The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-27
TIE PUTNAM COUNTY MURDER.
Farmer Reid Arraigned for the
Killing of Daniel Mccormack.
How the Deed Was Done and tho Circumstances
that Led to It-Plea Of the Accused that He
Was justified and that Death Was En-
tirely Accidental Rollicking and Dis-
appointed Observation-Disclosures
Trouble to Get Jury.

appointed visitors-Anticipated
Trouble to Get Jury
CARMEL, N. Y, June 20, 1871.
The trial OF Edwin Reid for the killing OF Daniel
Mccormack. on the night OF the 10th OF July 1869,
was called on tins morning. In the court house OF
this town. before Judge Joseph F. Barnard, sitting
here In Circuit and oyer and Terminer. As is usual
such occasions the country folk from all parts OF
the surrounding districts drove into the town at an
early hour OF the forenoon, crowding the two hotels
and "smiling' with great good nature. As every.
body knew everybody else the scene at the hotels,
on the streets and around the court house seemed
more Ike
PLEASANT REUNION OF FARMERS
for some agricultural festyity than to participate
either jurymen spectators In the trial OF one
OF their own number for the murder Of an Irish
abOrer. The crime now has lost much
OF It's original interest for people here;
for 1t Is so long ago since 1t was
committed. and as Reid has never spent day In
jail. having been bailed out Immediately after the
Coroner's inquest, and has, therefore, been among
his old friends and associates constantly the NOR
bid desire OF innocent countrymen to see man who
has been for any time in the jailer's keeping does
not IN this case exist 1t was therefore, to udge
from early appearances more to enjoy holiday at
the county seat" to tell yarns and exercise the
team that so many people crowded themselves into
the town to-day than to attend murder trial.
Mr. Reid is quite q respectable looking man,
owns o handsome farm near Brewster, In
this county, and Is reported to be worth from
$40Q 900 to $50 900. Mccormack was an Irish aborer.
who lived in house adjacent TO Red's. The iacts
connected with The killing may be summed up as
follows:--
For twelve months previous to July, 1869, the
milk spring IN Reds farm yard repeatedly
br0ven open and some OF the milk stolen; In many
instances also water was put In the spring In place
OF the stolen milk and the depredations were even
carried SO far that the mix cans were tempered
with and some sort OF stuff thrown into them.
Finally Reid's customers in New York began to COM
plain OF the milk supplied to them, and wrote him
several letters to that effect During the eight days
previous to
THE KILLING OF MCCORMACK
Reds mix spring was broken open on four differ
ent nights, and after the last time Reid watched
each night, concealing himself in the yard for the
purpose with a loaded gun In his possession. On
the night OF the 10th OF July, 1869, he was for the
third night on this duty when while half asleep In
his place of concealment, TWO men passed him by,
and gong over to the spring began breaking on
some laths, with which the lid OF the spring mad
been fastened after the previous robbery This noise
thoroughly awoke Reid, and going over 10 the
spring, gun In hand, he asked who was there Reid
received no answer, but saw q man moving away,
whom he told to halt adding that at last he had
CAUGHT THE THIEVES.
The man still continued to move away, and Reid,
seeing that he refused to stop or 10 speak, shot at
him. the shot taxing effect In the spine Of the back.
1t was so dark that the men could with dimculty
see the forms OF each other. After the sn00tnK
Reid CROPPED around him with the gun. and while
doing so struck against McCormack's companion.
ASKED Red to do HIM no harm. "a ne had come
there only "to take little" Reid III the meantime
had called Tor his family TO come 10 his assistance
and when lights mad been procured Mccormack
was
lying under an archway formed by some tlmbers
adjoining the house. and through which he was
escaping wnen keia nrea ,ne lata, r sn0s ma
having on 1t McCOrmack's initials. and the diDper,
Is Is alleged, being Identified BY one OF Reid's SER
want girls as properly or the family with which
both Mccormack and Pickett were boarding. and
which family was tenant Of lteid's 1t is further
more stated that during the twelve months previous
to the shooting two large watch dogs owned by
Reid had been poisoned at night time. These facts.
coupled with the circumstance that robbery OF the
milk spring had never occurred until q Time after
Reid had discharged Mccormack from his employ
lin which, however, the latter had been only for two
or three days. and which he left in an excited state,
refusing even to take pay for mis- abor), are the
Claim case or justlaable nomcice. one other boint
said to be in favor OF the accused and this Is that
when he shot at McCormack he aimed At MS legs,
mack In the act OF STOPPING 10 escape under the
timbers, and thus the shot entered the spine. NC
Cornack fingered Few days and died from the
THE PROSECUTION,
however, dispute every one OF these points and
assert that they utterly without foundation.
There hut little unpreJudIced evidence to what
occurred on the night O The l6th there beng no
one present but the murdered man, Pickett and
Reid, so that a Jury VIII have diiicnt task IN DE-
eo sa raise the even a a
admitting the whole story as told above, still Reid
altogether guilty In taxing the life OF fellow
being under such circumstances; for the stealing OF
q bucket OF milk, surprising that Mccormack really
went to Reds yard TO steal the milk was NOT cause
sufficient TO Kill the offender. There has been much
bitter feeling excited by the fatal occurrence In this
county.
here were aroused TO state OF Indignation, because
one OF their countrymen should have been 80 sum-
marty dealt with, and many oil the friends Of the
deceased have united in procuring additional conn.
sci, In order that McCormack's death shall be fully
avenged. on the other hand, the farmers and, for
the most part the natives OF this county would not
hold Reid guilty OF serious crime In protecting his
property, and believe that, all the circumstances
considered, he could scarcely nave acted otherwise
than he aid, and that the causes were aggravating
enough and OF sufficiently long continuance to
Ex0NERATE HIM FROM A FELLOWS FATE.
When the case was called on to-day early in the
afternoon by Mr.. +. Larkin, for the prosecu
until the Jury panel had been increased by ifty add
tional jurors from parts OF the county as far remote
as from sa m aa e hs pe1s a.
ton to the effect that most people In the county had
both formed and expressed an opinion Is 70 the
guilt degree OF guilt or innocence OF the accused;
and, therefore, ne believed that from jury panel OF
thrty.six, out OF which only tweniy-six gentlemen
had answered TO their names, II would be
IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A JURY
that would satisfactorily meet the demands Of
justice IN this case. The Sheriff was then ordered
by the Court empanel fifty more residents Of the
county, who should he In readiness In court to-
morrow morning promptly at ten O'Clock. When
Judge Barnard had gwen tins decision feeling OF
disappointment was manifest in the faces OF the
crowd In court who were anxousy watching the
proceedings for after a good dinner and few
hours talk the trial gained the supreme attention OF
the farmer folks. The news soon spread about among
the Inhabitants OF the town. and The county visitors,
who, OF course, mOnOl Olized the court room to
themselves and whose names
IN A LITTLE PLACE LIKE THIS
might be called legion soon beto0k themselves 70
the verandas and barrooms OF the hotels, there to
discuss appropriate SUBJECTS. only few renamed
In Court TO hear the learned legal dlsputations on