Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-04-11
TELEGRAMS TO THE STAR.
This Afternoons Dispatches.
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS.
THE MCFARLAND TRIAL
Examination Of witnesses for De-
fence Evideaee as TO McFarland's
Insanity.

THE MCFARLAND TRIAL
Examination Of witnesses for De-
fence Evidenee as TO McFarland's
Insanity.
Taegraphed Ero,ssirely to The Ere~in9 Star.
NEW YORK, April 1.-THE ceurt convened at
IL O'Clock. The interest is unabated. 1t rains
fast, yet the room is crowded. Mrs Horton is
present as the reporter of the Revolution.
The first witness examined was Mary Oliver,
who was dressed i'm mourRing. She testified
that she resided in Philadelphia at present, and
was the daughter of Francis Mcfarland He
died on The 18th OF September, 1s41. He was i'll
for some eighteen months before his death. At
first he became very simple, and afterwards
and they sent him to the asylum. being
unable themselves to manage him. DIR.
Woods and another physician attended him.
He was very violent while in the asylum, where
he remained coup}eof months, when they took
him home. He was paralyzed. The witness
here volunteered q statement, that the prisoner.
her cousin, bore the most striking resemblance
to her father. Mrs. Oliver further testified thai
her father was temperate in his habits.
Cress examined--At the time spoken of she
was about II years of age. When her father be-
came III he was obliged to give up business. He
was hlfor some months before they sent him to
Re-direct.-First saw the defendant twenty
years ago. While making this statement the
witness was affected to tears.
John F. Flynn testified that he was EMPLOYED
at the westmoreland Hotel. Saw Mcfarland
on the evening Of the 18th Of November. The
prisoners manner and action on the night in
question exhibited great excitement.
Cross sexamined.-The first thing the prisoner
did was to ask for room, when he registered
his name. Then he took up a paper. III.
seemed to be waiting for somebody. An hour
elapsed before his friend came in. The tive
went up to the prisoners room. When he came
in he walked in like any other man.
Sylvester 5. Magnus testified that at present
he was engaged in no business. On the 18th OF
November he was the prorrietor OF the Corn
Exchange Mills Saw the prisoner some two or
three days before the homicide. He came to h,s
(wItness' place. He said he came to see about
assessments. He seemed to be either insane or
The witness was about to state the remark
made by him in regard to the irrational de
meanor Of the prisoner. but the testimony was
excepted to, and ruled out.
The witness resumed, and said that IL his
judgment the prisoner was not drunk. He acted
like crazy man. There was nothing reason
able In his words or actions, and his appearance
was wild and haggard
Crcss-examined: The prisoner first addressed
him in relation to the assessments, saying that
he was an officer. Could not remember exactly
what he said. His appearance was very wild.
He stayed from fifteen to twenty minutes The
witness told hold him he could get the informa-
ton at 81 Bond street. There was another gen
tleman with him. Never saw that man since.
1t was between 10 and II O'Clock when they
called. III was some two or three days before
the 25th of November. Was quite certain that
1t was not on the oath. To Mr.. Graham What
he said was so irrational that it did not impress
itself on his mind.
W. j. McGrath testified that he was a clerk
attached to the halls OF Justice, and produced
from the records a commitment of Francis Nc
Farland to the LuHatic Asylum on BLACKWELL
Island, as dangerous lunatic. The commit
ment was granted on the certificate of his phy-
scian, stating that Francis McF Farland was sur
capable of distinguishing between right and
wrong.
Nothing material was ELECTED on the cross
examination.
the assistant sanitary superintendent OF the
Board of Health OF the city of Brooklyn; that
there were no records OF deaths in that city pre-
yious to 1850.
John W. Billings testified that he had known
the prisoner after he saw him between the wears
1859 and 1861. Remember his having been com
missioner of enrOlhnents. He had desk in
witnesses Office. Saw him on the 18th of No
vember, 1869, opposite the New York Hotel
1t was about twenty minutes past four
. IN the e eaiternoon: His appearance was dit
ness knew him. He (witness) stopped him antI
asked was he idle. He said no. Witness asked
nun where he was going. He said he was going
down to the New York Hotel. Witness tried
TO dlssuade him from going down, but
without effect. His leOk was most peculiar
ana witness was convinced that he was moi
in his right mind. He said he should
be going as the stars would be out soon
He had seen him about two weeks before m
Broadway. His condition then was about the
same as 1t had been for two years previous
Mcfarland never met witness, but he would talk
sbout his suit against Richardson and about
richardson seducing his wife. Was slightly ac-
quainted with the prisoners wife, as she some
times came to the office, bringing little Percy
with her. The husband and wife were very affec-
tomato towards other calling each other. nv
dear" and my darling" The prisoner after
wards spoke to witness about his wife and chill
Iren IN terms OF affectionate solicitude. Saw
OF 1863 The father was very affectionate to-
wards the child.