The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-04-13
THE MCFARLAND TRIAL

NEW YORK, April l2-The McFar ard trial
was resumed this morning before a crowded
court room, including many women.
Nicholas St George, a member of the Boston
Bar, testified to being retained in the case of
Habeas Corpus brought against Richardson by
Mcfarland; remembered having an interview
with Richardson.
The court here stated that the witness would
not be allowed to state what Richardson said
to him. The counsel offered to prove by wit
ness that Richardson had supplied the funds
for the litigation. This was ruled out, the
counsel excepting.
The counsel asked witness if he received in
structiOns relative to the care from Richardson.
This was excepted to, and the counsel Tor the
defence argued that the evidence would show
that the prisoners wife was under the influence
of Richardson, and that he was the whole
cause of her alienation from her husband, and
that in the prosecution of his suit he had to
fight not only his wife but Richardson. 1t was
important to show the relations existing be-
tween the prisoner wife and Richardson; that
she was acting entirely under the latters con-
troll. Her husband thought that if he recover
ed the children it would lead to a return of his
wife, and Richardson was probably of the
same opinion; hence his efforts to keep DOS
session of the children. The woman was vi
brating between love for Richardson and natu-
raj affection for her children, and were the
funds of Richardson not at her control, she
might have returned to her husband.
They should bear in mind that Mcfarland is
on trial. not Richardson. The defence ex-
cepted.
Judge Davis, of the prosecution, said that he
understood the habeas corpus matter resulted
in stipulation between Mcfarland and his
wife that they should SEPARATE each retaining
one child.
Green testified that when he saw McFar-
land in Boston, he was, if not insane in a
fair way to become insane. He seemed to be
bordering between sanity and insanity, and the
result of the habeas corpus was that McFar-
| land retained the custody of the Oldest, and his
| wife that of the youngest child.
Edward X. Phillips, another Boston law
yer, testified that he was retained by Mrs. Nc
Farland in the habeas corpus case AT the
| time the judgment of the court was announced,
| Mcfarland Awas greatly excited, and subse-
quently appeared very irrational, and his face
| bore an expression of extreme mental suffer-
ing.
In answer TO question from Judge Davis,
| he stated that he did not at first suggest that
| Mcfarland was not fit to have charge of the
young children, being crazy man, but had
| subsequently made such suggestion to the
senior counsel in that case.
John A. Warl testiged that he wa, pbysi
| clan and knew the prisoner well. Made his
acquaintance in 1862. Knew the prisoners
wife very well. Saw the prisoner on the night
| of the Oath of November at his office; remained
about fifteen minutes. He was in a great state
| OF agltatOn; MS eyes SiarlnS; he sad, doctor
have been roaming around and have beer
looking for Richardson. must have my boy. y
He said he had the same terrible impulse &c
kill himself that he had often before. Witness
told him that he must control that He said
he was afraid he could not, He gave the pris.
oner atwO grains of morphine, equal to two
hundred drops Of laudanum. His pulse wa,
up to 125. The prisoner said, Richardson j,
going to take wife away" Witness formed
tho impression that Mcfarland mind was dis
eased and that he was irrational Knew tho
McFarlands from 1862 The husband and wifi,
appeared to be very fond of each other Knew
of no difficulty between them before 1867. II
the summer of 1865 they lived at Mr.. Sinclair,
house. Witness was the medical attendant o.
Mr.. Sinclair's family Mrs. Mcfarland be
came first acquainted with Richardson at Mr.
Sinclair's house in 1865. He subsequently saw
them meet at other receptions in 1866 and '67
The prisoner was not present on any of those
~scasons. Saw Mcfarland in 1867 at his wit