New-York tribune., 1871-01-12
THE COURTS.
THE RICHEL MURDER TRIAL


vrRpICr OF uANsLAUGHrER IN TIE i"IND
DEGREE.
The trial of Valentine Rchel for the mUluei
o., CHRISTOPHER Higgins On the 5th of september las'
TOOK race Yesterday, in the Court of 0ycrand lerli"0
hoore Judge Cardozo District-Atorney GarNh "pP,I.
,. f,r the people On the night of the oeoure, -
murdered mau was standing in front OF d. - - -
,oap factory in Westinghouse when tue pisV thoro
p t.e door, and inquired what he was "''.e 80
Nothing" was the reply. Tie prisoner ''''l ono
c.1,.r from his pOckei and hred, Whic s''"s
r., f-,,, d..o.scJ uic.ins shot thro"th 'hc
80, .,,l 1r,n,c5 dead Rlchel then went odcA lh''
49,. 80. -, ho was arrested 10y Ohcer Ramsay
Tf was tle story told by Mary A. M'f-.l' "U nis'
witness on the trial and corioool"'eu ~ li' --'
sl,i,ll. Holm Crocan, ana M"t"H N'u'y " 80
-. ,.,' t,c exception that none Of Tic latter saw
u,m draw the pistol ,,,,,o, .,o s,o,5
v u defense the prisoner was pFfed upon he S'a'U'
..,+,.,,soi. lam living az 40. SO HoplanS-st" Wiz
... ,r-h and am married man, the father OF seven
.,YIr,p: have been employed as night waterman al
.-t, a.tory for over six years; every night was III
rr of urgars and robbers about O'Clock on the msht
NJ , SIN Of September heard great noise at the door,
and took my pistol from the nail where IT, was hanti1 y
.i vs,t 10 te door; the moment opened lt two lut
rI.nll toward me; thought they were IVo'eis, 't
,g.af tlcm what the trouble Was about; one or tLeln
--I ,syo1 d. SON OF a b. don't care ior YOU tNo
f11l IIlrius back when the pistol won't ot by itself
a. ,of t.fud TO shoot: when the officer came q arrest
4 End oetad WHY Shot. / told Lin that l0aerS were
-.nu.lv getting me into trouble on the cros,-"Nam
.. Eiehe test fed that Ee had been % years ~ TINS
-,,t and was formerly tailor; tiat hc ue!d tue lls
oI r III. r.t band ana had TN can IL DIS et mana a.
tte time of The shooting. , IT,.
H.ucn Charles. H. ketcam' Henry s{ S J0a n,.
o.,r lad always borne good character.
AZ the conclusion OF the evidence, HJhcis counsc
summed mp briefly, and was followed hy nis-iy.-Ato-
usv Garyiu for the people Judge Carcozo lcn CHARGED
ue Jury substantially as follows;
You can do one Of three thiurs-you can convict tGc
prisoner If murder, You can acI Illt h OF loi can C9l
81 lam of mauslaucLter lu .he l'' tl usAi &C. AHt
killing of His gins by tie prisoner BE- Hoi Cchicd ~ you
.r1iue that when the prisoner shot the deceased Lt
cl 20 with the prcmeditatcd intention o. taking ne nc
Of Higgins De is guilty of murder That INTENT however,
need not have existed for any particular l,nHh ot ue
Il yOu believe the theory of the pr0sccu ION thil lhe
ana 'hat after some offensive words had passed be
tween him ana The deceased, he drew a pistol
ard Shot Higgins that he died. aud that be INTENDED TO
k Higgins Nou must tud the prisoner guilty OF uur ier
DE- t INST degree. There Is nothing nm the evidence 10
show tdt tie prisoner shot g gHs in selleiouse Inc
theory ol The prisoner tat i pushing ne deceased the
i in his hand went OF 10y accident rests uTOu MS -
d.ice alone II you think there culp23ie neE.l-
-,uce iu that YOU may find him guilty Of mdnsaug ter
M fourth degree. Whatever doubt there ls should hc
thrown In behalf of the prisoner.
Tie Jury after an hours dchbcration returned with a
verdict OF guilty OF manslaughter in the third degree,
a Jua-e Cardozo denying a request for short term Of
o i,oumcut On account OF the prisoners family gave
Reae tie extreme penalty OF the law-.our ycaIs Ia
sta:p Prison at hard labor.