The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-07-22
Our Precious Lunatio.
NxM YoRK. May 10.

NEW YoRx. May 10.
The Richardson N cFarland Jury had
been out one hour and ffty minutes. A
breathless silence brooded over court and
auditor-a silence and stiffness 30 abso-
lutte, notwithstanding the vast multitude
of human beings packed together there,
that when some one far away among the
throng under the northeast balcony clear.
ed his throat with u smothered little caugh
It startled everybody uncomfortably. 50
distinctly did It grate upon the pulseless
air. At hat imposing moment the bang
of door was heard, then the shuttle OF
approaching feet, and then sort Of surg
ing and swaying disorder among the
heads near the entrance from tho jury
room told that the Twelve were coming.
Presently all was still again, and the fore
man of the jury rose and said:
"YoUR HONOR AND GENTLEMEN: We
the jury charged with the duty Of deter
mining whether the prisoner at the bar.
Daniel Mcfarland. has been guilty Of
murder, In taking by surprise an unarmed
man and shooting him to death, or whether
the said prisoner Is simply afflicted with
Fad hut irresponsible insanity which ut
times can be cheered only by violent en-
tertainment with firearms, do find As fol.
lows, namely:
That the prisoner Daniel Mcfarland Is
insane. as above described, Because:
/. His rcatgrandfather's stcp-faiher
was tainted with insanity. and frequently
killed people who wero distasteful to him.
Hence, insanity Is hereditary In tho
family.
2. For nine years the prisoner at the
bar did not adequately support his family.
Strong circumstantial evidence Of insan-
ity.
5. For nine years he made his home, rs
a general thing, poor house; sometimes
(but very rarely) q CHEEKY, happy habita-
ton; frequently tho den of beery. drivel-
ing. stupifed animal; but never, rs far as
asccrtained, the abiding place ofa gentle
man. These be evidences of insanity.
4. He once took his young unmarried
sister-in.law to the museum; while there
his hereditary insanity came upon him.
and to such degree that he hiccuped and
staggercd; and afterward, on the way
homo, even made love to the young girl
he was protecting. These are the acts OF
person not right in his mind.
8. For good while his sufferings were
so great that he had to submit to tho In
convenience of having his wife give pub
lie readings for the support; and at times,
when he handed these shameful earnings
to the barkeeper, his naughty soul was
so torn with anguish that he could hardly
stand without leaning up against some-
thing. At such times he has been known
to shed tears into his sustenance until It
WAS diluted to utter inefiiciency. 1natten-
ton of this nature Is not the act of DEM
ocrat unaffected In mind.
6. He never spared expense In making
bis wife comfortable during her occasional
confinemcnts. Her father Is able to testify
to this. There was always nm element Of
unsoundness about the prisoners generosi.
ties that is very suggestive ut this time s.nd
before this court. -,
z. Two years ago the prisoner can.S
fearlessly up behind Richardson In the
dark, and shot him in the leg. The pris-
oners brave and protracted defiance OF
an adversary that for years had left him
little to depend upon for his support but n
wife who sometimes earned scarcely any
thing for weeks at time, Is evidence that
he would have appeared In front of Rich
ardson and shot him In the stomach II he
had not been insane ut the time OF the
shooting.
4. Fourteen months ago the prisoner
told Archibald Smith that he was going
to kill Richardson. This Is insanity.
9. Twelve months ago he told Marshal
p. Jones that he was going to kill Rich
ardson. Insanity.
10. Nino months ago he was lurking
about Richardson's home In New Jersey,
and said no was going to kill the said
Richardson. Insanity.
II. Seven months ago he showed a
pistol to Seth Brown and said that that
was for Richardson. He said Brown tes-
tilted that at that time 1t seemed plain
that there was something the matter with
Mcfarland. for he crossed the street d.
agonally nine times In fifty yards, appar.
emily without any settled reason for 50
doing so, and finally fell In the gutter
and went to sleep. Hc remarked at the
time that Mcfarland "acted strange
believed he was insane. Upon hearing
Browns evidence, John w. Galen, M.
D., affirmed at once that Mcfarland tcas
insane.
l2. Five months ago, Mcfarland
showed his customary pistol, In his GUS
tomary way, to his bed-fellow, Charles
A. Dana, and told him he was going to
kill Rich ardson the first time an opportu'
nifty offered. Evidence Of insanity.
Is. Five months and two weeks age
Mcfarland asked John Morgan the time
of day, and turned and Udlked rapidly
away ,cithout ,oaiting for an a,ls,Der. Al
most indubitable evidence Of insanity
And
IA. It Is remarkable that exactly one
week after this circumstance tho prison
or, Daniel Mcfarland. confronted Albert
Id. Richardson sulIcnly and without
warning shot him dead. TAis q ns6.i.
fest insanity. Everything we know o
the prisoner goes to show that II he haf
been sane at the time, he would have
shot his victim from behind,
10. There Is an absolutely overwhelm
ing mass of testimony to show that az
hour before he shooting, Mcfarland va'
ANXIOUS AND UNEASY, and that fpc min
utes after Il he tpas EXCITED. Thus tht
accumulating conjectures and evidences o.
insanity culminate In this sublime and un
impeachable proof Of 1t. Therefore
J "Your Honor and Gentlcmen-We tht
!. Jury pronounce the said Daniel McFar
land INNOCENT OF MURDER But CAL
AMIToUsLY INSANE"
!. The scene that ensued almost dcfies dc
scription. Hats handkerchiefs and bonnet
were frantically waved above the niasset
heads In the courtroom, and three tremen
dous cheers and the tiger told where th'
} sympathies Of court and people were
Then n hundred pursed lips were advanc
cd to kiss the liberated prisoner. and man!
J a hand thrust out to give him the congrst
ulatory shake-but presto! with maniac'
own quickness and maniac's fury, th'
. lunatic assassin Of Richardson fell upol
. his friends with teeth and nails. boots an'
, Office furniture, and the amazing rapidit,