The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-12
COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE PRISONER.
Generals w. 8. Hancock, Stewart Drum and
saoket and Great Number Of Other Wit
nesses Speaking Of the Accused
from Her Childhood Down.
A GOOD, v1RTUoUs LADY.
Gan She Have Committed
Murder?

feature OF great interest and Importance. num-
Der Of witnesses nom different portions of the
United states were examined as to character, and
the general proceedings were or q character
strangely contrasting with the dry details OF chemi
cal and medical witnesses that have held
sway here for many days past Mrs. Wharton's
life, from her infancy down to the time
when scandal, with It's hundred malicious
tongues. dared to aspcrse her name and
poison the we-sprlngs OF Joy which had previously
marked the even tenor OF her existence, was given
10 the public through the solemn medium OF the
witness box. From her quiet country home IN
Montgomery county. Pennsylvania, through the
days OF her arhoOd, after the time Of her marriage
with Captain Wharton. way out upon the confines
Of civilization at Forts Kearney. LeavenworLh and
Fort Gibson; back to the place Of her ma.
tivity, TO Washington, TO Cambridge, Nd
during the trying times Of civil strife,
and finally 10 Baltimore city. she was
traced and her whole life laid bare for the inspec-
ton Of the jury. And such nfel During all those
long years her character exhibited kindliness and
AVAILABILITY, and consideration for poor suffering
humanity, which speaks trumpet-tongued against
the accusation which rests upon her. Whether as q
tarl surrounded by the soft influences oil home lie
or on the plains ministering TO the wants, and by
her refinement and cultivation smoothing the rough
cv sse v e1en Ss din 'Ss Sa,is
and rude war In It's most repulsive
form staring her In the face. or IN tue whlr OF fash
iOnaoe lie. surrounded by comforts and luxufies
Mrs Wharton always displayed the same KIM,
gentle spirit, and the same elisacrinclng DISPOSE
ZION winch has caused friends to spring 10 her side
" thls the hour Oh her most terrible tribulanOn All
C.asscs OF The community seemed 10 recognize in.
eunctively Inc lovely nature Of The woman, ana the
partisan splril which ragged with such fearful vio-
renee IN portions Of Maryland during the late civil
stayed y Ser 70 wonaeu n nsp nee
witnesses VINO testified In her behalf to-day were OF
D0an sexes and OF various professions-matrons,
md iarmers-but Tor the rigid rules Of law which
control tne examination OF Character In this state
few degrees removed from angelic most per-
s1stent and able enort was made by her lawyers to
relax the stringent formula OF examination Gus
tomsry upon the question OF reputation, but they
s mere az, met as all points by the state, and
bury, for the only time ia the last three
weeks. prcked up their ears ana listened 10 the tes-
The Court met at ten O'Clock and the court room
va. crowded 10 It's utmost capacity. All the judges
and counsel for both sides were promptly In lher
places Mrs. Wharton, accompanied by her usual
ATTENDANTS, entered the room and took her seat In
rear Of ner counsel. In few moments she was
whom were Colonel and Mrs. BranIz Mayer aud
their lovely daughter, Miss Mary Mayer and mum.
Der o. o1cers OF the army, friends OF her deceased
husband, among whom were Major General VIM
0eld =. hancock.
COLONEL JOSIAH SIMPSON ON MRS. wHARToS's
CHARACTER
owing 10 the absence OF DIR. Baltzcll at the open
Ing Of The Court Colonel Josiah Simpson one OF the
witnesses as 70 character, was called 10 the stand.
he said he was surgeon IN the United States
Army and had been since 1887. lie was at This
time medically In charge Of Fort Mellenry. lie had
known Mrs. Wharton for twenty-nlne years.
he FIRST met her at Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation.
Her husband was stationed there at Inc time
ana so was he; he had met her frequently since;
both his social and PROBES siOna relations with her.
cell aud family were OF an intimate character; no
mad been In Baltimore since 1861, with Interrupt
lion VI year or two, he had never known anything
Of her but what was particularly proper; no lazy OF
n lnr nnlfv nn.t
amability; nc had read the hypothetical case pre-
sencdto the experts, anda er considering II carefully
he saw NO indication OF death rom unnatural
causes and his conclusion that death re ;ulIed
nom natural causes; he mad seen the effects OF an
overdose OF tartar emeuc Oh cnildren and had also
experienced It's effects upon himself wnile laborng
under an attack OF bronchitis; he perfectly
not raise q limo; this continued for twenty -four
hours, although the dose was not repeated. Upon
cross examination THIS witness stated that he had
never seen case OF cerebro spinal meningitis, and
could not refer the death TO any particular disease
TESTIMONY OF Hiss ROSE POTTS.
Miss Rose Potts WAS the next witness called. Miss
Potts Is young LADY cf very prepossessing appear
ance. she IL q tail and very handsome blonde,
she knew Mrs. Wharton very well; she the witness.
lived IN washington, u. o., and was the daughter
q John Pots, chei Clerk Of the War Department;
ehc was IN Inc hapit VI frequently visiting Balt-
more, ana On three or four different occasions
bad bad stayed i, ,,, ar, wnarlons house; sne
Of Mrs. wharton; Mn. wnartons REPUTATION FOR
humanity, amaolliiy aud gentleness could not pos
Upon cross-examiuation this witness said she had
hoard 80 many persons speak highly OF Mira Whar-
mtNnuoped. however. MAJOR General Hunter. Gen.
ersJ Dyer. Colonel dupont aud Colonei Chaflin. and
foul Ned upon what she had heard. ms WINES
gave her evidence in Gear and distinct voice
with bm little sem0lance Of embarrassment, aud
~ i. very intelligent manner.
Inc csse having arrived from Baltimore Dr. Bait.
gelI at tns point entered the court room and took
tie sta Vd. HIS crosse EXAMINATION was conluucd
Nv The Nate, but developed nothing wiicn was not
disclose q I'D MS examination yesterday. lie relt.
ernted ~ OPINION fhat General ketchum DIED oil the
disease kaown as cercbro- spinal meningitis, and
thai he s,as arlcied with the semi-iulmlnant form
A ,htOD QUESTION FOR THE DEFENCE.
~ the cone lpeIon OF tie examination OF this wit
esss.ssr tse ocSns resi- ~: yeu ar
sn.w;edse OF her general equation for humanity
be OF committing the crime OF ~"
7hey gave notice o. tleI intention 70 the
proseeb,lop, anu Immediately Mr.. keyell, the
BATES Attorney, repaired 90 his once for
. supply oi suthorlle- on The question.
bey OF volumes IA Jaw calf, wblca gave ominous
waning 10 the spectators OF tDe Iega encounter
AZ. Hss. opel ed tue parrle by some iign, sxlr.
nishfvs, throwing INTO nis remarks only M occa-
mona .eot rom me eooss 20 Question ana mainly
1algIe ~ IA question wAich the defence proposed
lie WA followed ~ Mr. nagner on
Ne para of .be sieieace. who hsd evidently m1cI
Datea tnaf tns opportunity for propounding the
,us silon would a. presented today, aud VINO had
ecuIed q heavy spp9iy 81 ammunition Tor the 0cca-
'IOg nj nagncT 81 lsbatisd Tue stand taken by
ne lr,-e CutiOn, ACKNOWLEDGED that cue authorities
luofta by tue STATE were correct "A. lar ~ they
veal. tut bao nothing 90 do Win toe question In
,olnf aud fortified bis position by decisions reu-
Tered upon para ri questi0ls M tAis country, aud
cad csse where Lofd Cniei Justice marlborough
rfualiy ASKED a witness the question rom the
G,Sss Aeq .ss. ~ pn. nS. wso
lIsn4insbsd ycfy rnIch tie p0sii'n OF the defence
y many sufhofltlcs from American as well as |
nT ~ uoOtx.
NJ. steele csCsed the argument Tor The defence /
j. mace 4 ypry eioouefs and f0rcibe appeal 10 the
curt lor toe simissIbluis OF The e'ldence lie |
lmmed ~ me outnonv YES VI hIs bIotners, but
ready cleo, whose agtL'Ony ana example,
said, ne presumed NJ Court IN tnis
'uniy would venture 70 " aside Without