The New York herald., 1871-02-11
MINNIE DAVIS ON TRIAL.

The Case Of the Young Woman who Insured
Personal Property Worth Fifty Dollars for
$4,000 and Then Set Fire 60 II.
Before Recorder Hackett.
Minnie Davis, whose trial for arson was com
menced late on Wednesday afternoon In the Court Of
General Sessions was yesterday morning resumed
before Recorder Hackett The circumstances OF this
remarka BILE as developed when Minnie was tried
at the last term OF the court arc st fresh In the
public mind and 1t VIII therefore be unnecessary to
recapitulate them at length. 1t win be remem
bered that on that occasion she was acquitted on
account of misnomcr in the Indictment.
Counsel moved 70 have the indictment again
quashed, because the name OF the complainant
therein appeared as Garrett in one place and Ger.
bardt In another. His motion was denied and exep.
tiOn taken.
The first witness examined Thursday was
MRS. RACHEL HAYEDON,
Of No. "a West Twenty-nintn street. wife Of the csm-
painant, who testified that Minnie Davis, at the time
lived; witness and her husband retired shortly be-
fore midnight Of Christmas eve, and about half
an hour afterwards they were aroused by an alarm
Of fire IN the street. and on going into the parlor she
found Minnies boxes and packages on fire. and in
the bedroom adjoining she found Minnie reposlng in
to set fire TO your house ~ witness threw bucket Of
water on the names and subdued them.
the house by The alarm OF IRE and found Minnie in
bed, sobbng; she was trembling and excited; her
hands were covering her face; he took down her
before; she exclaimed, "For Gods sake, don't ex-
'0'' - THE TESTIMONY YESTERDAY.
Yesterday morning there was good deal OF delay,
owing TO the absence OF the counsel for the ac-
cused. About fifteen minutes past eleven he came
into court and apoogized for causing the delay, as
he had been detained in another court. The court
room was densely crowded and all Of the proceed.
inas were closely watched by those present.
The value Of she contents OF Minnie's trunk and
packages was proved to be not over fifty dollars.
nd
rested the case for the people, NO witnesses were
examined for the defence.
client. He opened by referring to the momentous
importance OF their decision to her.
HARD HIT AT THE JURY.
He did not propose to address the jury while some
of them were reading the newspapers, and he would
respectfully request that the gentlemen should de-
The foreman and another of the jury here laid
aside newspapers they We're giancng at and paid
MIR. Spencer prefaced his speech by definition of
the crime OF arson he maintained that, upon the
evidence. they must eI.ner IN hold her
and there MS. wsSSe round
INNOCENT; s,iie did not attempt to conceal anyh
sne nad qQpe, ana had made no provision for her
personal safety He said that it was no wonder ar.
ticles Of little value only had been found In her
to-day She might be on the crest Of The wave and
Tomorrow cast penniless on the strand. Her hus-
band @ m had disappeared only few days before the
lire. lie closed ny hoping that they would unite In
an earnest fervent and successful appeal that his
client should leave the court room; he hoped to be
seen no more there.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS CHARGE
After the close OF MIR. Spencer's address the Dis
trict Attorney commenced his speech and spoke Tor
iully an hour. He laid the case clearly and Impair
tally before the jury, and was listened to atten
lively. He claimed a verdict finding her guilty OF
arson in the first degree. -
SCENE IN COURT.
In the course Of his eloquent speech the District
Attorneg said:-"God Almighty knows that 1t not
oonro or bfo
unfortunate woMan.n No sooner had these words
been uttered than Minnie burst into crying She wep
loudly and piteousy, and with consent OF her coun-
sci had to be removed from the court. The occur
renee created great sensation among the spec.
tators.
A verdict of guilty was rendered.
The Recorder said in consideration Of the iury he
would impose only the lowest term allowed by
law, which was ten years in the States Prison.