The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-19
Eager MObs to Witness the
Last Act.
LEGAL LOGIC FOR TIE DEFENCE
Messrs. Hagner and Thomas Summing
Up the Case.
BURSTING THE STATE BUBBLE.
Why the Accused Did Not Poison
General Ketchum.

WVuCk0 NVUSuums
ANNAPOLIS Nd, Jan. 1e, 1872
As was anticipated, the court room was crowd ed
this morning at ten O'Clock when the Court met to
its utmost capacity. Many persons came from
Baltimore and the surrounding country OF
listen to the eloquent speeches expected Of
the advocates and many were drawn hither
by the knowledge that the last act In this
fearful tragedy was rapidly approaching,
and that to-day and tomorrow would be perhaps
the last opportunities for gazing upon her whose
name has been echoed in every household in this
vas. country, and whose msfortunes WILL at some
future time furnish inspiration for the poet and
exhaustible material for the novelist. The ladies'
formed feature In the picture presented this
morning, arrayed in all the elegance OF fashion,
and bountiiully provided with all the ornaments
and decorations likely 10 add lustre to their at
fractions. They were IN marked contrast with the
prisoner and her daughter. Mrs. Wharton and Miss
Nellie TOOK their accustomed seats q few moments
before the opening Of the Court. They were plainly
and simply dressed In deep black, o color which
accorded well with the shadow which has fallen
upon their lives, and their attitudes Of wrapt
attention to the words that fell from their
attorneys evidenced the absorbing interest they
could not but feel In the closing efforts made to
lieve their name from the stigma which had 80 sud-
denly fallen upon It. A large number OF distin-
Guished ladies and gentlemen were present, among
whom were Mr.. FRED. Stone, Mr.. Stevenson
Archer, Mr.. 7. Sturgis Davis, Judge lnglenart
Mrs. Captain waddell, Mrs. Captain Green and the
wife and beautiful and accomplished daughter of
Attorney General Syester. The ladies, in their in
tense eagerness TO seats paid little attention
20 conventionaites They elbowed ana edged their
way through the piebald assemDage which sur
rounded the railway with an independence and de-
termination which augured III for the opponents OF
sheir rights In the future.
MR. HAGHBR's CONCLUDING REMARKS
Mr. Hagner. to whom has been entrusted the
presentation OF the legal points OF the defence TO
the jury. resumed his argument, which was CON-
pleted fifteen minutes after one O'Clock. 1t was ex.
haustive. comprehensive and pointed out many
flaces in the facts asserted by the pros cution he
dwelling manly on the legal points necessary to be
borne in mind BY the jury in arriving at their YER
dict During Its delivery he referred to
the physicians summoned to testify on behalf
OF the Defence and to certain charges made by Of
Actals OF this trial. az well as by others, that they
were innuenc ed IN their attendance OF the trial by
mercenary considerations and took the occasion to
highly eulogize them, both for their well-known
ability and for their fair. candid circumspect and
impartial manner In which they had rendered their
testimony in this case. He also referred 10 the
during the tria 1t seemed to him as II that institu
ton were upon trial before the Court
MR.. THOMAS FOR THE DEFENCE.
Following Mr.. Hagner, Mr.. Thomas addressed the
fury also on behalf OF the defence. Beginning al If
teen minutes past one he said:-
GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY-Heretofore In the his
tory oil criminal procedure, In this state at least
principle Of the law which presames, aud makes It
the duty OF jurors to presume that every one Is In.
before an impartial tribunal. Hitherto the public
press has sought to enlighten the minds anu calm
the passions OF the people, so as to at those OF them
on whom the important and solemn duty may
devove to determine with judicial impartality
whether the life OF prisoner mas airly been for.
whose sex might have excited generous sympathy
and manly pity. from the very moment these sus.
inc moment Of the beginning Of her trial in this
Court has been made by her enemies, and by q
portion o. the P~gc nas played into
malignant and persistent persecution.
VENOM WAS DISTILLED INTO PRIVATE EARS,
mongers, and . poruon Of the press the more
powerful agency OF the public, forgetlu Of Its nigh
have extDgulshed. Careless Of wrong TO a good
NAME needless of peril to an innocent le, reckless
M Oat s 10 hep
for months the most calumnious falsehoods,
calculated and designed to inname the pub
is Innocent or guilty. Day after day the columns
one charge or another known afterwards and |
shown TO be false. But, gentlemen OF the jury, |
,nsse ma 70 winch refer have nothing 10 30
these because feel IL part OF the high duty owe
70 the prisoner at me bar to denounce them as MUIR
0erous caumnies against her good name. l refer |
70 them because they furnish evidence that the |
same brain which invented and circulated these
WEAVING THE WEB OF SUSPICION
Ground the prisoner which 1t is your duty ana ours
Is your first duty to fit for the trial OF the
prisoner Dy disabuslng your minds OF the impress |
create il your duty to break down the wall Of
prejudice which her enemies have been rearing |
and which for the last six months has stood be.
duty TO deaien your ears ana close your
hearts against the influence Of public caluinny,
for the purpose OF appealing 70 you for mercy in be-
half Of the prisoner all are here Tor the purpose OF
tce and yoc have, am sure, listened so attenuvely
10 the exhaustive argument made ny my learned
colleague, who has lett literally nothing Tor me
my senior to say, that should not have felt
sary 10 have opeued INV lips but for the fear that my
very briefly refer 70 hose points Of the case which
strike me as proper to present most prominently
20 your attention. shall endeavor to address my
YOUR CONSEQUENCES AND YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
Mr.. Thomas here commenced history OF General
Ketchum's case, beginning where he left his house
IN Washington, on saturday, the 2s,h OF June; fol-
lowing him In hts business transactions on That day
sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, his
history being almost verbatim statement as II
appeared In the HERALD OF the 18th instant.
Describing the hearty supper eaten BY General
Ketchum on his arrival In Baltimore, We find that
An order 10 account for his eating an unusually large
supper he found 1t necessary-that ne had
eaten no dinner and must IN one meal cot two
Were not these things enough 10 cause an attack
winch he had Q tendency The heat Of the day, his
long walks, the absorbing occupation OF his mind,
the loss OF dinner, the eating OF an uncommonly
large supper. were quite enough TO cause cholera
,uOrbus or 10 light up any disease which Turk.
ing in his system. Mrs. Wharton sat at the table