The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-15
THE MURDER MANIA.
Trial Of Lawrence Sullivan for the
Murder Of John 0'Brien.
History Of the Crime-Fearful and Bru.
tai Deprayity.
Jerry Dunn Convicted of ManslaughtT in
the Third Degree.

At the opening OF the Court or General Sessions
yesterday, Recorder Hackett presiding, Lawrence
Sullivan was placed at the bar charged with TN
murder OF John o'Brien at No. l whitehall stree
on the 18Th of June last. From the calendar OF mur
der cases coming before the courts and the IRE
quency OF the TRIALS that follow the commission o
This terrible crme-the highest known TO the law
and the rapidly with which new tragedy follows
the steps OF the horror preceding 1t, as related
Ihe time oil the occurrence the puolic mind mus
fail 10 remember any Of the particulars or til
crime for which the perperator has for while Ian
guished IN "A prison and il at last called up for trial
For these reasons the revolving circumstances al
tendant on the death OF the unfortunate O'Brien a
ihe hands OF his Slayer, Sullivan the prisoner nov
ri the bar, are most probably forgotten and, there
fore, require a brief retrospective review.
BRIEF HISTORY or THE CASE.
As before stated II was on the 18Th OF June last
that the deceased, o'Brien came TO violent death
through stab wounds inflicted on him, as charged,
by the prisoner at the bar The latter was consiG-
cred as one or the abandoned aud reckless
characters o. the lower wards OF the cyan ha5iIual
drnnKard and quarre1some and dangerous laal.
In proof Of this IL Is only necessary TO refer TO the
violent conduct OF the man when ne was under eX-
animation before the Coroner. On that occasion 1t
Will be remembered that while Mrs. Buckley was
giving her testimony IN the case the prisoner sud-
denly bounded across the space intervening between
himself and the Witness and With an upliited chair
In his hand attempted TO strike down the poor
woman. There is little doubt that but for the
timely intervention OF the police he would
have added another terrible crime 10 that
for which he was then under examination.
OPENING OF THE PROSECUTION.
Assistant District Attorney Fellows IN opening the
SAL ~ n length "
cept TO simply state that he expected 10 prove be-
yond all doubt that the accused committed wiliul
and deliberate murder; tnat OBrlen received stab
wound at the hands OF the prisoner, which nine days
subsequently, caused his death, and that the medical
testimony would establish the fact that death was
caused by perltontIs OF the abdomen.
THE TESTIMONY.
The testimony adduced by the prosecution was
very brief the facts clearly pointed an act OF
unJustiia lie and unprovoked killing the part of
the prisoner. Were not for the prolracted cross
examination Of the witnesses by the prisoners
sci, the would have been closed before the al.
journment OF the court IL was generally conceded that
the eviderce OF the peoples Witnesses If believed by
the jury, and rot materially changed by any testi-
mOny that the prisoner might adduce, must nevlta-
bly, result III verdict vi murder III the hrst degree.
AS viii b. seen ny he statement OF the witnesses tue
unfortunate prisoner was very qua relsome, and SO
abusive TO his vile that Tor some months sne mas
been compelled 10 separate rom hIm anu share her
mother-ln law's handle apartment.
DIX. CusHMAN on THE STAND.
DR.. Cushman was called out OF the regular order
OF proof, ana testified that on the 25tn OF June he
examined The body OF iona OBrien AZ Bellevue Hes
pital at ten O'Clock IN the morning, ten hours after
death; he round an incised wound IA the abdomen
three-quarters OF an inCE III length aud enc ana
three-Guasters Inches III deptn; upon Opening the
cavity oil The ABDOMEN ne found pertonits, which,
In his opin the cause OF death: he examined
the other organs and found them healthy.
TESTIMONY or JOHN o'cONNoR.
The next witness was john OConnor, an aged
gentleman oil Hibernan extraction, who, although
he lived IN Pearl street for tie last twenty years,
had such strong IRISH brogac that II exceed
tngy dltlcult TO understand MIN. The Jury had 10
request the senographer OF the court 10 read ms
testimony after be finished his statement. Mr..
OConhor SAID That liz was The lessee of the house
No. whitehall street AID thai upon the evening IN
question, the 18Th OF jane, While gong up Market
neid street, some OF The tenants called 10 hlm 10
between Lawrence SGllNan aad lis VIE; the prs
0ner's wIfe and mUther-ln-laW had hired room
from one OF his tenants, aIc did not live with him
THE prisoner: the witness went up stairs into the
room where Sullivan was and found him sitting III a
chair; his wife was standing on the moor with a
child IN her arms; the witness shook hands with
Sullivan rs lie entered lie room, and sat down; the
prisoners mother n-law then said, "Mr CoDnor,
are We not wen treated by
THIS McRpERING THIEF
that murdered my brother before and ne wants to
murder me;' he made a sharp answer back ana
O'Conn0rrose and tapped him on the shoulder, say.
Ing, 'lake no notice Vi what these women say, they
have got the use OF their tongue, get up and come
out peaceaby with OConnor, the disturbance be-
tween him and his wne having been quelled before
he tthe witness) get IN, when his III thcr-in-aw
struck Sullivan with piece or wood and he struck
her three times with parasoi; witness caught hold
OF the old woman, Mrs. Sweeny and told her TO have
better sense but sDe still wanted to attack him;
when he saw how the tnln2 was he tried To get away
O'Bren tthe deceasedi was iittlng upon the STAIRS
two or three steps up and witness stood ong slue
OF him. thinking tnat SULLIVAN would 60 down stars;
he turned round however
OPENED A KNIFE
AVID caid Army .NnGs Cai1 tNfn
the prisoner replied, "You OF bill by Us, III
KIN your' O'Brien said ''Wnat did do TO You? l
done nohng;' witness, interposing said .'He
did nothing to you and never said word;' Sulll-
van then made
THREE SLABS AT o'BRIEN
IN the belly ana went down stairs; the murdered
man groaned little when he was stabbed; the pris-
Oner opened the knife as he was running towards
OfBrien: the deceased had no time to save himself,
the thing was done so quickly.
THIS witness and the other persons examined as
70 the occurrence were cross-examined at great
length by the counsel 10y the prisoner, but no new
facts were brought out Frequently The Recorder
had TO remind the counsel that he asked the same
questions over and over again.
0'Connor SAID that O'Bnen did not strike Sullivan
nor say word to him.
TESTIMONY OF JULIA BUCKLEY
Julia Buckley. occupying q room III the tenement
house. said that she lie. II bedroom to Mrs. SWeeny
and Mrs. sullivan; on the evening in question Mrs.
Sullivan was in her room, when the prisoner came
TO the door and asked her to go out; she said mop
The prisoner SAID III you don't
/ WILL RUN You THROUGH
and he took hold OF her by The head and pulled her
Into her own room; the witness told HIM he must
not Kill her, and he said II he would he was 20
suffer for it himself she did not see what occurred
in Mrs Suillvan's room; the wife OF the prisoner
called Mrs. Buckley In to save her. but she was
AFRAID to 90 in: she did not the stabbing; the
witness often heard the prisoner ask his vile 70 live
with HIM, but she would not do So
JOHN HoGANs TESTIMONY.
John Hogan, another occupant OF one or the rooms
at No. Whitehall street. testified that upon hear
ing some persons scream he Went TO 90 down STAIRS
when John OConnor stopped him; he then saw
r. NV SuI.
hvan come on HIM; the prisoner said
.AINT YOUR NAME 0'BRIENw
ssYeeD said UBrien; 'but done nothing to you;'
with that the witness Sullivans hand go
towards O'Brlens abdomen three times IN success
sion, but did not see anything IN his hand; O'Bren
lived on the second door, Mrs Sullivan on the third
noor and the killing occurred the third landing;
the witness lived on the fourth noor.
ANN KINNEYis TESTIMONY.
Ann Kinney, who lived on the fourth moor OF the
house. was on the stairs, when she saw Sullivan APP
proRch o. Brlrn clapplng his lett hand on the Out