Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-04-20
M'FARLAND'S TRIAL.
Mrs. Richardson TO Testify - Her
Evidence Already sworn 10 and
Ready to be Submitted.


New York april 6) Cor. Providence Journal
Mrs. Richardson will testify in the
trial She is not only willing, but de-
sires to do so, and her evidence will
establish the earlier and inner history OF
the case, as it has never yet been pre-
sented. Mrs. Richardson is now living
at Woodville, New Jersey, with two OF
Mr.. Richardson's children and one of
her own " little Danny" whom she so
gracefully pictured in her own verse;
and that her testimony shall not be
wanting through any efforts Of enemies
or unforeseen events, it has all been put
in writing, properly sworn to, and is
ready to be submitted to the court 1t
will be the most important evidence in
the whole trial, except that bearing
directly on the act of killing, and will
carry with it the conviction of truth,
and l risk nothing in saying Of inno-
cence, to every honest, right-thinking
and honorable mind Mr. Richardson's
friends, from his widow and brother
to his most casual acquaintance, are
all extremely desirous that the
whole truth to its last fact, shall
come out and be clearly brought to light
in the court, and they are content there
to rest them in justification Of his mo-
tives and defense of his character No
body expects conviction or anything
more than a disagreement Of the jury;
but it will be no small result to answer
the SANDER and refute the calumny which
has been bruited not only about the
principals in this tragedy, but about
some of the best and purest women
living. Mr.. Spencers opening for the
defense yesterday was a good illustra-
ton of the public judgment which the
defense seek to force upon the case, and
the wild and unwarranted assertions
which he made are fair specimens Of
what are generally accepted as facts
1t is conceded however, that Mr.. Spen-
Ger shot his arrow Of righteous indigna-
ton too far, and that the violence and
unsc-upulous inyective Of his speech will
work in the end to his own injury. He
deceives no one by calling Mrs. Lucia G.
Calhoun a panderer and procrress,
though he doubtless gained credence for
the assertion that Mrs Richardson is
now rioting" on the property of her
deceased husband, whom she married
only to acquire its control, And yet
one statement is no nearer the truth
than the other-rather, both are equally
false Mrs. Richardson has from the
first declined TO receive, or in any way
avail herself of Mr. Richardson s pro-
perty, and so far has not received
dollars benefit from it. Friends of both
sexes have aided and befriended her,
and never more willingly or generously
than through the recent fearful months
They have been abused 0ld assailed for
doing this, but not one of Richardson's
friends has faltered or wavered in his
defense or her protection. 1t isn't legal
proof, but it goes good way to establish
moral certainty that all the women
who have known the facts in this case
and its real history of affairs, have re
mained Mrs Richardson's frmest and |
truest friends. Ii is an unfortunate |
propensity for the weaker sex to judge |
harshly Of one another, and if Mrs. /
Richardson was guilty of a thousandth |
part of that which Mr.. Spencer asserted !
yesterday, it would be contrary 10 ali /
experience that her own sex snould not |
cast her off and disown her. But moth
ing Of this has been done; the Calhouns,
Sinclairs, Gilberts, and others, the purest
and most refined, are and have always
been constant to Mrs. Richardson's for
tunes. There are many facts which
might be stated TO show the reasons of
their convictions. But it is probably
better that they should be developed and
established in the. course Of the trial.