New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-05
THE WEST MURDER IN DELAWARE.

TIE TRIAL OF DIR. WEST FOR THE KILLING OF
CooCu TURNER OPENED YEsTERDAY-rHE XVI
: DENCE FOR THE sTATE-rHE PRISONERS PLEA
OF sELF-DEFENsE AND INSANITY.
lsH TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUNR
Dover, June 4.-The largest crowd ever az
sembed in the Dover cour room present to-day 70
witness the trial Of Dr. Collins West for the muir
der OF CoOch Turner coored the "a OF last Deoem-
ber Il IL alleged that West invited Turner into his
Office and killed, skinned and otherwise mutated MS
person. removed FROM the building thu hands feet and
head, and then set fire to the house, with the
hope that the charred remains might pass a.
his own, thus enabling his wife TO receive for
their benefit insurance OF $4,000 on his NE
The murder was committed on Monday. and on Wednes-
day night the building fred and West left Town IN
disguise on the Friday evening following be was reeog
nzed % miles from Dover. and was arrested. He male
confession after his arrest declaring that h. killed bis
victim in sefdefense the latter approached with
hammer demand his money. The confession Was
given TO the Jury yesterday under protest from
senator Willard salisbury. the prisoners counsel,
who claimed tnat it was made whes the ae-
cused was bereft OF his reason from excite
ment. In the proceedings to-day, tbs employees
ON the train By which West left Dover at O'Clock Thurs
day morning testified that be was muhied up 50 "a 70 oe
completely disguised. De came 70 the Dover depot
dressed a common laborer. and stated to the con
ductor that he was resident OF Little Creek Landing,
Denar then walked to Salisbury nine miles distant
where he represented himself 70 be Government de-
tective. remained there until Friday morning. |hsn
he started up the Delaware road toward wilmington
dressed as and counting the air and appearance OF man
OF co. At Harrington he was recognized and ouered 70
surrender himself No law officer was present. and be
volunteered to in the train in the care out not
in the custody the conductor West stated TO TINS
conductor that be had killed Turler IN safdefense and
set fire 10 the building destroy al evidence OF tho
crime.
Witnesses who wereipresent when the door OF VESTS
Office wac forced testified that headless, nandess and
footess corpse their case l. was lying 90 the once
floor over bed burning iagots old papers aud other
rubbish all saturated with coal oil. In one part OF the
room was hole bored In The floor. containing about a
quarter or a pound Of gunDOwdcr. Tie cnarred lruos
~ Turner's body entirely skinned. Witnesses tes-
titled 20 ndng OF the dis smOered Ieeb uu hr@1
! az the places designated by West.
The further showed thaC West carried INSURANCE
policies upon which the premiums amounted 20 500 an
/ nuanv, much than his income WAranted Also
that made repeated attempts 70 make the acqnaln'
/ lance Of Turner, and afterwafd % get MN into n-
office A hammer and bar OF IRON we're found IN tho
Office with which West effected the homicide The nam
mer vas property OF another person, aud was aD-
sracted without his consent. witnesses called tue At
euton OF West blood stains his clothes on Monday
night said the spots from MS nose. west de
cned any into his office between Monday and
Thursday assigning the that his room was not
i'm order It was noticed that manner during this
nervous AMI exctaDie. The state Gere closed
its
Mr. Salisbury made the opening statement for the
prisoner and announced his defense the plea OF ee
defense and insanity Mrs West mother or the accused
was then called for defense sac testified that the
prisoners father had been subject % moods or melan-
chOly, and that the prisoner himself was strange a.
how and had done many things since be pad been
that led his family 10 fear his mind WAS disordered