The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-19

He Il Declared Hopelemly Insane Governor
Holman Dirsen That He 10 Renewed to
tho state Lunatic Asylum at Auburn
Resume Of the Murder, the Trial.
the Conviction and Sentence
ofthe Unfortunate Man

Lawrence Sullivan the murderer OF John OBrien
has at last been pronounced insane and Will to-day
be removed from the Tombs, where ne has been
confined nearly two years, to the state Lunatlc
Asylum, at Auburn.
AS the circumstances connected with the case OF
this unfortunate man have from the first attracted
more than ordinary interest, resume OF them may
not be embarrassing.
On the 18th OF June, 1870 Sullivan, who had for
long time been very unrriendy terms with his
whe, returned to his home, No. Whitehall street,
and at once began abusing his family. His mother
in-law interfered In behalf Of her daughter, and,
taking up large stick OF wood, struck sullivan
several times on the head and breast, whereapon he
began belaborlng the old lady about the head ana
shoulders with an umbrella. Hearing the disturb
ance two or three OF the neghbors ran TO separate
the combatants and one OF lhem-Jonn O'Conaor-
took hold OF sullivan and pulled MIN out of The
room TO the head Of the stairs, where standing
John OBrlen. AS the TWO came out
0'BRIEN DEMONSTRATED WITH SULLIVAN
for having bearen his mother-inaw. Words ensued,
and some OF the witnesses said O'Brien struck subj
van and then went up stairs. In moment or TWO
Sullivan ran up alter him. Carrying IN his hand large
knife. Gong into the room ne saw OBrlen sittlng
" s yoa soa aaa a sa w a
as ne spoke. He then made his escape, but was ar
been known as quarrelsome and very intempe rate
man. During TIE examination before The Coroner
u rs.
witnesses against him, seized hold chair upon
which he mao been sitting and attempted TO strike
| On the 2Oth OF June he was committed 10 the
TOmps by Coroner Schlrmcr, the jury having found
the first he ugly and Grabbed towards the Keep
ers and refused to talk freely with any of them. On
| the 10Th oi december OF the same year he was
PLACED ON TRIAL
In the Court OF General SESSIONS Recorder HacKett
presiding During the progress OF this trial the de-
fence placed Mr.. Samuel r. Wells, the phrenologist,
on the slant. for the purpose OF establishing TACT
that the prisoners head was so poorly balanced that
he was subJec 10 the control OF his animal impulses
to such an extent That his will woud have no pow
er, ana thai, therefore, he could not DO responsible
for his action. Mr.. Wells said was an expert IN
regard 10 what caused Insanity, temporary Other
wise, by ine deneatlon OF the character or by the
Of the prisoner S%seir fn0h his s0 own Sus1 ice
hall to which he had listened. he should
an insane man; Should say that very slight proV
| ocatlon would quite unbaauce him, as he Is but an
CHILD WITH A MANS BODY.'
The Court excluded Mr. Wells testimony. After
an able charge by the Recorder the case given
TO the jury, VINO, without leaving their seats ana
Without q moments hesitation, returned verdict
OF guilty OF murder ~ the first degree, as charged
the memory 0l Mr. VandevO0rt. the venerable CLERK
OF The Court, where q Jury rendered verdict In
capital case without retiring to tneir room.
When asked wnat he had say why Judgment
| OF death should not be pronounced against MIN,
to say. demand trial right on the spot IN inc
Court of Oyer AMI Ierminer don c want TO take
/
want to do anything to OBrien contrary to what
would do " any man mere. did not owe min any
| spite. O'Brien knocked me down and struck me
two strokes on the cneex. III can he found guilty
oil murder In the first degree, then there Is no law
| In the United States"
THE SENTENCE
Recorder HACKETr, In passing sentence, said
| ''Sulvan, . more wanton aad brutal murder has
| never passed under my observation alter thirty
years. experience IN matters oi This KIND. You nave
| been most rghteOusy convicted. The closing duty
OF this Court is 10 direct that you snaH be taken
|
| and Oh the 2Oth OF January friday between the
hours OF ten aud two, you DE hanged by the neck
| FROM the TINE TINS sentence was passed upon him
| Sullivan seemed 10 become insane. When taken
back to the prison ne sea dfas,y refused to touch
OOd, AID was AZ tunes quite ugly and even violent.
lie would not speak WORD to soul save MS
| mother and wife. bOth OF whom came frequently TO
| see him. AT one time so violent was Ms conduct
| that 1t was found necessary To remove nm TO one
oil tue padded cells lest nc should
BEAT BRAISS OUT
against the stone wall OF his own. After a WHILE
| however, lie became more quiet and no longer re-
fused 10 eat the lood given him. although stIll
refused u speak 10 or even notice any the PRISON
officials Or ms brother prisoners SnOrv befOru the
arrival OF t1e day Tor has execution his counse ob-
tanned stay Of proceedings In case. After con-
siderable delay application was made to the Gov
ernOr Tor the appointment ora
| COMMISSION DE LUNArIC0 INQUIRENDO,
| ana alter still greater deay TINS request was COM
Piled Win, and Drs. MOsher, Brown and White
were the three medical experts selected These
gentlemen III December visited the un orr nalc
| man. tut, like most others were unable 10
| induce him TO speak. After q thorough examination,
| during winch they obtained whatever information
| tney could rom The prison officials, Particularly
| those wno had been thrown IN close CONTACT WIN
HIM, they made report 10 the Governor declaring
IL to be their opinion That the prisoner was nope
essly Insane. In accordance win TINS report Gov
| ernor HOFFMAN last Wednesday issued order Tor
the removal OF sullivan to the state Lunatic Asylum
at Auburn. sheriff brennan received the order the
afternoon OF the day upon which II Issued, and
VIII this morning see That It's provisions carried
| into enecL