The New York herald., 1870-04-09
THE M'FARLAND TRIAL.
Opening Speech Of Counsel for
the Defence.
Graphic History Of the Wooing Of Nc
Farland and His Marriage.
THE FIRST TRACE OF THE TEMPTER.
~~~~~->>~>~c>>->>~~~>~~>
The Intercepted Letter from Rich
ardsOn to Mrs. Mcfarland
and the ElOpement.
FrOthingham's BenedicfiOn
mathematical.
TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENCE.
FOR THE DEFENCE.
Hereditary Taint of Insanity
the Plea.

Long before the hour fixed for the opening OF the
Court OF General Sessions yesterday morning
crowd of probably two thousand persons had con-
gregated in and about the old brown stone building
in which the trial OF Mcfarland Is being held.
THE WOMEN OUT IN FORCE
large number Of respectfully dressed females
we're among the most clamorous for admittance;
and several OF them who did all that their persua-
sive powers could DO to induce the officers to let
them in had little babes In their arms.
THE ROUGH AND SCUM.
The rough and tumble crowd OF court oungers
were also out in considerable strength and the
atmosphere In the Railways was heavily laden with
the delightful odor OF Fourth ward whiskey and
molasses, as a most oaorlferous matter Of course.
This portion OF the noisy wouG-be spectators how
ever did not seem to have much influence with
the court officers, and but very few OF them sue
ceeded in squeezing their precious carcasses into
the ROOM
THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN AGAIN.
But three OF the women who strove TO slip IN with
the crowd were allowed to enter and the Washing
ton pardon broker OF them. The mys-
terious woman yesterday spoken of in the HERALD
was also one OF the favored ones, and at her SIDE
in the ladies' box was young lady attlred In deep
black who wore veil, which she did not remove
during the proceedings She turned out TO be one Of
the for the defence ana dio not appear to
relish her surroundings in the least.
M'FARLkND on TIME
Mr.. Mcfarland, with his little son Percy was
among the first persons to arrive. He appeared to
be In excellent spirits and conversed with several
OF his friends though he had not the slightest in
terest one way the other in the issues OF the
case
HOW THE AUDIENCE ACTED.
During the opening Of the counsel for the defence
the utmost silence prevailed, and everybody seemed
anxious hear every WORD that dropped from his
lips In speaking OF the letter addressed by Richard
son TO Mrs. Mcfarland in March, 1857 only about
month after she had lett her husband, and in which
he called her his darling, for whom he had peen
"wating wearly for long, long year" " he vehemently
exclaimed that he loved his wife, and if found such
letter as Richardson's addressed TO ner he would
mad or sane, XIII him at sgHt whenever ana where
ever he should meet him. The words had scarcely
been uttered before the audience broke out with loud
demonstrations OF applause, which the Court found
It aifficult TO suppress.
RICHARDSON'S DAZZLING" LETTER
The reading OF the letter OF Richardson to Mrs.
Mcfarland, which VIII be found in It's proper place
IN this report created the greatest Excitement
among the spectators, and when it was offered IN
evidence and Mr.. Geary began to read 1t in a loud,
clear tone OF voice there was a sort OF involuntary
furthest from where the counsel sat towards the
front. IL evident thar there was
general anxiety TO hear its contents ana for
a few moments there was such hustle and
confusion in the audience that Mr.. Geary had to
wait some time before quiet could be restored.
During the reading OF the letter there stiffness
OF death in the court room, and nothing could be
heard save the ringing tones or the counses voice,
as he emphasized every word OF the extraordinary
splste. He did read it hurriedy, but slowly and
deliberately, and he went sentence after
sentence OF the letter he would ever and anon stop
for short time and look steadily at the Jury II to
study the effect on them OF what he was reading.
THE EFFECT TIE LETTER
To say that the jury looked dumofounded would
not give the iantest idea OF the expression ntter
astonshment mot TO use stronger term-which the
countenance of every one OF them when the
reading had come TO a close. they are all married
men and they doubtless imagined what they would
have done had they been placed TN McFarland's
position. The sensation the letter produced
on the audience was positively tremendous and ut
terry ndescribabie Indeed, but the watchTulness
of the officers, their feelings would have broken
forth In unmistagable way, and 1t is safe TO say
that If tue jury partook OF the same feelings in re-
gard to ,.e matter the mass Of the auditors pre-
sent, they certainly felt that after ALL the opening OF
the counsel for the defence was not mere buncombe
unsupported by hideous facts which had better, for
certain people, have never seen the light OF day.
MFARLAND wEpT
during the reading of the letter. although evi.
dent that he exerted utmost to repress his feel
fngs. It doub tless carried him back TO the happy
days OF his early married life. SO toncbingy por.
trayed by Mr. Spencer In his opening address; to those
days wnen, surrounded by the wlIe he ioolzed and
the little ones he loved so dearly, he felt the most
y,io failnx In hNv od hin haon
in his hands when was read that part Of the letter
revealing the fact that long years. before he had
ever dreamt OF the blow that TO fall upon him
there was an updercurrent even then that was
destined TO carry away from him those he loved
above all else on earth. Although little Percy,
not quite understanding why his father was
SO cast down, endeavored to attract his
attention by taxing hold OF HIS hand,
and tuggng at 1t IN childish sort OF way, he paid
no attention TO him and sat immoyaple statue,
with his head buried in his hands all the while.
THAT PARADISE OF DIVORCES"
the State OF Indiana in for It's share OF dssec
ton during the opening OF the counsel, ana the
scathing way he alluded to the marriage ceremony
at the Astor House seemed to tickle the spectators
immensely, and several times the officers OF the
court interrupted an outburst OF applause which
seemed ready at every moment TO be the point OF
making itself loudly heard.
'sTnE WOMAN CALHouS,n
sthe panderer, the procuress from the start as
she was styled by the deience, was also severely
handled. The large number Of letters submitted 70
the court, whicn were identified by Mr.. Cummings
rs IN her handwriting, and which she wrote pending
the trouble between Mr.. Mcfarland and his wiIe,
give promise of developments which the defence
contend will open the eyes OF the community 70
what disgusting nest ol Hree lovers" they Will vii
stf Up before closing the case -
HORACE GREELEY's BAsDwRfTlSG
was Identified by Mr.. Elisha Sinclair in letter
which the counsel intend to offer evidence. When
the question was put to whether not the witness
could swear to Horace's writing, there was genera
laugh IN the court, showing concluslvely that Hor