The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-05-05
The Trial OF McFarIand-.A c.

The Trial OF McFarland-A Gard
rom Horace Greeley.
Certain journals having seen fit to cen
sure the employment OF what they tetm
private counsel in the prosecution of the
Mcfarland case, and to connect my name
Herewith, | feeiz impel.ed to STATE tie facts
as they are, which was forbidden NE to DO
upon the witness stand
Daniel Mcfarland is on trial for the MUIR
der Of Albert u. Richardson. His defense
is insanity-the only defense possible, in
view Of the conceded facts OF the merits
Of that defense | was not called to pro-
nounca as witness, and | hare nothing TO
say in any other capacity. | trust the Jury
empanneIed will render a true verdict
thereon in the light Of al! the evidence that
may BE adduccd. | have not The f4ince-t
sish shat they should regard it with lcyiiy
or uniavorable prejudice. f>tecming the
hanging Of sane men mistake, | should
contemplate the hanging OF one insane with
! horror and whether his loss Of reason was
impelled BY truth Of fal>hooi makes no
difference in the eye Of the l1w My in
terest IN this case centcrs not in the living,
but the dead. Albert D. Richardson was
my friend; | Laye Travelled and campcd
with him, when We were almost alone upon
the vast solitude Of the plains, and knew
him as brave, generous and noble | new
or heard any one breathe a whisper 10 his
discredlt until this trouble arose. That he
could be guilty Of seducing wife from her
husband is contrary TO all | ever knew or
believed of him that he could deliberately
resolve to install woman known to him
as lcwd and wantoa as the mother Of his
children Is to NE utterly incrcditable
am sure that the truth which underlics
! this tragedy has not yet been told-at all
events, 1t Is not generally understood Rich
ardson is dead; lie cannot speak for him
self; his meuory Is to be vindicated by the
efforts OF his surviving friends, or not at
all and these efforts must be put forth
under great disadvantages. The other
story has possession Of the public ear :;
powerful influences and interests are en-
listed III It's support; every scoundrel who
! looks upon woman merely as an instrument
OF his lust, and never aided one in distress.
except with the intent to make her his
prey, PUSHES lnstlnctlyely to the conclusion
that Richardson was seducer; he wants
no evidence OF this bat such as he finds in
his own breast; and every one accustomed
to look upon a wife merely as specie of
property, whereof the title cannot be
alenated by abuse any more than if size
were horse or 4 dog, naturally inclines to
the same verdict.
Anxious that the whole truth in the
premises should be deyeloped. and that
my deceased friends memory should be
vlhdicated from unjust aspersion, | called
on the District Attorney, few days before
the commencement OF this trial, to ask him
# he desired any and IN performing the duty
a. Errl o-- l. J
seen Mr.. GaTyln since we were fellow mem
bers of the Constitutional Convention. and
had not communicated with him in any
manner. In answer to my inquiry, he said
he preferred to have an able counsellor as
ISOLATED with him in the prosecution. ana
named Mr.. Edward Pierrepont as such
counsellor. | called on Mr.. PieTcpont ac-
e0rdingiy, but he was obliged 10 try impor-
tant cases for the Government throughout
April, aud could not assign that public
duty TO another. | reported that decision
to Nr. Garvin, who soon afterwards sent
rae uord that he wished Judge Noah Davis
as his associate | had not suggested
either name to Ir. Garvin, nor indeed
any other | then called at Judge Davis
office, and not finding him, stated the Dis
tres Attorney wishes 10 his partner,
Judge Henry i, Davis, who assured me.
that, if possible, Mr.. Gsrvin request should
be obeyed.
Such Is the history of my agency ii this
matter. | acted in behalf Of Nr. Richard
sons friends, and a; the suggestion Of one
then resid.ng IN his native state. am
sure he would gladly have done as much,
AMI more, for ne, had it been my lot to be
first assassiuated and then unjustly covered
with obliqgy, and his to survive IF ny
efforts shall have contributed, as | now
feel confident they will have done, TO viudi-
cate h memory from some part Of the
wrong Ehich has been done it. | shail re-