The New York herald., 1870-05-03
TIE BLOOnlNGDALE MURDER.
Fourth Day Of the Trial Of John J. Nixon for
the Murdor Of David II. Sisco--A Long ses-
sion- Closing Of the States Evidence
and Opening Of tho Defence.

John J. NixOo for the murder OF David Ssco, was
most tedious one, lasting from haf-past nine In the
morning until nearly nine O'Clock In the evening.
The prisoner begins to look more haggard ana care
worn, and his nervous system is evidently being
pretty well strained 10 keep up with the trying
ordeal.
The State rested at halfpast six p. NJ. The defence
desired that an adjournment be ordered until
Ing but Judge Bedle said tho must be concluded
by Wednesday night and TO make It safe short
ing session would be he'd To finish 1t by Wednesday
evening II will doubtless be necessary to meet late
tonight and tomorrow night Judge Bedle's pre-
sence at she Hudson courts this morning made IL
neces ary to adjourn the trial until this after
noon The general opinion seems now to be that
Nixon VIII be found guilty OF murder In the second
degree.
The court met at half-past-nine O'Clock A. NJ. the
jury coming In and taking their seats ut that hour.
In response TO an inquiry from the Judge the jurors
said they had passed a comfortable Sabbath in the
charge OF their ofYcers. one Of the number had an
attack OF fever and ngue on Saturday evening, but
was sufficiently recovered to be in attendance with
the rest yesterday morning. The first witness sworn
yesterday was t.
Henry $. Van Ness, who testified that he had OPEN
cd the bundle Of clothing Nixon had with him when
arrested. In which he found pair OF overas, which,
ance Ol being
STAINED wrrIi BLOOD.
The Overalls In court were identified as the pair
but the counsel for the defence was slow TO admit
the marks being those OF blood, they were visible
about rs much from the inside as the outside; there
were others in court who thought the defence was
about rlghr, for the conclusion that the marks were
blood stains was, indeed, rather far-tetchea.
Tunis II. Vreeland testified that he examined q
coat left home by the prisoner and the lining that
had been torn out; there no blood On the lining
but there was a large spot on the buckram under
the lining, and a small spot on the binding OF the
right sleeve The remainder Of Vreeland's evidence
was principally the same Of previous
y s oc nssn the SSa % a r.. o
poplar stump, heretofore frequently referred
t.. was then Produced and exhibited 10 the
1ury although 1t cannot be conceded that the
blood stains were very apparent The witness tcsti-
ned that the stump was in the same condition as
were at that time palmer In witness' opinion the
saplings having blood on them were marked by some
one walking through with bloody clothing rubbing
Der Works. where they were painting; the 1,arks
the oyeralls referred to as blood stains. are about
the color OF the paint used there.
Thomas II. Helser swore he was at Csrnan's No.
tel at Bioominglae the night OF the murder about
seven O'Clock; SiScO and Nixon were
AT THE HOTEL TOGETHER:
witness started TO come home about eight O'Clock,
cana "nsn et on and she nH0 as
slsco Is little drunk Tonight" witness
replied replied Yes" % prisoner then SAD Horace
OLA b-h who Is The cause OF It; will knock he'll
ont OF him some night and have just the thing la
man;" witness told prisoner he had "petter took
out, and then went home ana To bed. This was
lttie after eight O'Clock on The night OF the mur-
william Babcock testified that, Oh the night OF the
murder ne was at iiowe's Hotel, opposite Carnans.
about sundown; presently Ssco and Nix on came up
and they had drink together; after while Nixon
came to me and told me that ''someboly was going
to be hurr to-night;' witness asked him IL il was
Horace Hoppaugh, TO which prisoner replied
in the negative; witness then asked him II
1t was Dave Ssco: prisoner did not
reply bnt looked up and laughed presently witness
saw prisoner and Sisc0 sitting together, and alter
talking while they parted with the mutual express
sion, "Well, 1e Will let the matter drop and say no
more about H;" the party mad several drinks to-
gether after which witness went home; On the
little trouble together at the hotel, and
clenched twice on the hotel st0Op, but no one was
hurt much; one Of the Nlxons, either James JOHN
said he had slnng'hot IN his pocket, but witness
could not remember which IL was; the weapon WAS
not brought into sght the fight on the sloop arose
from some trouble about 'Squire Gurnee; SiscU said
he was going 10 give Squire usrnce
DAMNED GOOD TANNING
suited in the tosse on the sno Tne be,,,aeraf re-
were parted by their friends ~ the hotel. Nituess
but "billy" Is little the more cha ndyn weapon.
In the afternoon the C0urt met at a quarter past
two O'Clock, there being
In attendance, and also an immense crowd in the
street to catch glimpse OF the prisoner az ne was
demeanor ana gait were cooi as he walked past ihe
numerous gances resting upon HIM. The testimony
Of the 1rst witness In the alernoon-Altred Cook
was unlmportant aa ne was drunk himself the night
VI the murder and could not remember much OF the
occurrences at the tavern.
James Monks was tending bar at Carman's Hotel
the night Of the murder; about eight O'Clock David
SiscO and one Abe Vreeand got to fghting together
the prisoner stepped IN TO part them, when Sisco
S--n n h---h uriun
that he would knock Slsc0 down If he called nm
tnat again; they were both pretty drunk, and did
unt,l ABOUT nine O'Clock, when they lett together;
witness then shut up the hotel for the night
Abraham ii. Vreeand, the man who had the
"scrlmmase' IN the barroom with Sisco, corrobo-
rated The testimony OF the preceding witness
Jacob j. Mead testncd that Nixon repeatedly de.
nied after his arrest, that
HE HAD KILLED sIsCo,
although he acknowledged that he had Knocked him
down and kicked him twice
Dr. McWithy was recalled, ana testified that aftsr
receiving such wound as Sisco had IN his
man to have gotten upon his feet and walked
away, or even stood mp; in fact, 1t was not
to H coasciousmess. James T H. vreeand @ i'u'gss was
recalled and testified that Si>co's body was cold and
stiff when carried to the house. number of other
witnesses, whose evidence, however, was unin.
portant, were examined; the maps clOChng
stumps, DC, were offered In evidence after which
the Court took a recess for an hour.
OPENING OF THE DEFENCE.
Court met at hafpast seven p. M. An evening
session Of the court Is such unusual thing In
Paterson that the illumination facilities are some
what limited. Imagine, then, the Judge's desk and
the tables OF the counsel, clerk, reporters, &C.,
mounted by "long six' candles In tin candiestcks
Mr.. Evans, the junior counsel for Nixon, opened
for the defence. He Contended that although the
prisoner struck and kicked SiscO, ne was not the
one who inflicted the wounds which resulted IN
Siscos death. The cause OF those wounds has not
been made known. Nixon did assault Stsco, but IL
was In defence, as Sisco struck him first. II Nixon
had exceeded his selfdefence he was guilty of as
6auit ana battery. But the counsel c0nteHded that
Nixon vas guilty OF no offence at all tn first wit.
ness for the defence was
Abram II. Vreeland, whose evidence was princi.
paiy an impeachment OF the testimony OF j. W. Bur-
ton, one OF the witnesses for the State. Mnnson
Ma6ey testified to Nixons peaceabie interference In
Trying 70 quiet fight between SiscO and Abe
vreeland bnI few hours before the murder. Peter
COOK testlned tnat SiscO was not drunk the even
ing OF the murter which contradicts the assertion
OF number OF the Witnesses for the prosecution.
Squlre Francis ". Gurnea tesIiaad that sca when