The New York herald., 1870-04-03
THE CONDEMNED MURDERER
Jack Reynolds Observation-Disclosures for .
Writ Of Error and Stay Of Procesdings-Is
Reynolds Lunatie IA Respite to bs
Asked For and Medical Inves-
t!gation to be Held.

Jack Reynolds was, on the 23d OF February last,
l convicted OF the murder OF william Townsend, and
sentenced to be hanged on Friday next. The trial
created considerable excitement, owing 10 the
strange circumstances surrounding the tragedy ~
well as 10 the significant expression that fell from
the lips or the murderer immediately after his ar
| rest-"Hangng foramurder Is played but In New
York." Is Was known that the prisoner was friend.
less and destitute, and II was generally admitted
that the unfortunate man would bs made an ex-
ample or Little hopes have therefore, been enter.
tanned OF a reprieve. As will be remembered tho
counsel for the plea earnestly urged upon the Jury
that at the time OF the commission prisoner was
| aDoring under mental alteration, and was conse
Quenty, irresponsible for his acts.
Yesterday morning Mr.. w. r. Howe, the pris-
oner's advocate appeared 1t the Supreme Court
Chambers, Judge Ingraham presiding. aud applied
for q writ OF error and stay Of proceedings, In
order that the might he reviewed by the gen.
! erai term OF the Supreme Court Mr.. Howe called
the attention OF the court co the tact that at the trial
three medical witnesses subpGnaed by the Dis.
trict Attorney. bu. were not called 0y the prosecu-
| ton, though he (Mr. HOwel examined them Now,
those medical practitioners he contended not
experts on questions OF insanity. The prisoner had
| ot the benent Of skilled and scientific men who
had made the study Of insanity the speciality In theiI
| profession. He now
| ASKED FOR WRIT or ERROR
| and for stay OF proceedings, "a a bill had passed
the lower House OF the Legislature authorizing writs
OF and stay OF proceedings In tried before
the Court OF Oyer aud TcImlner making the statute
IN proceedings In capital cases tried In the Court Of
General sessions TO apply 10 those tried In the Court
| OF oyer and Termner. Counsel claimed. moreover,
that ngsmucl the presiding Judge at the trial III
| answer 10 juror said there was evidence Of
sunity the jury were deprived IN e1ect OF Lher pro-
vince 70 decide the evidence OF the Case and toox
I
prisoner VAS insane at tae time OF the comm ssOn o
| tue deed. la AID Of the mouon he now desired TO
inIorm the Court that ne had aildaviis BY medical
men WHO had devoted years to the udy OF insanity
In ail It's phases and ali conclrred IN saying tnaG Rey
nOlds was not In ht mental condiIlon 10 be exc
cated and that while he tcouuseil was aware that
| III u legal sense those documents might be ques-
| uanity and Justice would DermiI those aridav1ts 20
be read. Mr. Howe tnen presented the AFFIDAVIT ol
Professor III. Gonzalez Echeverria, who set forth
that ne visited Reynolds, aud alter careful examina-
| ton discovered tnat he
| EXHIBITS A LOSS OF MORAL rEELINs
and memory, such as - usually observed In the ear
Hest stages Of cerebral Degeneration or along with
without necessarily Implying complete INSANITY or
ldiocy but, nevertheless. cerebr0-menal disease In
one OF lls most perp!exng forms that the physical
parts Of the Dody manifested by Reynolds are ahose
not unircquently attending epilepsy, and that all
those Important lacts overlooked during the
trial were such AS " impegahveiy demand respite
OF Reynolds sentence IN order that an inQuisltlon
| might be had ~ 10 his sanity, according 10 the
statute. The depOnent, aItsr technically sstunx
forth his reasons. concludes aldAvG Oy express
having murdered the inoiiensve Townsend. Coun.
Sci then read the aidavt Of DIR. Clymer. to the ef
feet that ne had examined heyaoias and he was sat-
| isfed tiiat
HI WAS OF UNsoUND MIND
| Mr.. HOwe's own affidavit was taen read, and
| averreA that pu0ic clamor had intim dated some
| branches oi the juoiclaly. and there now existed
Dignity Of the Court. ought 70 be rebuHed It waS
| Inconsistent with humanity. Inconsistent with
ligion and Inconsistent wsh justice mat the poor.
l nfo q owal
hearing and Q full investigation Of his case. hey
nolds cas- not III die Ills spiritual advisers could
| make no impression upon ni,n for the reason that
he had no mind and he mad n0 more idea OF hs Inn
pending iste Than thai oi au orang-outang IN the
meniaI condition even irrespective OF the iesl Oh.
jecti0ns tO suoA resalt. would be cruel Inuraer.
greedy or dcsrOus for the eHnsaon Of the convicrs
blood without judicial appreciation, which could
,nFs Ut % Tie mex. General al Term Of Of IN The saprsIas
Court, and II necessary the Coort OF Appeals ;ror
noss ss
and feeling appeal W support OF his application.
/ HAD NO POWER IN PHE NATTER,
which was now within the control Of the Executive.
II the medical investigation was TO be held respite
SHOULD be asked from the Governor and as the time
fixed for the execution was so near at hand there
should be NO delay. rhas vas rhe only remedy.
District Attorney G0rvin said there was no pre-
tence In any Of his aiiidasits tnst Reynolds now
Mr.. Howe submitted that the afYldavits clearly
showed tnat the prisoner was laborihg under an
epleptc disease, and was not therefore In 1T
The District Attorney then read report made BY
DR.. Hammond substantially relterating what no
| testified 70 on the trial. to the effect that
THE PRISONER WAS sANB AND RATIONAL
Public justice must be vindicated. He lDlstrics
Attorney felt the responsibility that rested upon
| him. And although the prisoner should have every
right extended To him, every legal right that the Law
gave, the Court would remember that the people had
| rights that must pe taken care OF.
Mr. Howe said that Reynolds was in hts cell, ana
all nis power Of doing Injury had reached period.
action Of the Court reviewed by lhe General Term.
Ia fact, such course was absolutely necessary In
sired that full investgaaon should be held before
the dread sentence OF the law was finally executed.
oners mental condition the TACT or his being hanged
when such anidayis as he had presented showed that
REYNOLDS was ~ lsborng under sn eplleptlc disease,
would cause the community TO shudder.
Judge lngraham suggested thai the remedy, and
the only one apparent, was an application 10 The
Governor for respite for the purpose OF having
| medical investigation.
Mr.. Howe SAID he would 20 to Albany on Monday.
Judge lngrahAm then intlmared that he would an
nounce his decision upon the application for the writ
| OF error tomorrow morning.
| JACK REYNOLDS WAS VISITED
yesterday by a HERALD reporter. Reynolds no IOn-
ger occupies cell on the upper corridor in linz
but is now on the ground moor. Those famliar with
the interior OF the Tombs Will recall the clerks desk
near the t s,1ye te, 10 & The men' men prison. It's cell
PERHAPS the last days OF HIS life. lie IS
closely guarded bv two deputy snerins and when
told the OBJECT or our mission the Deputy Governor
requested the doubIe-bolted and barred doors Of
| tue cell TO be thrown open AS the put The
Key into the lock OF the door IL seemed like unlocking
part OF the wall, so closely did the iron plate nt
| TO the masonry.
| The lock turned easily, the door new back With
| heavy sound and revealed Reynolds eyes peeriEG
through the lattice or anolher locked door, Tho
interior OF the cell was partially Visible. ana It was
shown that Isey nolds had companion. On inquirinR
tue reason thereof, OF companion with Reynolds,
| we were told that that TO prevent his commit
ting sucide-a ghastiy precauton, the intmation OF
| which made us lnstincuvely shudder.
| THE LATTICE DOOR OPENED,
Reynolds slipped out or the cell very lightly, lust
as bro does from q cage, ana with tue BIRDS ahak-
Ing VI It's wings, Out In Reynolds case there was no
| attempt at hight. He glanced at the HERALD re.
| porter with smile OF recognition, for he mad seen
HIN several time before but did nor say anything
| The reporter remarked TO the murderer ynat tho
his close cOndnement.
| MURDERER mo; am well. BLANK starel.
hEPoRrER-Sleep well, Reyno!dsf
| MuRDERER--Very well tAnother stare).
nrpp pt,1y, y,et,