New-York tribune., 1874-03-11
THE KING TRIAL NEARLY ENDED.

HE hlNO IhlAL NEAINII INDEDs
TESTIMONY BY DIR. GRAY OF THE STATE LUNATIc
ASYLUM AND OTHERS - sUMMING-UP BY MR..
BEACH FOR THE PRISONER.
Many people gathered about the doors of the
Court Of oyer and Terminer yesterday attend the
trial of James c. King, the murderer Of Anthony F.
ONei and was whispered that Judge Brady would sit
until midnight in order to close the case. This an
nouncement was made by the Court the previous even
Ing and it was arranged that Mr. Beach and Mr. Phelps
should each be given four hours in which TO sum up
Beverly Robson, counseor-at-aw in his testimony
in favor OF the assumption of Kings sanity, gave an
of certain business transactions with the prs
the Autumn OF 1872, three days before the
in winch the prisoner appeared to act in perfectly
rational manner Dr. ]. B. White the family physician
of King for six years, said he never attended the pris
oner for any disease that he could remember Mrs.
Mary ROylstOn Of New-JeTsey who formerly owned
house in East Eghteenth-st in this city, occupied by
King detailed her business relations with the prisoner,
in which she wanted money, and he offered TO get
second mortgage for her. On the Saturday before
ONeil's death he to her with papers ready
for her signature. Three days after the shooting she
him in the Tombs, when he said it was all right,
and she should have her money He refused TO answer
any questions in regard the homicide stating that he
was acting under the advice Of counsel He remarked
however that he was in worse trouble than she was
and # he got out OF IT she should have her money.
VIM j. Marin, an attorney testified that he accom-
panied witness IN her interview with King at
the Tombs; the portion of his testimony bearing par
ticulary upon question at issue his statement
that when Mrs Roylston called TO get her money, King
told her that he had q claim against her for services
Isaac c. Denny clerk in the District Attorneys Office
gave testimony under the protest Of Mr. Beach TO the
effect that King was accepted as ball in the case oil
The People agt. Townley, in November, 1877. Judge
Brady admitted this as tending TO show the rational
conduct Of the prisoner j. Sterling Smith of Brown
Hall a. Yanderpoels office. proved that King came there
in August 1872 with witnesses and gave facts for the
sdayts in the divorce suit against Lis wife. Charles
Pease stated that in 1869 King obtained policy OF
10000 in the New-York Life Insurance Company. VIM
Dewitt OF Turner's testified TO Kings attempt to per
suade hm Mrs King and induce her to come back
and live with her husband King promised TO drop all
lawsuits, aud, IL nothing else would satisfy her. she
might live on side OF the house aud he would occupy
the other The witness also testified Kings showing
two pistols aud remarking that they were for his
enemies
E1superiDteDdent Kelso testified to Kings coming to
him for the ard OF the police In discovering the wherea
bouts Of his wife Mr. Beach asked King was not very
much excited, TO which Mr. Kelso replied nayely
well not more than man would naturally be who
had missed his wife and children at which considerable
laughter was e e1S1ted cite, among the spectators
Superintendent OF the State unatic Asylum at Utica
OF age, with good dhumored cOuntenance, manner
and tone easy and self-possessed- In answer the
usual questions he sald he had had 1000 under
his care 1854, and was therefore familiar with All
forms of insanity In March, s73 he visited King in tbe
Tombs at the request OF the DstrictAttorney and ex
amned him his state OF mind, the examination
eupying In all about seven hours. He talked with
lin about his health and condition Of mind
and hls life as he gave u. Dr Gray said he told him
frankly who he was and the object OF hs visit.
His conclusion was that the prisoner was sane. The
prisoner dId not eign insanity and he gave his history
frankly. The witness present IN court when the
question put by Mr. Rowe 10 the physician, which
brought out the that the prisoner was insane
when he killed O'Seill, but be himself would say the
man was sane at The time Of the homicide. The cross
examination Of Mr. Beach rigorous and pr0Eacted,
and the strongest efforts made 10 break down the
testimony OF this weknowD authority ali questions
relating 10 men tai disease.
Toward the close he created considerable amusement
oy answering an inadvertent inquiry OF Mr.. Beach
Doctor, have you never made mistakes IN your indg-
mentP some what az follows: II have they nave
tever been found out" In response 10 Mr.. Beach's
2Rties W. Gray expIailed: Ip iormiQg my opinion