The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-21
THE CLOSE OF A GREAT TRIAL.
District Attorney Britt0n's Argu-
ment for the People.
Judge Tappen's Charge to
the JE1y.
WAITING FOR THE VERDICT.

IN the court room OF the Kings County Oyer and Ter
miner Yesterday morning to listen to the summing
M for the people by District Attorney winchester
Britton The Court opened at nine O'CLOCK Ut
which time the chamber was dehsey crowded,
manv OF those present being ladies. The crowd
was SO great that there was not the remotest por-
fion of standing room. -. 4 =.
The prisoner appeared wearied. Her confnement
in the jail and the events of the past week have be-
gun to have an effect upon her. She assumed q
composure, however, and conversed with her rela-
tiyes and counsel previous to the opening Of the
proceedings. Her husband was present, sombre
and silent. He had been mute witness OF the pro-
ceedings throughout.
Judge Tappen and Associate Justices Voorhees,
and Johnson appeared at the appointed hour, and
District Attorney Britton began his address on be-
half of the people. This Is the first OF murder
that he has been called upon to try since he has held
the once Of District Attorney, and his address was
anticipated with interest. MI. Britton spoke for
nearly four hours and made an eloquent speech,
in the course Of which he touched upon the question
OF insanity and reviewed the evidence bearing upon
that point and declared that for many years there
has been steady decrease in the belief awarded to
the testimony of medical experts. can prove that
from the legal authorities, not only OF this country,
but also from those of England and Scotland. Chief
Justice Chapman, OF Massachusettis said, al think
the opinions of experts are not so highly valued
now as they formerly were, for the reason that an
was q fact that when nearly sixteen
years OF age TINS Intimacy commenced
that you win see is based upon the theory that the
man alone was false, and that she was an innocent
victim. What is the evidence upon that point
What occurred during the first six months she was
IN that factory no tongue can tell but hers. She
alone tell what arts resorted to, what in
ducements were held out, for her to forfeit her vr
tue. She can te.-he cannot, for he is in the cold
and silent grave Is it to he held that girl of SIX
still . subject over which counsel can say, God
bless her ~ How many girls to-day are in the
much younger than she Isl How many girls are
there pedding their wares about the stores and
Offices OF New York; They are much younger than
she H. and yet willing to sell their persons
thcir wares. Now the difference between young
M IN your pap,or ana nine ana ra one VINO mas mas
may imagine, and Is 1t to be assumed that upon the
testimony which has been introduced here, that this
defendant was an innocent young girl and the
accused unprincipled libertinep The next
thing they rely upon is that she was suffering great
grief and she told her aunt that It appeared that
curse hung over her. 1t was not hanging over her
1t was upon her. Amid the thunders of sinai it was
broke that law the not changing over"
1t was upon" her and 1t Is not necessary to re-
sort to the insane theory In order to tell why her
conscience troubled her. She made declaration
OH the day Of the homicide that she wished .she
was dead" She was not only resting under the i'm
In her bosom the pistol with which she intended
- doit. II Is very surprising that insanity always
After commenting upon her married life and ar
guing that her relations with Watson were Of her
own voition, the prosecuting officer declared that
that when, after year and half, she told her hus-
baud, Watson begged like dog that they would
not expose him. He had everything to lose, CON-
pared with her, who would he not likely to be in
Inundated by threats OF exposure. And yet you are
asked to believe that this is all the control this
had over her. There Is getting away from the
conclusion that the
HUSBAND CONNIvED AT THE CRIMINAL RELATIONS
prisoner Watson
CHANGING briefly at the testimony relative to the
shooting the counsel referred to the fact that the
prisoner said to Captain W0gl0m "He seduced
me-" and that the night before they had had quar-
rel because he told her she was going with other
not stand 1t any longer and she shot him for salts
faction "Satsfactionl" What does that meanf Is not
that the key TO the motivey Satisfaction for what
Did she say, them he seized hold OF her violently
and committed personal indignity upon her
Nothing at all Of the kind because the stage effect
Sergeant Bunce2 Why, that she shot him for salts
faction. And could there be palmer view OF the
motive, which counsel for the defence said the
prosecution had not develOpedY
At the conclusion OF MI. Britton's address, amid a
JUDGE TArPEN CHARGED THE JURY.
GENTLEMEN OF THE JURymMuch eloquent argu.
anu erea. ap ~, anu m mo, legal
from its commencement to its close. Counsel in all
things have done their duty most faithfully the
part OF the defence and the accused, and on the
part OF the District Attorney for the prosecu-
ton. And yet, with the usual license that
sarily accompanies them, much has come
into this case and much has been said on
1t, and should not under any circumstances
enter into the consideration OF the jury charged
with Its decision. For such duty OF the Court,
therefore, with the arguments OF counsel, which
they have finally closed, must, at the final mo-
mcnts of the trial. call back the minds OF the jurors
TO calm dispassionate, reasonable and just con-
struction OF the case upon which they are to de-
eide, and more particularly In this, the case on
trial. where the prisoner is charged with the crime
almost be said the opponents OF the fate OF the
person upon trial. 1t Is question with that
person OF life or death, and its decision is that the
twelve jurors who sworn to try the case
Illuminate and predicate according to the evi-
dence. Therefore, because OF the high RESPONSE
billty resting somewhat upon the Court and
always upon the jurors In criminal cases, 1t is the
aSoy u to ,s he 70 Say 70 ,h e n when case
their minds from all considerations foreign TO the
case and TO enter direct and closely into its par
Now, what is this caseP The accused il placed
upon trial charged with the crime Of wifn MUIR
der-the highest crime known to the law. II IL the
nat OF the Deity that "Thou shalt not KILL and il
is likewise the law in all civilized communities and
whoever trapgresses or ofenGs jeopardizes his or
her own life. The circumstances and features
which have been developed In this case are pecu-
liar, and distinguish it from many others OF much
the prime OF manhood, in the full vgor
OF hfc engaged in active business, min
and a family. The accused has all her
Afe and that net very long ago, from period OF
her own support. In the year 1868 or thereabouts
she entered the employment OF the deceased, and
remained, with some iBterrnpt tons and intervals,
to January, 1872, and during this period The out
ward relation subsistiDg between them was that
which IL known in legal parlance a matter OF
fact--the general outward relation between them
was that or master aud servant. say the outward
relatio8 because 1t h claimed on her behalf that
another and more intimate, hidden, "A secret, a
criminal relation also existed between them during
almost the entire period. Under these circuin-
stances and the Goth OF last January, In this
county the life OF Watson, the deceased, was taken,
aud the accused stands at the bar or this Court
charged with being his murdereress.
Just turning her eighteenth year, ut period OF
life when In all things always find Innocence and
simolicity-tb0se traits which always grace girl
hood and budding w0manhOod-0n the very
threshold OF her--Iife she is placed on trial az
criminal under most grave and serious charge,
and II is In these respects, say that this case
presents characteristics which arc not ordinarily
found even la Of great celebrity. don't pro-
pose In this case, gentlemen TO go over the facts