The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-04-14
Ghe9tSitSLligstreer,.
TmEMURDER ORA; d. RIcHs
E1&RPs0N, WIZ
The TrinI Of the Murderer--The In-
terCepted LetteE..The Course
OF the PapeFS.sThe
Merits ofthe Case.
NEW YoRK, SalnrlNy, AprlI Q.

ever since the first unsuccessful attempt g
assassination in 1887. 1t was IN adrOi
stroke of policy in the defence TO submit
the letter lust before the adjournment o.
the court for two days giving qll the Sat
hrdhy and Sunday papGrs BIZ OPPORTUNITY
for cdmmentoh It, aud tile mOdyea inc
relations Of the parties between whom II
should have been exchanged, and leaving
the minds OF the jury subject TO all out
side opinions or influences. Richardson's
friends had never before seen q copy o.
the letter or been informed Of It's exaci
contents, though he never denied In any
degree Its authorship or is sentiments
They think now, Us ho always said, that
It was nm extremely imprudent and Ill
considered epiStle, but insist that tn
Whole facts lin its connection shall
he known, and will probably offer them
in the sworn testimony Of the court
The letter was not written, al
Mcfarland always asserted in relating
his grievances, while lie and his wife vert
living in peace and harmony, but weeks
after they had voluntarily separated, II
the presence of witnesses and with his full
consent At that time Richardson a1t
Mn. AfcF Garland Twetc hut elightly Alc
Quafnted, ind The eeparAtion was tle ge
suIfGR AIcFarlRhbB years. % abuse ant
cruelty, not of affection for the unfortunate
victim Of his revenge. Mcfarland freely
confessed himself in the wrong, and partet
from his wife with the mutual understand
ing that Il divorce, as soon Us practicable
was to give legal and final sanction to thei
own voluntary separation. Weeks later
he, in an evil hour, fell upon this letter 9
| Richardson's, and the immediate reslil
was an attempt at assassination In AmitI
street, which failed through no fault o
Mcfarland, for the fire Of lis pistol burn
ell Richardson's clothing, md from thu
time till the last act Of the sad affair, thu
situation was Observation-Disclosures
promising Mrs. Mcfarland marriage whel
she would be legally free, and McFarIant
following on his truck and stcalthily seek
ing bis lIfs5 a =. y
N SAtfa Richardson wiGltestiE tn.tlle ttll
SIDE Is not only willing brt' destreSsto d
so, and her evidence will establish thu
earlier and inner history oil the case, rs Il
has never yet been presented. Mrs Rich
ardson Is now living ut Woodside, n. j.
with two OF Mr.. Richardson's children
ind one Of her own, "little Danny" whom
she so gracefully pictured In her own Verst
and that her testimony shall not be want
Ing through any efforts OF enemies or I'M
torseCn events, It has all heen put in writ
ing, properly sworn TO, and is ready o.
any time to be submitted 10 the Court. Il
will be the most important evidence in thu
whole trinl, except that bearing directly
on the act Of killing, and will carry will
II the conviction Oftruth, ind risk moth
ing in saving Of innocence, TO every honest,
acknowledgement honorable mind. Mr.
! Richardson's friends, from his widow and
brother 10 his most casual acquaintance
are NIL extremely DESTROYS TINT the whole
truth, 10 its last TACT, shall come out and
be clearly brOughtat -lightsin.the- Court
md they are content there toTest them IN
justification Of his motives and defence Of
lis character. Nobody expects convic.
ton or anything more than disagree
lnent oFthe Jury, but II will be no small re
suit to answer tho SANDER and rctute the
calumny which has been bruitGd, not only
about the principals In this tragedy, but
about some Of. the best and purest women
living. Mr.. Spenccr'S opening for the de-
fence, yesterday, was good illustration
of the public Judgment which the defence
seek TO force upon the case, and the wild
and llnwarnntcd assertions which Ii
made are fair specimens Of what are gen
crafty accepted Ns facts. 1t Is conceded
however, that Mr.. Spencer shot his arrow
Off htGbus indignation Ion t9r, mud th4i
tlI6 TinlerC6iand u,lseEupnl9llsiin eehyco
his speech will work III the end To his owl
injury, lie dcceives no one by calling
Mns. Lucia q. CGlhOtliIA randcrhr and q
procurcss, though he doubtless gains ere
tlence for lis assertion that Mrs. Richard
son Is now ''rioting" on the property Ol
her deceased husband, whom SliU married
only TO acquire its control. And yet ONT
statement Is no nearer tho truth tIlan The
o:her-ratlier, GOah! Hrel equally itals0
Mrs. Richardson has from the first, tie
clined to receive, or in any way avail her
self of Mr.. Richardson's property, and &c
far Inns received not q dollars benefit from
| It, Friends Of both sexes have aided
and beftiended her, and never more will
ingly Or generously than through tho recent
fearful months. They have been abuset
and assailed for ,dninEltlliS, but not one q
Richardson's friends has ialtGrcd or wa
vercl In his defence or her protection. i
isn't legal proof, but he goes good why
to establish n moral certainty, thnt oil tht
women who have known tile facts In Till
case, md It's real history Of affairs, have
remained Mrs. Richardson's frncst ant
truest friends. 1t is IN unfortunate pro
pcnsity for the weaker sex 10 Judge harsh
| " Of one another, and II Mrs. Richardson
was guilty Of thousandtll part Of tha
which MI. Spencer asserted, yesterday, Il
would he contrary to all experience, tina
her own sex should not cast off aud dis
own her. But nothing Of this Inns beeI
done, the Calhoutls, Sinclairs, Gilbert
and others, the purGSL and most refined
are and have always been constant Z
Mrs. Richardson's, fortunes. : There mi
many facts which might be stated to SHOW
the reasons Of their confidence md thu
reasons Of their convictions, but 1t Is pro
badly better that they should be devcl
opetI and established In the course Of thl
trinl. ~! ~ * '''
The progress Of the trial is likely Il
illustrate again n TACT or II condition 0
affairs which attracted considerable attel
ton ut the time Of tho murder Tn
course Of the city papers, in regard to tn
affair, was ut that time surprise and
mystery to many, and the same thing Il
likely 10 be repeated. They show, how
ever, CreditGble disposition 70 reffalI
from comment until the evidence lis Ii
though the Sun reports, which are writ