Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-12

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THE MCFARLAND--RICHARDSON
CASE
The verdict of acquittal in the McFar-
land case is no surprise to the public; its
Justice, however, is a question upon which
opinions will differ. How far Mrs. Nc
Farand had good cause morally to sepa-
rate herself from her husband, how much
that separation was due to improper in
flucnce by Richardson and others, and
how far the separation was legal, are
questions not settled by the trial and re-
suits. While with the question of fact
before the iurv-whether Mcfarland was
guilty of the murder of Richardson-they
were supposed to have no weight, never
theless they will have much TO do with
public opinion as to the justitiablcness OF
the verdict Upon the point of the in
sanity of Mcfarland caused by jealousy
and hatred OF Richardson, the hinge upon
which the verdict is supposed to have
turned there is also the broadest ground
for disagreement. We are not accus-
toned to see a Jealous husband bottle up
his insanity for so long Il time as McFar-
/ land appears to have done, to have been
sane enough to all common and particu-
lar observers in everyday affairs, and
to be able to bear the constant sight
of and intercourse with the man who
/ he Beloved had injured him, and all at
once burst into insanity over his wrongs.
usually operates. The first pang is .he
maddening one. We can readily believe
that at such moment a man may become
bereft of reason, and fired with sudden
passion seek vengeance in the blood of
his wronger, as Sickles and Cole did and
others have done, but we have the very
gravest doubts of this long suffering in
sanity urged in justification of Mcfarland.
1t may be so but it looks unlikely; we do
not believe the jury founded their verdict
upon that theory, nor that it will be ac-
cepted as even plausible by the public.
MRS. RICHARDSON'S STATEMENT
The following is an abstract of Mrs. Rich
ardson's statement published in the Tribune
yesterday:
"Now, after have waited in patience for
verdict of the newspapers, of the public and of
a New York Court and jury, have decided that
| will speak the first and last words shall
ever speak for myself. And this Is what |
mean to do To write as exactly as | can the
whole and simple truth to the minutest detail,
reserving nothing and extenuating nothing.
In doing this | neither ask nor expect SYM
patty or justice from the press or the public.
| married Daniel Mcfarland in 1857. was
a girl of 10, born in Massachusetts, and edu-
Gated in New England schools. i had been
teacher, and was just beginning to write lit
tie for the press. Daniel Mcfarland was an
Irishman of 81 or SO, who had received a par
tial course at Dartmouth College, and had,
seven years before | knew him, been admit
ted to Massachusetts bar. When mar
ried him, he represented himself to be a mem-
Der of the bar in Madison, Wis, with
flourisiling law practice, brilliant political
prospects, and possessed of property to the
amount of from $50, 900 to 100000. He also
professed to be a man of temperate habits, of
the purcst morals, and, previous to my mar
riage. appeared neither Incorporate, nor bru-
tai, nor profane After marriage we went
first to Madison, Wis, being detained till Mr.
Mcfarland could borrow money to continue his
tourney. We returned to New York in Feb
ruary. 1858. Mr.. Mcfarland leaving his watch
and chain in pawn at Rochester hotel to nav
his board bin In less than three months
after their marriage, Mrs. Mcfarland went
home and for fourteen DAYS did not hear from
her husband, whom She left in New York. In
answer to A telegram he came 10 Mr.. Sape's.
in New HAMPSHIRE. and then. for the first
time. she had suspicion that he might be in
temperate. During the summer of 1857 Mrs
Mcfarland remained at her fathers, and in
the fall returned to BROOKLYN. living with her
husband in two or three hired rooms. and he
here first began to come home intoxicated