The New York herald., 1870-04-30
THE BLOONINGDALE MURDER.
Second Day Of the Trial Of John J. Nixon for the
Murder Of David sisco-D Damaging Evidence
Against tho Prisoner-A Father Testify
ing Against His Son-Intense Interest
Manifested in the Proceedings

The trial Of John J. Nixon for the murder OF
Davil II. CISCO, az near Bloomingdae, N. D., on
January 90 1870, was resumed yesterday morning In
the Passaic Oyer ard Termlner, at Paterson, n. J.
There was o large attendance all day throughout the
somewhat tedious although Interesting examina-
ton.
The prisoner acquitted himself in q manner cool
and VI affected, although apparently taking great
interest In the progress OF the trial, ana
not unfrequently suggesting questions 10 his
counsel. II was remarked among the audience
that while Nixon was stocal none OF Sisco's
relatives present seemed 10 manifest any deep grief
except Mrs. Sisco, whose handkerchief was almost
necessarily employed to dry the moisture OF her
eyes. Mrs. sisco Is fne fresh looking woman,
with face beaming with intelligence. In fact,
THE WHOLE FAMILY,
on tho feminine side, are far from being homcy,
and IN addition to being PRETTY well informed,
evince IN conversation, superior degree OF mother
wit and shrcwdness.
All the witnesses examined yesterday were inteli-
gent, and gave straightforward answers TO the cues
tons ASKED except Edward N. Slsco whose evidence
was difficult secure, and gave much inconvenience
10 botn Coutr ana jury account Of the witness ap
parent inability 10 speak above humble. HIS
answers, however, when heard were inell gent.
The court opened at ten O'Clock yesterday morn
ing and the crosseXamnation or James Harrison
yreeland was resumed Witness SAID 1t lei and
showed little ON the night Of the murder, which
for come distance leading to the place where the
body was found was torn up as II canscd by
DRAGGING THE BODY ALONG.
Saw Sisco's wounds after the blood was washed
or: was large, perpendicular wound above tie
nose and smaller one about an inch from
the first; right cheek bally smashed ana
4 fro,p tha nui lilo In hn n n
think these wounds could have been caused by fall.
ing on stone; Sisco's clothing was much torn and
the pants dragged partly of.
Edward N. Ssco, the brother OF the murdered
man, was the next witness. HIS evidence was for
the most part corohoratory OF tna given by Mrs.
Ssco Inc only new facts elected being that there
hal been q quarrel at the Bloom ngdale Hotel on
he afternoon Of the tragedy, the import OF
which, however. the witness knew Ssc0
| also testified to Sc eng blood in tn IN dd or the
road not far from the blood stained stump and stone
heretofore referred to.
Theodore Ryerson c,vil engineer OF Paterson tes.
titled that he had made the survey or the maps
in the court, and that they were, as far as possible,
correct representations Of the vicinity OF Cdy
| the d stan es between he gwen points, &c. The
examination OF these witnesses codcludedt tie morn
| In the afternoon at two O'clock tho court re-
convened. The frs wltne was DIR. a. A. McWhithy,
who testified TO the character OF tho wounds In
ncted upon David SiscO. tn r. was i8rge incised
wound on the forehead, involving the ght eye
extending upwards about three inches: the from al
two and mar inches: the hoaes OF he face.
the eye. ana at the sides Of the nose were a.s)
| broken, 80 that
from its foundation and could be moved around,
| backward and forward; there were also aorasons
on the side OF the face the whole right "a e torn:
these wounds in the aggregate were enough to cause
| instant death; should judge the wounos TO have
been inncte by blunt instrument. as the inclssion
! was jagged. not smooth a. n cut.
| par OF tremendously heavy mining boots,
which Nixon Is said TO have worn on tba occasion.
1
fairly covered with immense naiis. The witness tcs
titled tnat the wound on tne forehead IN its genera
contour the undoub ed physiognomy OF the heel
OF those boots there were no arteries or veins near
the forehead wound sufficient 10 have caused de .th
BY bleeding; by ''instantr death the witness meant
within twenty or thirty minutes wound - a 'sOlu-
tion of contui ~ srlcty spe king; peoples skulls
| vary In thickness; one eighth or an iach wouid be
thin, and quarter OF an Inch wouid be ihicx
skull Sisco's briin was torn at The side OF the
| wound think 1t was 50 torn by the
| CRUSHING IN OF THE SKULL.
| In witness opinion death was caused by violence
applied 10 the ace and head. "a number of ines
statements were IN answer % questions from the
jurors, who very intelligent and shrewd IA
their appreca lon OF the eydence)
| John ;. Nixon, the gray haired old father OF the
prisoner at the bar, was then brought forward ald
sworn. The stoi al iniinerence OF the prisoner
seemed 10 fail HIM the damnIng evi ence
| and apparently neither influenced by fear
favor; the prisoner manifested an uneasy, nervous
anxiety ana the beads OF perspiaton upon lis fure
| heal dis ,losed his deep mental excitement The
father OF tie prisoner toshed substantially as foi
d..
son; Ii was about miinigbt Ca the night OF Siseos
disappearance thai John cane home; said he hal
had hght, and If ! didn't bei1ve il, 10
| ] told him 70 go to bed; he rubbed MS hand
on MS boot ana showed 1t TO me; 1t was blood bit
| RED TO persuade hun 1t was n0thn tut wet from
the rain; at last ne 80 ten to bed. but he shorty
came down, saying that some one was cryDg or nal
loalng along the road "a IL sounded like rder .
| [ wenI TO the door aud heard somebody crying and
| recognized the voice as that o. David Sis o. Johr
sa a he had mad fight with Ssco and he guessed III
had
Witness told pr soner that II that was so h'
John replied thai he d not care, II was ONLY i ht
nothing more; John finally pulled or his boots (the
went up stairs to ued; John, his WIFE, ana my daue Ii
| ter Emeline all slept IN he same room up al
James Sisco and wn"ss slept together down stairs
| In the morning Wi ness noticed blood the pr s.
0ner's overas and boots (fne overa.ls were eXnb
ited and idcntihel.) Mrs. slsc0 came over about
! seven ocock iooing for her husband. The evidenc,
on this point was Substantially the same the state
meuts MADE by Mrs. oisco herself. John the prisoner
went out otensby 10 look 10 Ssc shortly he ca me
back saying that he had found hil, out that he wai
| alive and thai Was all; pretty on Mrs. Ssco re
turned and charged John Nixon with m!rderiIg e ile
| husband and SAID she had company of com
ing up the hill with ropes TO TIC him; Jonn the cup0
sprang up and
RAN FOR THE WOODS.
| Ife was arrested AMI brought back on Tue day.
| Judge Belle here interrupted the proceedings, an,
said mat ne Iad in.enae 10 hola evennt ses ms
but 1t would le Impossible 10 get through tie cas-
| this week, and Che court would accordingly on,
remain ti1 TX O'Clock. adJ0uining then 10 meet "a
! half-pasl nine IN the ing: the jury would b.
| Kept uHde guard and need not expect to glt nom
| on SUNDAY, nor until the case was fni,hed.
| The father tnen gave the following cinching cv
cencesagairsi his son, the prisoner n the bar:J0h
j. NiXOn the prisoner, on the altcrnC % the murde
said that some one had he j Ing about him On
| had told Horace HOppatSn that nc Intended ~ way
| lay ana 'maulr him; Nixon said he would lick th
| author OF the lie II lie could mud him. or else b
| licked himself; john told M Saturday nigh
| when he came home, that hc had heard that 10 wa
| David Sisco that had told the lie about him. and h
| had accordingly done just ~ he said he would, an
| had given Dave Sisco a licSug he said he ha
''kept his word,n ana had giVea Sisco what he COZ
| Sidered
"DFCENT LICKING"
John said the maLer had been followed up, an
he "had To fight or be licked - ald lie guessed h
had spoiled Dave sseo's lOOks.'
On the cross ss-exalninanon NxOn's s,father said JOY
(Nixon) had been unruly, and that he had inten e
10 turn lin 0lt as soon as he could gel q sliab
house; he lad NO feeling OF anger against his son
although II he was the murderer Di Dave $3.50. he o
auy one ELS. WnCeVer H. Was, deserves 10 swIDg 10
IL. James. the Dri8DDet'S brother also W mt I'D