New-York tribune., 1873-06-28
WALWORTH'S DEFENSE.
FILE PLEA OF INSANITY.


co,rrr,t,pn Testimony on mRs. wALwORrH-'oDuh
DAVIS ADMITS PROOF or THRRATS-A fAihhn'
nIAspuEMorrs ERs-mIsUNDEi'srANDiN"" DE
TWEEN THE JUDGE AND MR. OCoNoH"
yssterdoy's proceeding gs In the Waiwor'h ni'''a.i
case were intensely interesting, anu SoI'a,
Tho Iast degree From the early hour OF ~ in 'h1
morning until after 8 in the ai'elnoo"' 60,
eoual to those which in themselves maoe ',''
ond Mcfarland cases memorable, walted ou'''u'
and ns,de. tho former clamorons ior "u''i''
,h later filling the seats blocking up tho slahuns
,,Iooos and lstaung eagerly and in almost perieo'
siI.roa to tho arguments of tho COUNSEL ''o
atorv NJ the parrioide's mother ana the roa'ls VI
the noinfpl letters Of his father SlanSlleiu ii"oy
Walworth. to his mother which were 80 '''iou "'.H
crazy rawlings and blasphemous cpthets tha' oApivo
sions nj horror could not be restrmneu' III
TO the crowd such eagerness to catch 'isn, - -
voutbfnl prisoner, OF such anxiety 10 hc'i 'no p'
oeedings has not been witnessed lor io"s ~
no criminal tria, either, has the attehuah'o -
been 40 large and they sat all day WIN hoauS
forward with curiosity that DeVef SiaoAou 81 ~
WoI,yortb the murderers mother. came In promp'V
at 10. leaning on the arm OF her huSoa'iu DiV ,.
Fatbpr Walworth. and the prisoner came 'n almost
io1;ate,y after. and corversed cheerfully and un-
ros+roinodIy with her until the 81 Hats OH OF the
Conrt Crier called attention to The important pnsi-
mass of the day. The other relatives mentioned III
vesterday's TRIBUNE were also present ana Judge
Barbour arrived little later.
The day began with surprise III 'no
decision of Judge Davis TO admit the leT
terra of Walworth. SEN, TO his WIG oou-
tanning threats against her and Frank when MS
comments of the previous day had led many 10 eH-
pect would be excluded. Tie Importance OF 'nis
victory for the defense is almost inestimable, as VIII
be seen from the contents Of the letters wllch
formed the feature as well as the substance OF the
ontre session The line of defense has at last been
plaiply declared and has excited among lawyers no
little astonishment and comment. MI. .OCohOr ah-
nounoed that they should set up INSANITY as Ino
plea of young Waworth, but he did not do ;" uhtll
MS many believed. me had been pushed 10 the "aI py
Judge Davis The point came mp during the readlhg
of the first letter from Mansfield Tracy Walworth
TO his wife while Mr. OCOnor was proving acts
of personal violence committed by the FORMER
at their residence in Fifty-secondst. FRANK came
in inst afterward and though he did Mt the vo-
lence was greatly affected by the occurrence, ana
from that moment change was noticed in his de-
meanor He became moody and distressed thonEh
as Mr.. OConor added without losing tho amiabil-
ify and kindness of his disposition" Judge DAVIS
very emphatically asked. " DO You acge insanity I"
and the reply was so ambiguous in his opinion that
be called upon the counsel to aver plainly what he
meant to be the plan of the defense. At this Mr..
O'Conor Indignantly deprecated any attempt on ms
own part to gain undue or irregular advantage, and
rather sharp and interesting dialogue between him
and the Judge followed Then the counsel stated
that that would be the defense.
The letters from Mansfield Tracy Walworth were
read with double purpose not only 10 prove the
threats against young Walworth and his mother, but
to show insanity in their author. which they claim
was hereditary in Frank.