The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-05-10
THE MCFARLAND TRIAL.

building An immense crowd, among
whom the ladies largely predominated,
, filled every available inch Of the ROOM
and listened with most wrapt attention
td the eloquent speech Of Mr.. Graham,
counsel for the defense. On rising to
continue his speech he reminded the
jury that McFarlands threat and pre-
vious attempt to kill Richardson should
have no weight with them unless he
were proved to be sane at the time
of these threats, can be appealed to
in order to prove that Mcfarland was
sane on the 25th of November, but his
honor would charge that pre-
vious sane act could not influence an
insane
Mr.. Graham reminded the jury of the
casual manner in which Mcfarland met
Richardson in the Tribune office, and
alluded to the special providence which
seems TO direct the bullet of an injured
husband, a fact which shows the moral
justice of the act. Moreover McFar-
lands words at the time should not be
considered, becausel they were clearly
the offspring of frenzied mind. The
counsel then reviewed the evidence of
Messrs Caughlin and Elwood to show
the deranged state OF his mind during
the three days preceding the 18th of
November.
Another point be borne in mind was
the fact that the prosecution had dubbed
Mrs. Mcfarland with the name of her
paramour, without establishing any
legal right to that claim. Again the
prosecution failed to show that Mrs.
Mcfarland had earned any money after
the separation from her husband, and
the presumption was that she was sup
ported all this time by Richardson.
The counsel then condemned the at
tempt to impeach the testimony of Mrs
Callogham as to the presence of Mrs.
Mcfarland i'll jersey City, and main
tained that this attempt had utterly
failed In truth, Mrs. Mcfarland was
then ensconsed in Mrs Gilberts house
with her paramour, and her friends
tried to keep her presence secret. Con-
cerning the event itself it will be seen
that the evidence of the prosecution
leaves the matter in very doubtful and
confused state. All the witnesses were
from the Tribune office, and it il inti-
mated that the attaches of this paper
are implicated in this free love transac-
ton. In fact the Tribune is arraigned
in this court and all those employed in
the Office were interested in clearing the
paper from the charge made against it
The counsel then alluded to the
vagucneSS Of the evidence of the shoot
inc and the failure of the prosecution to
show the state of McFarlands mind on
the night OF the shooting, read the evi-
dcnce of King, and argued that Me
Farland met Richardson Immediately
after he went to the office. He
mentioned several occasions in which
Mcfarland could have shot Richardson
il he had any such intention,
but the fact was he had no
such intention, while he had
any control over his mind, and it was
only when the balance Of his mind was
overthrown that Richardson fell by his
hand; the counsel then reviewed the
life of Mcfarland and said the plot to
destroy this man is fendsh in ordi
nary cases the eloping wife leaves her
children behind; she went upon the
stage merely to meet Richardson.
The counsel reviewed the circum-
stances under which Mrs Mcfarland
left her husband; said she and Rich
ardson had every opportunity for adul-
ferrous intercourse; charged Mrs. Cal
houn and Mrs Sinclair with being IN
strumental in causing the separation;
claimed that the intercepted letters laid
down whole system of philosophy
most pernicious and dangerous to So
cietv and contended that the insanity of
Mcfarland at the time Of the deed was
clearly proven !
1t was apparent all during the trial
that some person was prompting the
counsel for the prosecution, who was
acquainted with the most minute par
ticulars of Netherlands life. This could
have been no other than Mrs. Farland,
and here is seen the horrid spectacle OF
a wife exertlng herself TO hang her hus. {.
band. Counsel then reviewed the evl-
dence which showed that Mcfarland
was a sober man, and expressed a trust
in the intelligence Of the jury and Their
recollection of the case, and that as Their
position was a most important and re-
sponsible one, they should meet 1t as
fathers and husbands.
A fearful spectacle was presented to
them-a home in ruins. Sorrow may
come into the home circle in many
wavs. but all can be borne while there
is love at the fireside. The jurors should
bear in mind that homes may not be
desolated with impunity. Woman $
puritv is tower of strength, but all are
taught to pray against being led into
temp;ation. 4 virtuous woman S most
glorious object in creation is
described in the sublime words Of holy
writ "Let those who attempt to de-
stroy this beautiful work of God learn
that their action cannot 60 unpunlshed
and that jealousy is the rage of man
which will sweep before it man who at
tempts to invade the sanctuary of home
and rob men of wives
The Court adjourned at the conclu-
sion of Mr.. Graham's remarks and to-
morrow the. District Attorney will sum
nm for nrosecution.
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.