The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-17
TRIAL OF DUNCAN D. TEMpLEToN.

Tho Testimony for the Defence as Sus.
taining the Theory OF Insanity-Tem-
pleton's Solicitude for His Wife-His
Character as Diversity Given by His
Wife's Sisters and His Mother-A Let
ter Of Templeton's to His Wife.
There was very large crowd IN the Court OF
General Sessions yesteraay-Recorder HacKett on
the Bench-to witness the continuation OF the
trial OF Duncan D. Templeton, charged with at
tempting to kill his vile, Ida Maud Templeton, by
shooting her. AS on the opening day Of the trial.
numerous connections and friends OF both the
prisoner and his wife were present. The prisoner
sat by his counsel, Mr.. John d. Townsend, and, as
on the previous day. Assistant District Attorney
Rollins conducted the prosecution. Mr.. Townsend
opened for the defence By simply stating that his
defence was insanity, and he would prove it by
tracing back the history OF the prisoner. 1t would
then be for tie jury to determine whether at the
time OF the commission OF the act the prisoner
was not OF unsound mind.
EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFgNcE-TEsrIMoNY OF JULIUS
LoCHMAN
The first witness called was julius Lochman,
halter, who testified that on the morning OF the
10th Of last November Templeton purchased hat;
the one he selected was size too large for him,
and the witness put strip OF felt in It, after which
the accused left the store.
TESTIMONY OF HENRY DE PUY.
Henry De Puy, formerly the private secretary OF
Ex-Governor Seymour was the next witness. He
testified that he boarded at the West Side Hotel,
corner OF Fifteenth street and Sixth avenue; that
he made the acquaintance OF Mr.. Templeton few
months beore the shooting and became intimate
with him ten days before that; he told
the witness that his wife had left him
ana gone to Washington; that he believed
she was retained prisoner in her mothers house
that he had written several letters to her which he
regtstered that receipts for those letters were
given in his wifes tather's handwriting: the
prisoner requested the witness to solicit his friends
IN Washington to gain access TO her, and ascertain
whether she remained from him OF her own free
will or whether she was under the coercion and
advice OF her parents that he thought the witness
had influence enough with the police at Washing
ton to induce policeman TO break into the house
and have conversation with her, and that ne
1.-THE prsonerl would pay the expense OF the break
ing; Iempleton said that his mother-in-law was an
abandoned woman; that she was IN the habit
OF intriguing at Washington and frequently had
urged her daughter 10 leave him and 60 to Wash
ington and lead life OF prostitution he said his
she might be deDauched under the influence OF
her mother and expressed himself as though it
might happen at any Instant The prisoner was
very excited in his manner at this conversation
he further said to the witness that ner mother adj.
vised her not 10 have children. and when her BABY
was born the mother advised her not to nurse Il
but TO dry up the breasts In order to retain the
beauty OF their form and attractlVenesS; that
she visited her mother in Washington some
time previous 10 that she was encetnte, but when
she returned there was no evidence OF her beng
any longer In that condition., that he thought
under the influence OF her mother she procured an
abortion, which had been frequently advised; the
prisoner always spoke OF his wife VITA great aGec
ton, and expressed the opinion that she had not
lost her virtue, but was in Imminent peril OF it
through the influence OF her parents. In further
conversations with the accused ne spoke oil i'm
mense engineering projects that he had, and
seemed to have vague theories and impractlcable
aud ardent temperament On crQss-exami ma tion
the witness stated that fempletoii said he would
rather die than llte without his wife.
TESTIMONY OF oRvrLLE n. ADAMS.
Orville N. Adams, native OF Illinois, and who
resided IN the West Side Hotel, also testified to
conversations he had had with the prisoner, who
stated that his wife ana her mother were very am.
bilious, and wanted more money than he had
been able to give Them that he had taken his wife
TO his iather's house, but she became dissatisfied
and very ambitious. The witness remarked that
In his Conversations with Templeton the latter
was very inconerent; seemed TO have wonderful
affection for his wife, and seemed to be very much
excited at the disgrace about TO be entalled
S 'gs, , hm and bis is spant ,oy t saSS
life OF debauchery; the prisoner complained OF
restlessness and said ne took choral to induce
sleep. Mr.. Adams was subjected to searching
cross-examnation by Mr.. Rollins. He SAID that
In his conversations with Templeton ne discovered
tnat he thoroughly understood the subject OF en-.
gneering.
TESTIMONY OF SAMUEL @. WILLIAMSON
samuel t. Williamson, VINO keeps paper stand,
testified 10 seeing Templeton on the morning oil
the shooting IN Eighth avenue, and thought, from
dressed to his WIFE, begging her to return 70 him,