The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-26
THE HEGGI POISONING CASE.

Testimony for the Defence-The Pris-
oner's Stntemcnt-Close of the Case
Counsel to Sum UP To-Day.
The trial Of Frederick Heggi charged, with caus-
ing the death OF Frederick j. Siegfried by poison
ing. which has occupied several days in the Gene
raj Sessions, before Recorder Hackett, is drawing
to a close. Yesterday the prosecution called Eliza
Roch who testified that about eight days before
Siegfried died Heggi asked her and her husband,
at their house in Forsyth street. If they knew that
Siegried had died in Newark and was buried
there.
Mr.. Howe resumed the defence by calling Weeks
W. Culver, OF the firm OF Wright 4 Culver, lawyers.
The witness said they were employed by Frederick
Siegiried, the son Of the deceased to contest his
will. The counsel then offered to produce an am.
davit wherein Siegfried, Jr., swore that he was
the Only sen Of the deceased.
The District Attorney objected, and, in accord
with recent decision of the Court OF Appeals
His Honor excluded the offer, stating however
that he believed the testimony to be competent. Mr.
Culver said that young Siegfried did not say TO him
two months after his fathers death that he sus
pected he had been poisoned; the first time that
he tMr. Culver) heard anything about poisoning
was after Heggi was arrested.
Frederick Heggi, the accused, was put on the
stand and sworn in his own behalf. lie said he
was born in 1872, IN the city OF Durgdorf, Switzer-
land and he first became acquainted with Seg.
fried IN the city Of Bern, when he was twenty years
OF age; the deceased came to this country first and
Heggi two or three years afterward; l am a ma
chinst and engineer by profession, continued the
accused, and got the first work obtained in this
country al machine shop In Hastings through
Siegfr1ed's influence; when he visited Siegfried at
hfs place in First avenue he saw Caroline Miller at
tending bar; on one occasion he saw young Sieg-
iried have verbal quarrel with his father,
and long time previous to that young
Siegried received from his mother, In Switzer-
land, 300Of Siegfried went to Newark because the
Sherin was after him in relation TO Caroline Mil
lers suit; the prisoner thought the deceased went
n
from Siegired asking MIN dIeggD to go over
there, which he did; Aeggi had two physicians at
take little wine, and he (HeggD bought bottle
the accused stated that he never bought any
to a human being: he has been cenfined almost
year in the Tombs; he lived for five years in
apartments in Houston street, and on the top
floor, because he could get pure air; he person
ally went to DR.. Krebels brother, who Kept an
apothecary shop and told him to send the doctor
the doctor came and attended sieglried Heggi
contradicted Mrs. Siegfr1ed by saying that he
did not thrust her out OF the carriage at
Newark when Sieglried was coming to New York
the first time he theggp heard anything about the
poisoning was the sunday before he was arrested;
old Mrs. Siegrled said that the would have his
lathers body dlsinterred; that 1t was said he was
poisoned; this was two years after Siegried's
death; he lived all the time in the same house until
he was arrested; he has boy sixteen years old
and girl eleven years OF age
The accused was subjected TO searching cross
examination, lasting fer some hours, by Assistant
District Attorney Russell. When Siegfried had
given him in his will 81, 500 heggi thanked him.
Samuel +. ShafYer, the Secretary OF the Swiss
Consul, testified that in the latter part OF 1865 old
Siegried visited his house and spoke OF his son
Fred as being a rascal.
Daniel w. Richards, Peter Scharer, Joseph Ed
wards and other witnesses, who had worked in q
machine shop with Heggi steadily for fourteen
years, testified to his gssd character.
Mr.. Howe informed the Court that he had other
witnesses 10 the same branch of the case but upon
receiving an intmation rem the Court that he
need net call any more upon that point the cOun.
sci called
Elizabeth BRENT, who lived in the same house
with Hegg whose testimony was TO the effect that
she helped Mrs Hegg TO nurse Siegfried from
wednesday night till the time OF his death; she and
Mrs. Hegg gave him the medicine ane she never
heard the deceased say anything against Mr.. Hegg.
george Boseart, wine merchant testified that
OLD siegfried complained 10 him about his wife and
son, saying that the latter was q rascal and had
squandered money. The witness also stated that
ne was Al the funeral Of Siegfried that his and
wne were there, and he never heard any in TINA.
ton about the poisoning OF the deceased Hepgi
showed witness the letter written by Siegfried re.
questiDg him 10 go 10 Newark
Joseph Fang, who keeps liquor saloon and a
real estate once under Heggi's apartments, ties.
titled that he advised Siegried TO 20 TO Jersey TO
avoid Caroline Miller, and helped Siegfried out OF
the carriage the day he returned to New York.
when he (the deceased) said he was feeling pretty
bad; the witness often saw Siegfried take medi-
cine out OF a bottle which he carried In his pocket
This closed the testimony on both sides. Council
will Uroceca Ia eum n this morning.