The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-09
THE SKINNED NEGRO.
Trial Of professor" West at
Dover, Del.
The Defence Rests and Rebutting Tes-
timeny on Behalf Of the People.
Cabinets of Curiosities and What
~ They Contained.
The Insanity Plea and the
Theory Of Insanity.
HOW TO MAKE A NEGRO WHITE.


increasing number OF spectators In the courtroom
may be accepted as an indication; and the charac-
ter or the people attending has not deterorated in
the least but, on the contrary the representatives
OF the elite OF the capital society have been here In
full force. Deawares beauty has centred at Dover
from time mmemorial, and the examples and
precepts OF the danes and demoisclles OF
high degree who make Dover their home
have radated like SO many sunbeams
70 the uttermost ends OF the three counties OF the
Diamond State. One may go to any borough in
Delaware and hear OF the blue-booded young lady
Of Dover. who traced her ancestry back TO
WILLIAM THE coNoUERoR
and the number Of gallants she had refused who
In many instances, possessed plenty of lucre,
bat no blood. "Well, sir, you bet" said my in
formant 'she got blood when she married, and
now they live in Europe" All the youthful cite
~ the genter sex in Delaware have that
young lady's example held UP to them as
apattern and guide. Such, then, was the char
acter Of our female audience this morning, and
you will not wonder when tell you the stern
faces OF the jury relaxed about two degrees under
such favorable circumstances. wonder II it was
Q piece Of legal acumen on the part OF Salisbury
that these beautieS graced the proceedings with
their presence.
THE TESTIMONY.
When the Court adjourned last evening it was
supposed the witnesses for the defence had all
been heard and Mr. Salisbury, counsel for the &C
cused rested his ease.
When the Court opened to-day Mr.. salisbury
asked that one more witness might be heard in the
prisoners behalf The request was granted
The Court having convened ana the jury-roll
called,
Benjamin E. Bennett was sworn, and testified as
follows IL know the prisoner at the bar; was at
Milton the Wednesday evening previous to Thanks
giving Day last; saw Isaac G. West there at ten
O'Clock at night at the depot said he was waiting
FOR the train to 60 home; the train was TO have
left at one O'Clock; West seemed very restless ;
seemed as IL he was in great deal OF trouble |;
there was wild and vacant hook in his eye saw
him in Philadelphia the next day; asked him why
ne hadn't gone home TO Dover last night; said he
had business to attend to in Philadelphia; his
looks were the same; believe that he was insane
Cross-examned-I mentioned the fact that l
thought he was insane. that night, at the depot;
told Mr.. Jones at the depot.
me defence rests here.
FOR THE PEOPLE.
The Attorney General recalled Edward Ridgely-
Rave heard most OF the testimony in regard to
gathering relics; have some curosities-two bot
ties OF snakes and some other things; they we're
given me by Mr.. Fowler; think am sane man I;
che community give me credit oS SANITY, tyono,ov
this county; have few curiositics; bought "a
cabinet, In which was large collection OF reptiles;
i had piece OF rope with which Oskins was hung,
also piece OF the Atlantic cable: kept them IN
my saloon; l kept them there for the purpose oil
B cniaS 'V WasonHea si' that Br. West had for
tune lett him IN South America; after his marriage
with Miss Stay West came into my office and We
were talking about the South American fortunes
was laughing at him and said thought IT was
good JOB he had put up 10 start such report to
known West three or four years; have been init
mate with him; had conversation with West
Oounsel for defence asked the Court to stop wit
ness from detailing conversations.
Judge Gilpn replied that IL was in reply to de-
fence OF insanity ana was admissible.
Witness continued-Ment TO jail TO see West fire.
qucntly told him would not talk so much II was
him. told him there thing about his con
fcssion did not understand. and would IKE II cx-
body TO whiten it after skinning it; he replied that
he knew that Turner was about his ONCE about six
O'Clock at night, and In case the building burned
was that OF q white man II he should ever he
called upon to explain matters; West seemed TO be
very nervous aud worried; ] believe from my
knowledge OF Mr., West that he never was insane
Cross exahined.-Am a single man; think
know, when the time comes how TO go to work TO
get wife J: know something about the way young
man would so to work to gam the affections OF q
s0a eery ady known Isaac G. West
about eleven years; have known him Intimately;
Twas at the same school with him; saw curiosites
collected by Dr. West-sOIne Indian curiOsities,
arrow heads, &c; saw an arm preserved IN case
In . loft over Mr.. Dunning's store after West had
that came over in the Maynower; understood
him that he was interesting himself In anatomy
n G ana eaoses
In answer to question touching his sanity Mr..
emie 81 sau ne hs nea a
leven (Laughter.l
David i. Burton-I know Isaac C. west; never
thought him insane.
Charles Culbretn-Have known Isaac c. West
about two years thought his mind was good,
Andrew j. Wright sworn, detailed his inter-
course with West, and believed him to be man OF
sound mind and discriminating Judgment
JOnn ii. Bateman, cashier OF the First National
Bank OF Dover, testified that West had kept a bank
account with the bank. Witness believed West TO
number OF witnesses, some OF whom we're wit.
nesses for the defence on yesterday, were called,
period Of their several acquaintances with him i'm.
All agreed that they had not deemed him OF I'M
DEnEANoR OF THE ACCUSED.
As witness after witness was callcd-mcn OF re-
spectability all OF them-and swore so positively
20 his conduct and their belief that he was al
ways sane, Vests c0untenance fell. his mouth
gradually opened and his face wrinkled. He sat
and from the Judges to the reporters
stand. When his tutor Mr.. REYNOLDS swore
IN his school days youth OF more than ordinary
promise, and had always considered him as man
counrcnance assumed demoniac glare, and one
could easily see that with Mr.. Reynolds evidence
against him West concluded that
INSANITY WAS .PLAYED QUIZ
Having examined all the witnesses for the re-
buttal OF the evidence OF insanity, the Attorney
General announced that the state would rest the
case. Counsel Tor the defence recalled Dr. Vests
brother, also doctor, who testified that he occu.
pied room or the recitation room at the school
IN the place for no other purpose than study, IL
having been sought by the state 10 prove That The
room had been occupied by the West brothers ior
the purposes Of domestic economy.
The Court adjourned till halfpast two T.. VI.
FACTS OF THE CASE.
The District Attorney, In his address TO the jnry,
e11n:-It has not been denied that "Coochn or
Henry turner was killed by the prisoner on the "a
DAY OF December, 1872. i shall endeavor TO show
20 yOu rem the evidence adduced that this homi-
eide was murder OF the first degree. on the
PRISONERS own sta tement apprehend that there
viii he no doubt in your minds that 'sCooch'
Turner was killed by the prisoner AT the bar. You
will recall all the circumstances attending the fire
NJ 1T. Vests Office You VIII remember there
was large box IN the middle OF the room filled
with infammable material and the paper