The New York herald., 1873-12-18
THE RYE NECK MURDER.
Continuation Of the Trial Of Peter Terrell al
White Plains-An Extraordinary Chain Of
Circumstantial Evidence-Sounds Heard
in a Sick Chamber on the Fatal Might
The Tell Tale Soldiers Overcoat.

OF Gilbert II. Robinson at Rye Neck, Westchester
county, on the night or April 26, 1862 was con-
tnued In the Court or Oyer and Termner at White
Plalns yesterday. There were comparatively few.
spectators outside OF the bar enclosure at the
opening OF the Court but as the day advanced, and
during the afternoon session, every available seat
was utilised by deeply interested auditory.
THE TESTIMONY
for the prosecution was resumed the most i'm
portant parts OF which are as follows:-
Mrs. Mary c. f, Fisher testified that on April o.
1869, she gave birth to child, and that Mrs.
Roselle was the nurse who attended her during
her illness; the prisoner was hired man In the
employ OF her husband at that time, and slept In o
room Immediately over the kitchen; she had moro
than once soldiers blue oyercoat in the
drawer OF q bureau La Terrel's room.
Crosse xamined-I saw the soldiers overcoat In
the drawer before my illness; did not subsequently
see it, did not suppose, but believed 1t to be an
oyerccat; the accused was at house seven
months; portion OF his work was to drive q milk
|, wagon for my nusoand.
Mynatu Fisher husband of the last Witness de-.
posed that he had lent black horse to the prisoner
for the purpose OF riding over to Mamaroneck, q
distance or six miles, on the second Sunday after
the murder; on that occasion Terrell told MIN that
the deceased and himself had been intimate
friends, and as he (rerrelD owed the murdered
money over and give to the relatives OF the de-
ceased; witness gave Terrell $40 at the time; the
barn where witness kept his horse was in the rear
OF his house, the road leading to 1t from the main
avenue passing quite close to his dwelling; he had
only one horse, and the animal had short, quick,
high step.
WHAT A NURSE HEARD
Mrs. Margaret Roselle testified that she was by
occupation nurse. and had attended Mrs. Fisher
rip har ctr x,,ryI %
during the greater part OF the night OF April 20 she
was waiting sick child about half-past ten
O'Clock in the evening she heard some person lead
a horse from the barn and go out IN the directions
Of Lexington avenue; the horse's step was bold
and sounded as though the ground was nard; at
about three O'Clock next morning heard horse
being taken In again to the barn; Terrell occupied
q room Immediately over the kitchen, and could
easily 60 to and return from the barn II he wished
to do SO; was in the habit OF making Terren's
bed each morning; on Tuesday morning
saw soldiers overcOat lying on a chair
at the foot OF the bed In the room he
occupied; Bridget German the house servant, told
me on that morning that Terrell had informed her
Of the murder; alluded TO 1t while the latter was
At his breakfast; when he did ID not reply but his.
OF any other hired man sleeping in the house at
thai time.
without varying rom ine material portions Of her
testimony
Mrs. Mary Richardson testifed:-I live in Mama
roneck and am 81 years old; my maiden name was
Hss Georse VINO vs was aa my tbres
dren, two Of whom are now living; In April,
1862 lived IN the house sroaa Of Mrs Norris
deceased his place of business was IN Rye. on the
other side OF the bridge; had been often In his
store and knew him well have known the prisoner
for the last seven years; first became acquainted
with him when he was keeping bar tor my hus-
band; the accused remained In my family for about
a year and then went to board with my aunt; he
was then in the habit OF doing odd jobs for people
and also loa6ng hall his time he worked accasion-
ally for the deceased IN the latters store; did his
washing and mending for him, as my aunt was
able to do them herself; also made shirts Tor him;
during the winter previous to the murder Terrell
often worked Tor the deceased aud
SLEPT IN THE STORE
with the latter halt OF the time; when he left my
aunt's to go to White Plains ne took away two par
cels in one OF when had packed soldiers blue
dered mans store was here produced and Identified
by the witness the overcoat had been formerly
boarding there: recolect the night OF the murder3
went out with my little boy for pail OF water and
O'Clock; asked the prisoner where he was going,
when he rephed tnat ne was going across the
light night, and saw that he had on
THE SOLDIERS OvERCoAr
and light felt nat; ne went on the left side Of the
bridge; there were TWO other men on the bridge as
the same time: did not know who they were; saw
Terrell on the second Sunday after the murder; he
came to Mamaroneck on black horse, from White
Plains he came to my aunt's house, and met him
at the gate; asked hum what he had murdered
he entered the mouse he took OF his coat and sat
with his face in his hands; when alluded to his
having been in the village on the night OF the muir
der he replied that lie rode over the same horse
that he then had with him; also said that he went
to bed at nine O'Clock on the Monday night, and
afterwards got up again; Terrell subsequently told
meHllat he had Killed deceased with gun barrel,
for ms money; he often thanked me for not
sens sed am on @ Wanted to tell the 'ns
but that my husband would not allow me; on one
occasion he was angry about book. and, after
swearing a good deal, told me that was bad
woman and could not get any one to believe me
II testified againsf HIM; told several neighbors
about Terres statements; some Of the parties are
now in Court: also told some OF them, including
my husband, on TIE same sunday that Terrell irst
told me.
Tue witness was subjected to severe cross-ex-
animation, intended to draw out among other
matters, the alleged infdelity to her husband. as
well as other acts Of immortality. But In this re-
spect 1t was signal failure, the witness denying
positively each and every unjust accusation against
1t was all important the defence that her story
should be bettied IN the eyes OF the lury aud
b Efforts OF connse or the
defence TO accomplish these ends the witness
bore herself wei on the stand, and repeated over
and over again without confusion what she had
sworn to in ner direct examination.
The above having closed the case for the prose-
cution, the defence called number OF witnesses,
some or whom contradcted the statements made
by the woman Richardson, and others tried to i'm
peach her yeracty by swearing that she was not to
believed under oati,. Among these latter was a
brother or Mary Richardson, whose testimony
revealed shocking and unnatural phase oil family
qualrelling. SuIae o these witnesses were pretty
roughly handled by the District Attorney In the
cross-examinatlon, one OF them admitting taat
ment emDodyng what sle had given as her testi-
mony. The case viii probably be concluded to-dayS
THE MARKETS AND ENcUMBRANoBs.
Corporation Counsel Delaneld Smith has fore
warded to the Comptroller his opinion as TO the