The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-02-26
CIRCUIT COURT.
Trial ct Stephen Murnhv far th~
Murder Of hls vV1ie
The EvIdence. yern,..

The Evidence, verdict,l&e.
AT La Sale, on the evening of the 18th Of
August last, Margaret Murphy, wife of Stephen
Murphy, hitherto . citizen of excellent cbsr.s.
ter, was found dead in her own house and th.-.
were such cuts and bruises about her head .,a
face As clearly indicated her death to have been
caused by violence. Many circumstances point.
cd to Stephen Murphy, her husband, a. the an.
thor of the terrible crime. Murphy was at ouce
arrested, and at the November term of the Cir.
cult Court, was indicted for the crime of murder.
The trial began Monday last, in this court.
before Hon. f. s. Leland, and the following iurv.
E. L. Turner. Daniel Smith, Thomas Emerson.
Robert Harrington, w. G. Earl, J. n Crosby.
Thomas Ashley, J. N. Moore, Geo. W. Ward.
Albert Martin, G.. Peterson and p NJ. Gay. Cbss
Blanchard. Esq, prosecutor, and Messrs. 0. G.
Gray and d. L. Hough for the defence.
The prosecutor stated there could be no doubt
that Mrs. Murphy was killed with brutal violence
There could be no ground for any other suppo.
sition. It was not from circumstsntial evidence.
but OF plain, positive, conclusive facts, to be
proven BY the prisoners own children, vet too
young to be dishonest, too pure and innocent to
know how to shield guilty father, no matter
how strong their desire to shield him. Murphv
may have been drunk. but drunkenness excuses
no crime. When Murphy went from homo that
day, his wife, Margaret, was we'll when he re.
turned she was we'll; when his neighbors came
at the frantic demands of his weeping daughter,
she was dead, pummelled like dog.
Mr.. Gray replied that drunkenness is ALWAYS
to be considered with other circumstances and
the temperament Of the man. She was drunk:
she had fallen down five steps Of stairs upon her
head her husband had tried to revive her when
she could not stand, thinking her drunk from
her previous actions on this and former occasions.
and finally becoming alarmed, after throwing
water upon her, ran in his shirt and dra wers,-
he having been sleeping before she came home
late at night, and begged doctor to come and
see her.
The above comprises the substance of the the.
cries on either side Of the case. Ono showing
absolute gailt-the other perfect innocence.
EVIDENCE FOR THE PEOPLE.
Lawrence Morrisy :estfed.-in substance:
Have lived at La Sale fifteen years. Stephen
Murphy's wife was my aunt. Saw Murphy at
grocery the evening of the tragedy. Drank
glass Of beer with him. Went on our road to.
wards home together. Stopped at my gate to
talk. Ny wife was present. He lived little
farther on. Left US at 10 or II O'Clock Said he
was going home, as it was bed time. About
three-qusrters of an hour afterwards was called
to his house. He was on sidewalk IN front Of
ia NJ Cod
was dead Cody was holding her head MUIR
was clspping his hands. Dom: know whether
for joy or grief. Some one asked HIM if he had
sent for Aunt Mary. He said, aunt Mary hell !"
His daughter, Bridget, went and pulled my wife
out of bed. She was nearly crazy. Mrs. Muir.
phys clothing Was wet. Saw buckle, there.
There were fsur or five steps up from sidewalk
to door of the house. Saw Murphy's boy, Ed
ward, there crying Mrs. Murphy was scratched
| about the neck and face. Had two big black
eyes. Large cut on the back OF the head Don't
know what has become of Bridget, Murphy's
daughter.
Cross-examned.-Am not aware of il!.ieeling
between my mother and Murphy. Have heard her
say he was good man. had difficulty with
him last year. He pat me oxt of q job. He did
not tell my wife, in my presence. at my gate any.
thing about troubles with his wife They were
always very industrious people. Saw Mrs. Muir.
ply once under the influence of liquor, six
| months before her DEATH Did not see Murphy
attempting any religious ceremonies over her
body. There was Hag-stone at the bottom of
tho steps leading to Murphy's house Stephen
Murphy was in the habit of drinking occasion.
ally. Would take the pledge and keep it for one,
two and three years at a time" On re.examin.
alton, said:-"Had seen Murphy drag his wife
out from hiding place, strike her, and throw
her on the floor
James Murphy testifsd-"Am son of Stephen
and Margaret Murphy. Am in my sixteenth
year. On the night my mother died, did not
know Of any trouble between father aud mother
while they were at supper. He came home in
the evening and saw mother in the yard, and
spoke kind of harsh to her, and told he to "go in
the house." Had seen trouble between father
and mother couple of weeks before. She had
been washing, and was tired. Had taken glass
of punch or 50, and father whipped her for it
when he came home. Did not see mother drink.
ing any the day of her death, but thought she
had from her appearance. There haa been diff.
culties before, several times. This night, when
she died. was asleep before father came home,
and brother walked me up I heard my father
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