The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-04-12
The Mcfarland Trial,

NEW YORK, April 1.-The Mcfarland trial
Drew great crowd to-day. The prisoner is
SUI accompanied by his son Percy.
mary Oliver, daughter of Frances McFar-
uncle OF the prisoner.
John Flynn, of the Westmorland Hotel, tes-
tlned to seeing Mcfarland the night of the
murder OF Richardson and to his being under
great excitement.
S. S. Mcguire testified that Mcfarland came
to his place of business few days before the
homicide, about revenue assessments, and APP
peared to be either insane or drunk. He acted
like crazy man.
Mr. j. NJ McLeath clerk of the Halls of JUS
tice, produced the records showing the COM
mtment of Mcfarland to the lunatic asylum
at Blackwell's Island as dangerous lunatlc.
John W. Billings testified to having known
the prisoner since 1851. Saw him about 4
o'clock in the afternoon of Nov. 25th. His ap-
pearance was different from usual. Asked
him if he was ill., and tried to dissuade him
from going to the New York Hotel. His look
was peculiar and was convinced that he was
not IN his right mind. He replied to my soli-
citations that he must be going, as the stars
would be out soou. He never met the prisoner
put he would talk about Richardson's seducing
MS Vile. His wife sometimes came into the
office, where Mcfarland had a desk. They
dear" my darlins.s The ' prisoner n Ht' always
spoke affectionately of his wife and children.
After returning from Boston, where he had
tried to recover possession of his children, Nc
Farland would come into his Office, sit down
and stand up. walk around crying and saying
aloud. 81 loved my wife; and ali! they have
taken her away" Mr.. Billings tried to calm
him, and thought he vas hardly rational. On
one occasion Nc Farland said be had rather be
in his grave than not have his children. The
thought OF his children having some other
father was uncomfortable and would make him
wild. He said he would have his children at
whatever cost, and had spent three thousand
or four thousand dollars to get them. He said
he instituted civil suit against Richardson to
show what robber and thief Richardson was,
but Richardson would use his wealth to defeat
him. Netherlands pulse was then up to 15U.
Mcfarland complained a great deal of his
head, and frequently bathed his head in water.
to bed. The witness met the prisoner on the
afternoon Of the 18th of November. His eyes
were rolling wildly and his mouth was twitch-
ing. On several occasions he asked McFar-
he would reply, My God! there is no rest for
ma this side OF the grave" Mcfarland told
him that he had been offered a consulship and
$4,000 to settle the suit against Richardson.
Joseph B. Nores testified that on the after
noon Of the 25th Of November, about o'clock,
Mcfarland frenzienly came into his Office on
Broadway. saying, my God! what do you
think? My wife has got divorce and is living
with Richardson. am ruined. I'll go home
and kill myself" Witness told his clerk that
uuCE OuSuG 10 Do semi 10 u luQdllC dSy-
lum. He considered the prisoner insane. His
appearance was that of man bereft of reason.
His conversation was wild and irrational, but
always on the same topic. He often threatened
to kill himself. He always spoke affectionate-
ly of his wife and children, and said it would
be death to him to leave them. He considered
Richardson the cause of his trouble. He said
that he could not sleep, as his brain was on
fire. Witness examined Richardson on the
7th of June, 1867, and c0nversed with him on
in Irlr tn Mrs. No md
Richardson said to him that she would never
live with her husband again; that he would
marry her the moment he could procure n di-
vOrce. He also stated that Mrs. Mcfarland
mined to marry her. Witness related the con-
versation to Mcfarland, when he tthe latter
wept like child and appeared completely dis
tracted.
The court here took recess for 20 minutes.
Merritt Wickham testified that he was an
examiner of merchandise. that prisoner was
formerly employed in the U. s. Appraisers Of
flee; understood he was removed from his ina
bihty to discharge his duties while in Office.
The prisoner had a habit of talking to his fing-
ers, muttering indistinctly. After 1867. he was
always talking of his children and in the most
affectionate way. He seemed to be very fond
of his wife. Never saw Mcfarland drink liquor
at that time; in his Judgment the prisoner was
not in his right mind.
Joseph O'Brien, policeman, testified that he
vember; saw the prisoner on the morning OF
the day Of the murder, between 12 and 1
O'clock. The prisoner accosted him and throw
ing up his arms said. 90 Brien. did you hear
the news? That rufian Richardson has mar
ried my wife and taken her and my children.
He has even changed the name Of my dear
boy Danny" He appeared quite distracted.
The prisoner was in the habit of walking on
his beat; never talked on any subject but his
wrongs and his family; often threatened to kill
himself Witness said tn him SMac If T uaa
you would not bother with that woman, and
he replied, so, O. Brien, you don't know how
have suffered" On another occasion McFar-
land told him that he had been offered $4,000
and consulate to give up his wife, and the
witness said, Mac, you are fool, I'd give up
such woman for 10000 cents; but the prison
er replied, II would not give up my children
for consuship to the Court of Heaven"
The Court then adjoured
During the afternoon Mr. Spencer withdrew
from the case for the purpose of conducting
the defense OF Edwin Perry, now on trial at
Brooklyn for the murder of Waterman Hayes