The New York herald., 1870-04-28
The Question Of Sanity VS.. Insanity Ex-
hauSted, and the Defence Rests.
Testimony for the Prosecution
in Rebuttal.
HORACE GREELEY ON TEE STAND.
Lively Squirt Between Counsel on a Question
PrOpOunded to the Tribune Philosopher.
IMPORTANT RULING or THE COURT.

The insanity question was the major subject In the
proceedings Of yesterday. DIR. Hammond was on
the stand oil the forenoon ard portion OF the after
noon, but there was little OF especial interest In the
testimony produced.
A CHANGE AT LAST.
The great sensation OF the day the appear nee
OF the venerable Horace Greeley In the WI ness
chair. Mr.. Greeley, with his characteristic modesty
took seat In an obscure corner OF the court
room, and toyed with his hat until he was
called upon by the District ATTORNEY to advance and
show himself Mr. Greeleys name being announced
every one present grew anxious 20 have look ut the
distinguished philosopher and hear his testimony Ia
the case He was attired in evening costume, sAal-
low-taied coat low cut waistcoat, spectacles, NC.
Mr. Greeley said very little in his testimony before
nc was completely stopped by the impetuous couli-
gel for the defence, who entered upon long, labori-
ous ami seemingly unnecessary argument about the
validity Of Mr.. Greeleys evidence. 1t may be that
the counsel considers anything done by the prosecu-
ton cruel and heserodoy; but It must have occurred
20 the majority Of listeners yesterday In that
the effort to exclude the testimony Of such gentle
man as Mr. Horace Greeley was calculated to injure
more than to serve the OF the prisoner The de-
fence have had too much Of their own way in this
ease and il the prosecuting attorney (ludge Garvn,
ton he would have long since curbed the license Of
examination and the side-wlng appeals made to the
jury by counsel for tho defence.
VERY PROVOKING,
Nothing OF this kind Is needed. The Recorder
VINO has all along shown most dspa ssionate spiri.
m the task oil presiding over the case. displayed In
MS sensible way al impatIence OF the nonsense
which the defence insisted upon having The ev-
dence OF Mr.. Greeley every one Is anxious TO hear
anu the petty techlicatles OF counsel for the de-
fence wi hardly avail To restrain the expression OF
that evidence.
A LADY OF sYMPAruIEs.
Tnere was less o: crowd than usual The lale
numbered scarcely score. Mrs. Norton, attired in
new ruche, glace silk and shecny velvet occupied
her usual place in the vlcaty OF the porers. Her
khdy sympathy and the fruits OF her well balanced
judgment were freely extended to The soft aud mex
perienced scrlbblers around her.
remarkable event occurred yesterday in the
Withdrawal OF Mr.. Charles Spencer from the post on
OF associate counsei in this remarkable Trial. Mr..
spencer, in the speech OF the defence in opening
their case, stgmatized, In terms more energetic
tiating The afnitzing OF Richardson aud Mr.
ncFariand Mrs. Calhoun and her Tiends change
Mr.. spencer with imputIng to Mrs. Calhoun thai IN
dong this she was prompted by an impure and
VICIOUS motive, ana that she was a woman OF i'm
pure soul. TIE clamof in tins direction pronptel
~ female pens and tongues, was great tnat Mr..
Spencer was compelled 10 pay some heed 10 It, The
result Of tsis deliperaion, when his atten ion was
that he 1e tnst he msst .n SsuSa %n%nrs wls
have done Mrs. Calhoun's reputation some harm,
and, therefore, with chivally and gal.niry tnar
strongly ~ wOrded letter to the Independent, calling
attention to this wrong. In this letter Mr.. Spencer
states that In his opening he only intended to apply
his remarks as to Mrs. Calhoun to the facts eXclu.
sivey OF this particular trial. This letter greatly
offended the counsel associated with him, and yes
terday morning, in private room, before the court
was opened, there was wordy war, which ihreg t.
ened at one time to reveal itself In court but camer
and wiser Judgment happily prevented IA scene. Mr..
Spencer however, felt tnat he could not, alter what
had been said, be of any service his client, and
therefore in the after part Of the day he retired en-
urely and occupied a seat among the audience.