The New York herald., 1870-04-22
TIE VOORHEES, TRAGEDY.
Chambers Boasts that He Has Cheated
the Gallows."
The Jury Find Him Insane and He Is Sent to
tho Utica Lunatic Asylum-What the
Murderer Boosted to the Sheriff

The trial of william Chambers for the murder OF
Domnlcus S. Voorhees, in South Brooklyn. was con-
cluded yesterday morning in the Kings County Court
OF Oyer and Termlner Judge Joseph f. Barnard
presiding
Dr.. NJ Gonzalez Echeverria was recalled by Mr..
Howe for the defence and his testimony continued.
lie gave the details OF an examination he made OF
the prisoner the jail ana stated that from ex-
animation made ana from the evidence he MAJ heard
adduceu ne did not peleve he prisoner was tree
agent wnen he Killed Mr. Voorhees, On the cross
examination oy Mr. Norris District Attorney, wit
ness sad that nc ola not tninN It was possible for
ChamOers 10 deceive him by his replies to questons
as tie replies themselves OF nature that
they correspondent w!sn tne physical signs IN the
man exactly.
q. From tne examination you gave MIN did You
come TO the conclusion he was or insane9 A.
lie Was sane at L!aJ rne--reasonaDy.
Dr. Vance, OF Bellevue iospltal, was called by the
Dstrict Attorney He had made an examination OF
Chambers at tic JAN. wnere ne inquired OF him his
name age, business whether he was
or woman, tne name Of the murdered man.
&c, and Inc prisoner made no reply more
Kan kind OF grunt. But when the doctor
asked him who his lawyers were he replied promptly
Howe aud SPENCER. He also said he had seen Mr..
Nulnlneh tMr. loves partner), wno was a small
man. The opinion the doctor formed was tnat
Chambers was sound IN mind and BODY aud de-
llDeraey assumed an incoherence aud dlotcy TO de-
ceve hm. There was no evidence OF insanity about
the prisoner at that time.
q. Vas It YOUR opinion that this homicide was the
result OF losanitY A. From the circumstances you
nave related should say not I exclude the effects
OF iraGIng see nothing co lead me 10 suppose that
II was tie ACT Oh an lDsale man.
ar. move, Ia cross-eA iiliiling this witness stated
the points or the Testimony lcr The defence RELAXING
TO now Chaabers imagined everybody was splitting
az niui, how he was turned out OF a boarding
house Tor strange conduct, how he armed hlin-
sc'l against l.idtrinari robocrs, the death OF mis-
mother IN madhonse, &C. The Doctor replied
t.at taose circumstances would make n4ln MOD ly
ms o'iB ou lheu the District Attorney went aJ the
Witnc5s aud stated the testimony bearing uuun
CtainDefs attention To business retention ol mem
Or, nis quiet demeaiOr IN FOga,ty's Darrooul he.
lole and alter the shooting &c., ana asked Tor an
opnnou. ne DOCTOR repned that that Droug.l, him
bAeh To tn3 ifsg proposJou.
Dr wilam I. Aeeiis OF the New York city pri-
@ son was :, cai ed b W. Aowe, and expressed the
mai aad that tie lrIsoner was lt Tor unatic asy-
lu.n.
The defence rested when Mr.. Morris called up Dr.
"a. Il. Chapn, who mas charge OF the FaGbush
Lunatc asylum aud wno, upon the cross-examIna-
tloh stated That from what he mad heard case
Ac " as satsned that Cnainbers vas insane at The
tie.
d. Cary, formerly o. the Bloomingdale Asyum.
concurred III III. Capins statements.
Ms coscJ Lhe .estilnOuy.
Mr. iluwe was Satsted to let the case 90 to the
Jur, WtDNu. sum nng uD.
rs rlct attorney Motifs he deemed 1t his duty
70 Drlns me case before jury, and he had SUN.
to ascertain and Iesiny as TO the prisoners cOl-
olilon Vi miad. He was aware what tie evidence
OF LIS. Chapin aGd cary would be, but
be felt 1t was ms cuty 10 place them the stand
and ne coud not ask Tor verdcS OF guilty when he
oeieVed 1t was not warranted by the fac,s
JUDGE BAESARD'S CHARGE TO TIE JURY.
GENIaE4EN as I'm. Or TAE JuhY-Tne peore must estab-
ihey mast Aist establish wnat Is called IN law tne
booy Oh the offence the killing ol Voorhees, at ne
second thing uney must prove is that the accused
kied yoornees, and the third is that the accused
Killed Voorhees, wlth premedItated design to effect
ihe oeath Oh the person Killed or some other human
icing. Now, gentlemen, on the first two facts wnlch
ale essential 10 tds verdict there Is no question.
Nuo.nees came 10 his death by pistol shot wound
inflicted upon nm by the prisoner, and If he
sane man .ufre wOuld be no escape rom verdict
oi guity OF murder IN the first degree. But the case
OF the oeense comes up under the tnlrd TACT which
with a premedltated design to effect death. The
lr soner says, through his counse that he be
convicted because at the time the act was ne
was 50 bereto reason as not 10 be responsible for his
a.t, anu that Is the question which you are to pa
Upon tuls case. II the accused knew that the act
he ud was wrong and Illegal ana Inao be was SUBJ
Ject to Punishment lor IT, ne has suicent capacity
IN law 70 be punished Tor his act But II this act
was ,ncit d by dlsOrdeied BRAN, and II at the
me that ne did this acS he nai no VIII 10 resist an
insane Impulse, he is not responsible tor his
1ou nave got to determine that single question
o. TACT, and II you find 1t in favor OF cue prisoner
he EMIT ed TO your verdict OF acqulttal-noG guilty
LuJ one thing iuither. our statute provides that
Whenever q person IL accused OF crime and Is ac-
qGlted because u insanity at tine time the act was
done jury must say in their verdict mat tho
Court may, Ii tue lsanlty continues which Is clearly
proved IN THIS case, order him into an insane asylum
unul he shall be discharged thoroughly cured and
Jnat he may he III no condition to innct like injury
on persons hereafter. You will therefore find your
verdict ether gulty Of murder first degree or
not guilty On the ground or insanity at the time the
The Jury without leaving their seats returned the
We lind the prisoner not guilty. but that he was in
salewn he committed the deed, and we recon-
mena rnaE ne be put In an Insane asylum.
Juuge barAaru addressing the District Attor-
ne,y)-Now MI. Morris, the Court entirely salts.
6.hft 10 I'm 10 a tarfra
III tho community. The oroer Of tne Court will be
that lie oe sent 10 The Luca Asylum.
Chambers was then removed from court In the
Custody oi 4 posse oi officers.
1--WE CHEATED THE GALLOwsW
This was the exclamation OF Chambers, the brutal
murderer of Mr. voorhees,, the good citizen OF
Brooxyn, shortly after the reentered the
tai ltoul the charge Of murder, on the ground
Of INSANITY. This boast was exultingy E-ade
prison oniclals. lie further added IN conversation
with The olhcels. putulng his finger on his necK
r. ms ao ear on hore oe pot n e inc
his hand upward and pointing to an Imaginary
are disappointed" He further sald III am no more
insane tnan the doctor VINO last examined me;
my mind Is as sound as his" These remarks were
rs though for the purpose Of convincing the OIL
cais that they, together with the doctors and the
jury. had alike been imposed upon. How well they
applied wall appear more clearly to our readers
wnen they are informed that the. day be-
fore yesterday Chambers pretended not to
know his own name upon being interro-
gaSed by MIR. KenreddSe, the head keeper OF the
jal and further, when IL Is known that previously
and UP 10 the time OF gong TO court he almost In
varaDiy spoke 10 an under tone Of voice, as
though suffering from severe physical pr0stratlOn
well as mental arrangement. lhe whole OF yester-
day afternoon tlis cloak was entirely thrown or
and Chambers was himself again. Nay, he was so
sane as on reflection TO consider the damaging
effect whcn his remarks might probably have on
his future prospects, and wnen asked why he
made them he replied that he felt good
at the time. as was natural, and, BESIDES
he did not want to be lnterrogated and
gazcd at by any one. Whatever Chambers might
nave IN the past and however truthful the evil
dence concerning some OF his delusons. the verdict
O1 acqulttal has restored him to perfect sanity He
held long conversation yesterday afternoon with q
gentleman, which was, " all intents and purposes
perfectly rational, ana he was as calm
ana collected IS the strongest minded man
could he supposed to be under the circumstances.
RANDAGE.