand
him, he was thriftless, dreamy, literary
man, with enthusiasms and strange as
pirations, --early moved by the teachings
of Fourier, and recently more given to
speculations upon Herbert Spencer and
J Stuart Mill, than to the more worldly
duty Of earning a living for himself and
family A man of Impulse ana high i'm
agination, whose life was in a land OF
dreams! Even his marriage showed this
for it was the marriage Of a man ripen
ed in life, to fresh young girl from the
mountains, young enough to be his daugh
terh 1t is not for us to go deeper into
. their married life, but he certainly loved
her, with an intense absorbing, frcnzied
love. We catch strange glimpscs OF
their union,--his fondness for his chill
dren,-the childish awe with which he
worshipped her,-the way he prattled
J about her beauty,-her accomplishments
and her probable success on the stage
) the extravaganza of his endearments,-
his frenzy and irresolution after the sep
aration, as though great blow had fall.
I, en- upon him, and he knew not whittier
to look for aid, his wanderinrs from
Tribune to Independent from friends to enc
t mics, if he had any enemies, which we
doubt, " his midnight strolls, his con.
slant pursuit of Richardson, his ever
dwelling upon his griefs, his uncertain
i ty and deep misfortune, = all of this
makes to US a strange, graphic, mourntul
character, more like one of Hugo's or
Balzac's creations THAI that of living
man. avHt fth. la""t 4st p ok5
! While This comes to us in sheer sympathy
for It man whose life and destiny has 50
much Of pain-we see the awful shadow
4 ofthe deed.lthat be did. He goes into
i the world free before the law, but the
4 man whose blood is upon his hands met
/ a double fate It is not merely that he
/ died a cruel, lingering death in the be-
4 ginning of a career that seemed full of
II pronise and duty, but his memory and
fthe reputation of.every one who knew
him has been subjected to.a moral assas-
Esihation almost as terrible as that which
took him to the grave. It was not
sIienough that Richardson should be slain
4 IWeasee gifted men laboring with all the
hpower ofgenius and strenuous industry
/ and elOnllnnce to nrnyn that fhis murder