The New York herald., 1873-12-12
THE BRoDERICK HOMICIDE.

Father on Trial for the Murder of His
Son-Thc Painful Incidents of the
Tragedy Revealed in the Testi-
mOny-ClOse of the PrOsec utiOn and
Opening for the Defence.
Very rarely is the public affected with such
thrill OF horror as on reading in the HERALD, on
the morning OF the 23d OF last August, the account
OF the killing oil James W. Broderck by his father,
Michael c. Broderck. His father had two sons,
James and John. Both, from the evidence taken
before the Coroner, would seem to have been very
undutiful sons. John had been forbidden the house
by his father, and James having once threatened
his iathers life, and on that very morning having
used a most opprobrious epitnet to his father The
night before the killing the brothers. with their
mother ana sister, came home from picnic, and
the father ordered John to leave the house.
James, however, detained him. When they got
up next morning there was quarrel with their
tatner. John picking up knife and buttng
his ather, and then dropping the knife and run
ming away. The tragedy then took place. the
father stabbing james, who ran down stairs, but
fell dead before reaching the bottom. The father
was placed on trial yesterday, before Judge
Daniels, In the Court OF oyer and Terminer the
indie against him being murder in the first
degree. The court room crowded TO its utmost
capacity. The prisoner, quiet, peaceul-looking,
middle-aged man, sat by Mr.. William f. Howe, his
counsel. Most of the time he held on his knee his
youngest child little girl four years old, who, in
unconscious innocence. fondled him with the most
chiidike tenderness. Near him sat his aged
mother, his son John and his wife and daughters,
the latter all dressed in deep mourning. 1t was
such a family gathering as one very rarely sees
even in court room, where so often are presented
so many curious phases OF crime and its underly-
Ing life tragedies
1t took but short time to get the Jury 1t was
made up or the following persons George T. NJ
DAVIS, James S. C0nln, Valentine Schneider, SAM
uel z. Blagden, Christian Anderson, Samuel Ross
Albert Diers, Asher L. Phillips, Harvey S. Amey
Herman Gersbel Frederick Nj. Conan and John D.
Taylor.
Mr. Phelps, District Attorney, made a brief but
eloquent opening. He recounted, with painfully
graphic mnuteness. the circumstances OF the Kill
ing, and expressed the unqualified opinion that the
evidence would fully sustain the indictment.
The first witness called was the old grandmother
OF the boys She had to be literally carried In by
the officers and placed on the stand. She could not
nor he- age at all she made objections 10 being
sworn, and when that was got over gave her evil
dence with evident reluctance; she did however,
remember the morning oil the affair and that she
had trouble with Michael the prisoner; she scolded
him; may be Michael scolded ner back; she saw
y bad name; sne didn't see Michael with knIc;
God help her. she couldn't remember what did hap
pen then: he did hit James, but James hit him
and called him bad names.
Kate Broderick, daughter OF the prisoner was
next called to the stand. Her iather showed signs
OF strong emotion when this daughter went on the
stand to testify against him. Kate testified tnat
she aud her mother and John ana James e:, came
At SIX O'Clock her father was awake and was
scodng Clara about out button beng hor on she tod
murders. the grandmother interered, called
her iatbcr some names, and showed him;
after, Jimmy came out; her father came out TO
them with bedslat and told John TO
the slat; John caught hold OF him by the shoulders
and called for Jimmy; she did not notice him go
ming out aud ran down stars; this was all on the
fourth floor, and on the laundry, three floors down,
sank down and said, 'l'm gone;" then she ran on
for doctor.
Tne knllc--a common pocket Knife Of coarse
pattern-was here identified.
Clara Br0derlck substantially corr0D0rated her
sister Kates evidence.
The above closed the testimony for the prosecu-
tion. MIR. Howe opened for the defence speak
ing with great feeling and pathos. lie alluded
toucningy 20 the painful duty imposed on all con-
nected with this trial. 1t was that OF the father
charged with the murder OF his own son, and
devoived on him tMr Howc) 10 prove that tina
was would-be parriclde, and that while at
tempting the lite OF his father he forfeited his own
The mother who bore that son was now mere TO tell
o sae @ y ina e Sore cS the sisters Of
the deceased were here in their habiiments OF woe
To tell the jury that their brothers death was tne
result OF his own wicked and unnatural conduct 10
the author OF his being. He tMr Howe), however
iet that he could well rely upon the intelligence
jury, to render just and honest verdict, which
would be an acquittal.
For the defence Mr.. Howe first called the
prisoners Wife, but the Court ruled that her
testimony was inadmssiDle.
John Broderick, eldest son or the prisoner
testified that his father ordered him out OF the
house the night before, but he did not 90: next
morning his brother James walked him up and
said the old fellow ''was raising the deyn:'' wit
ness went out to the Kitchen ana saw his mother
sewing button on his ather's pants; the father
seized sat ana struck HIM ana lie closed with
nus Ialher, and said "Come Jim let us throw the
old son of b--h down stairs;' ~ Jim said Eyes
lei ~ throw the old D. down., witness held his
father by the shoulders and "butted" him In the
chest, while Jim was striking his father,
supposes, with the billy; witness
did not see his brother stabbed, but he felt himself
cut in two three places, and ran away Witness
admitted that he seized q table knife when he saw
his father coming at him with the slat, but he
dropped II when he seized INN by the shoulders; /;
when the prisoner out OF work Jim used To
chase him out OF the house, threatening TO shoot
the old son OF q b--h.
Thomas Frederick, the youngest son. testined
that the Saturday night before the stabblng James
took 70 pistol out OF his pocket ana said 10 MS
father. "fil shoot you, you old son oil b-n;' q
man named Kennedy took away the latner ana
James said he "woud 90 for billy ana liithe 0ld
D. made any noise he would fix him."
Michael Kennedy and William A. senior, UNDER
tAker. were examined In confederation. George