The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-30
THE TRIAL OF LIBBirr 1anKABRANT
Damaging Testimony Against the
Prisoner.
Prevaricating Witnesses---Proba-
bility of a PrOtracted Trial.

Yesterday was the fifth day OF the trial Of Libbie
Garrabrant In the Paterson courts, for the murder
of Ransom F. Burroughs. Court convened at half
past nine A. NJ There was o very small attendance
OF spectators. The Jury were freshly shaved and
CLEANED up" and looked as II they had passed o
very satisfactory Sunday, at the expense Of the
county, at the Franklin House. For once In their
lives they are living on the fat OF the land.
Gilbert Riley, the negro, was recalled, but the
only new point adduced was the fact that Van
Wrinkle Bogert was In the habit OF carrying Q lead
pencil In his pocket, with which he once did some
writing for the witness Riley).
Mrs. Jane Riley, the wife OF Gilbert was the next
witness. The mumbling evidence Of this witness
seemed to prove that she wanted to answer as
little as possible concerning the removal OF the
furniture OF the murdered man to her house, for
fear of an Indictment probably for receiving stolen
goods, to answer which charge she and her husband
are under bonds Her testimony corroborated that
OF her husband on the subject OF removing tho
furniture; once twice while her boy sleeping
with Lbbie In the Burroughs house TITLE Bur-
rougns came 10 the gate OF witness residence ana
asked II she Qibbe) knew where her Tilie's) father
was the little girl was looking for her father; once
sisters at Stony road and once that he had gone to
New York; after the furniture had been moved to
paramns the 9, witness asked defendant Il she had
ever heard or Burroughs yet; she replied that she
had not; one morning after they had slept to-
gether In the Burroughs house Witness boy and
liDbie came over, and the boy said that Burroughs
was over there sitting In chair, the boy said he
went into the room looking for Libbie and found her
looking glass, while Burroughs was lying asleep on
chair this the boy told Witness; she then turned
Sn and had that 1 9sDsS
Iibbie, 'but he must have come back in the night,
for he is now over there aseep;" Libbie said she
dld not say. why she locked tho door OF
the room ne was IN after she came
roughs had left the house and gone away
again. This witness also testified to having seen
one OF Burroughs watches In possession OF defend
ant; but her testimony became very contra
dictory; In fact, 1t was evident she was lying at
ferocious rate, with the apparent desire OF keeping
from telling all that she knew about the matter.
The cross-examinatlon was commenced about noon,
but no new facts were developed up to one O'Clock,
when the Court took an hours recess.
The afternoon session met at fifteen minutes past
two. There was crowded audience In the court
room, while the sidewalk in front Of the Jail was
| filled with spectators waiting to the young
prisoner as she was brought from the Jail to the
Court House. She was neatly dressed, looked quite
pretty, ana stood the ordeal or running the gaunt-
let OF staring eyes with calmness and comp0sure.
During the afternoon she sat close by Mr.. futile,
ner counsel and md appeared triae more thoughtful
and redirect) OF Mrs. Riley failed to adduce any
further facts. She contradcted herself 80 continu.
ally that her evidence amounts to but little any
how.
william Alfred Riley, thirteen years Of age, the
young negro son OF Gilbert and Jane Riley, gave
OF any yet adduced. He swOre that he slept with
Libbie In the Burroughs house for two or three
weeks, every night that her lover Van Wrinkle DO.
CERT, was not there. Libbe said she was afraid to
sleep alone In the house, for Burroughs had gone
to his sisters on Stoney road. On the fourth MORN
ing after he had slept there Libbie stepped out of
the room into Burroughs room Witness followed
In and saw Burroughs lying there. The position
In which he lay was precisely the same as that
In which he was found dead witness saw the body
found by Constable Monks and 1t lay exactly tho
same witness said 'Why, there's Burroughs
aseep;" to which Libbic replied, "Yes hear him
snOre; but witness did not hear anything; Libbie
finished combing her hair by the looking glass ana
then picked up piece OF bread from the table and
began to eat she asked Witness IL he wanted some,
and lie replied that he did not then he and Libbie
came out and Libbe put the key OF the room on the
| stairs Gust where 1t was found by the Coroner.
Here the County Prosecutor detected the witness
| mother In the audience directing telegraphed
glances to the intelligent and fearless little fellow
/ on the stand whereupon she was ordered removed
| from the room forthwith.
The second night after witness saw Burroughs
lying in the chair, Libbe came over again for the
! boy to sleep with her. saying that Burroughs had
again gone away and she was alone In the house.
SO he went over with her again as before. They
never went into that room again; the next time wit
ness was In there the morning the dead
body was found, and then it was just the same az
witness had seen Burroughs lying when he was
In with Lbbie. This witness testimony ID con-
sidered most damaging. He was still tho
stand when, at five O'Clock, the Court adjourned
until hafpast nine o'clock this morning.