The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-07
THE KING.O'NEIL TRAGEDY.

THE KING.0'NEIL TRAGEDY.
Conclusion or tho Testimony for the
Prosec ution-Story OF the Shooting rs
Told by Mrs. O'Neil-Opcning for the
Dcfence-Epilepsy in the King Fam
iy-NIrs. King and O'NeiPs Intimacy.
Pretty good Roadway was made yesterday in the
trial OF James c. King for the alleged murder OF
Anthony +. O'Neil. larger crowd than on any
day since the commencement OF the trial filed the
oyer and Terminer court room. Among the
tnropg ofcurious spectators were more ladies' than
heretofore. In fact the crowd was so
large it required an extra force OF officers
to keep It from hling the court room
TO an inconvenient excess. No change shows
itself in the demeanor OF the prisoner. He sat
quietly by his counsel ex Judge Beach, William +.
Howe and John o. Mott, and quite frequently con-
suited them during the process OF examining wit
nesses. For the prosecution the testimony con-
cuded with thai of Mrs. O'Neil the widow OF the
murdered man. She recited ner story in a plain,
straightforward way, but at one stage OF 1t was
obliged to dcsst through being overcome by her
emotions at the memory OF the sad tragedy.
The articles found the deceased were
also produced III court, including photo
graph OF Mrs. King After the defence
had opened several witnesses we're examined
on their SIDE. An uncle ol the prisoner testified
to epilepsy beng largely prevalent IN the family
Other Witnesses gave interior gimpses OF the
prisoners domestic life at Turner's Station on the
Erie Railroad, and the incentives to the homicide
All the material points OF the testimony Will be
found in the subjoined report OF yesterdays pro-
ceedings IN COURT
TESTIMONY OF WALTER s. LOGAN
Walter S. Logan, lawyer, who was clerk with
Scudder & Co., the lawyers for King in his bank
ruptcy suit. was recalled. He testified that the
Saturday before the shooting King called at
their office, and the witness inquired about the
progress of the two divorce SUITS Logan then said
O'Neil was testifylng against him in the divorce
suit OF Mrs. King; that O'Neil was taking strong
ground against him, and If this thing went on
somebody would get hurt; he also made reference
to seven-shOOter.
Cross-eXamined by Mr.. Beach-The conversation
lasted five to ten minutes; the way it came to the
ears of the District Attorney was this IL was in
formed that ore Of the clerks Ill the office told
the District Attorney ABOUT it; subsequently l
wrote statement OF 1t to the District Attorney as
q matter OF duty; l only give you the sub
stance or the conversation in part, and do not
recoilect how tn reference to the seven-shooter
came IN; we spoke oil his domestic dlficultles the
bankruptcy was pending in our office.
ARTICLES FOUN4 ON O'NEIL.
Coroner Herman vas LCXG called. He tdenti-
fed the keys, MEMORANDUM book al photograph
Of Mrs. King found on the body OF ONeI. Mr..
yas r e out
selected from the papers produced L. the Coroner
and offered in evidence letter found IN O'NelPs
pocket, which was written to HIM by Mrs. King.
1t was excluded for the present. He also offered
In evidence the following letter, written by Mrs.
King, and found on the body OF O'Nell:-
Mr.. O,NEiL-Please call on Mr.; vanderpoe of the
firm OF Brown, hall vanderpoe, and say that can
% call on MN Ou' S0 'H 2 Tor
July 81, 1872.
T., ,ooL,n, oyor +ho .nonor, found 80, o,No;,
counsel alighted on one Which contained what. at
first glance, appeared something mysterious and
startling. He read 1T Tor the jury with great en-
phasls, but 1t turned out to be prescription for
curing the mango IN dogs, ito be rubbed in when
was H N also found in O'Neis pocSebook narrow
strip OF newspaper, on one side OF which was an
advertisement OF pawnbrokers sale and on the
other this "personal:"-
was hand promptly on Friday evening, and you
failed to appear Please send some address SO that
The personal" was offered in evidence by the
defence. There was no objection TO Its being adj
Mr.. Phelps then offered in evidence q bundle of
other papers found on the body, the ground that
they related to papers read and put in by the de-
fence. Those now handed in were principally news
eS<cippings Yney were excluded, as having
no bearing ON the case.
Joseph Long testified that he was ONCE boy in
Judge Sutheriand's Office when the shooting took
place he saw all the parties leave the room after
himself; King went alter them; three shots were
fired, and King came back and handed a pistol to
Judge sutherland, who left the room to get an
officer; while witness anu King were together In
the room there were shouts heard outside; witness
looked out vi the window and a large crowd;
the prisoner also looked out, and then passed into
the private room, where he was, with the door
shut, when the officer arrived.
TESTIMONY OF CAPTAIN VAN DUSEN.
Captain Van Dusen, OF the First precinct, testi-
fed that he saw the prisoner Oh the day OF arrest,
ana was requested by him to be allowed to see
counsel
THE HAT OF o'NEn.
ONers hat, punctured apparently by bullet
was here put in evidence.
TESTIMONY MRS. O'NEI!L.
Ella Gertrude O'Nel, WIDOW OF the deceased,
was next led into court by Mr.. Dupignac. She was
dressed IN deep mourning and every eye rlv-
etea upon her as she seated herself IN the witness
chair. She gave the date OF her marriage and
mentioned the various places in which she had
lived with her husband, PRIOR 20 1870, when tney
went to Turner's Station. she introduced to
the prisoner by her husband, and after this she
made the acquaintance OF Mrs. King; she recol-
lects the time Mrs. King lett her huband and went
away with her children; witness assisted her with
money; TINS was July 49, 1872; on the previous day
MIR. ONel had left on long-conIempiated trip TO
the interior OF Pennsylvania; he returned In a
week; 1t was speculation he went on; III Novem-
Der, 1873, witness, ner husband and Mrs. King
erence took place; Mrs. King remained ~ bone to
take care OF the children; witness and her hus-
band and the other witnesses went to Judge
Sutherland's office between Twelve and one
O'Clock; the prisoner came III and sat all the tia'e
In an easy char; when they lett Mrs. Foukc went
down stairs first, then Mrs. Fouke's sister, then
Mr. Dupgnac anu then MI. O'Nell; the first she
saw OIL the prisoner atei leaving bhe rooHl ne was
standing at the stars with pistol III his hand
pointed at her husband; when she was two-tnrds
the way dow sha heard a shot; on turning around
her Grst impulse Was 10 run down, but thinking Of
her husband she turned back and saw that ner nus
band. Tho step or Two higher up Oh the STAIRS
had also turned around; then the second shot was
nred, and her husband made motion AS Ii to 30
back up stars, but she seized his right arm, and
looking up saw King standing at the head vi the
stairs with pistol pointed at them, anu then
came the third shot; her husband SAID, ely Pm
shot, that ball hit me; 1t was James q. King that
shot me; send Tor doctor;" she assisted him into
an adjoining Office and desired some gentleman 10
send Tor doctors tnen she ran out to the hall to
TAKE care That King should not escape, and she