The New York herald., 1875-10-22
"A Son on Trial for Killing
His Mother.
REVOLTING STORY OF MORAL DEGRADATION.
Important Decision Under the
Bankrupt Laws.
THE ATTACK ON JUDGES DAVIS AND DANIELS.
Referees Report in the Suit Against the
Watson Estate

A case OF unusual interest brought TO trial
yesterday in the Court Of Oyer and Terminer before
Judge Barrett. Thomas Callahan man twenty eight
years Of age OF large physique red hair clean shaven
face and eyes almost necessarily looking at the floor
placed trial for that and most inhuman of
crimes-matrcide. An unusual feature of the case
the fact that his sister tho principal witness
against him. District Attorney Phelps appeared for
the prosecution The prisoner had engaged Mr. William
y. Howe as counsel but the latter not being able to
attend, had sent Mr.. Laird his representative The
prisoner, however, expressed some dissatisfaction
at this and thereupon Judge Barrett
sent for Mr. William F. Kntzing to
assist in the case, assuring him that he would be
ably defended This gave satisfaction and the trial
proceeded The story as developed on the opening Of
the case was that Mrs Callahan q widow and
hardworking woman; that the prisoner dissolute
and drunk nearly all the time and continually asking
her for money to crafty his insatate passion for
drink On the 2sh of August last usual he asked
her for money, which she refused to give him. He
then the story for the prosecution further alleges
knocked her down, kicked her after she had fallen,
breaking several ribs, and finally, when she help
less dragged her into corner Of the room, threw
few rags her and took away the bedding from her
bed and pawned it TO buy liquor with The indictment
against HIM is for murder in the first degree.
Annie Walker colored woman, the first witness
called She testified that she acquainted with the
deceased and had gone to her house days before
che MURDER that she had been at the house at ten
O'Clock the day of the murder and up stairs
TO Mrs Callahan that she knocked her door, but
receved no answer that she went into the room and
saw nothing but bundle of dirty clothes; that upon
closer scrutiny she discovered small portion of
foot that she took the clothes Off and discovered the
body OF the deceased that she was lying her back;
that she no blood nothing but finger marks on her
face.
Katie Callahan, the sister Of the prisoner, testified
shat she lived with her brother and mother that she
slept with her mother while her brother occupied the
sofa down stairs; that her brother was formerly
podier in the regular army; that he did nothing in par
tcular for hvng that three weeks before her mother
died the prisoner had fight with her. that he was
drunk and asked her for liquor she would not let him
have IL, he kicked her the knee and struck
her in the face; she had him arrested but did not ap
pear against him. and he discharged he then went
20 BED Bank and did not come back until three four
days before her mothers death he drunk all the
time; her mother also drunk, and when they
that way they scoded her; she got home from
her work about six O'Clock in the evening"
went up stafrs her mother lying on the floor and
her brother was also there her mother said she did not
feel we'll that she very weak witness unable
put her OH the bed she stood in the room for some
time, but they both had been drinking and com
menced to scold her, she went out because she
afraid; she went next door; when she returned her
mother still the floor in the place and her
Brother was in bed; prisoner asleep most OF the
while and did not awaken for time the prisoner
got up and went out; did not until about half
next morning; her mother still lying
the floor; about halfpast ten
told her that her mother dead; she
heard IT she went home and saw her mother her face
was black and blue; she covered with clothes
the night previous her clothes scattered about the
floor; the windows were open her hands were closed
but she saw nothing in them.
Upon being cross-examined by Mr.. KNITTING the wit
pess testified that she did not know of any other fight
between the prisoner and her mother her mother had
been drunk from the time her brother kicked her until
short time of her death; she had several fights with
Rome of the other people in the house and received in
turies; when intoxicated she often fell time she
had fallen from the sidewalk to the basement
and cut her head; when she wanted liquor she would
pawn things and take them from the trunks; nothing
occurred between the prisoner and her mother.
On the redirect examination witness said that her
brother sometimes beat her
DR.. Cushman Deputy Coroner, testified that he made
A post mortem examination of the body; he found
several bruises on the body but one the left
was more recent; he found two ribs fractured
the left side and three the right; removing the
scalp there found extravasation OF blood beneath
Sravasation of blood, caused her death
Captain Mcdonald testified that the prisoner after
being taken TO the station house confessed him that
he struck his mother two three times but that he
did so because she threw pitcher at him and called
him tibet and a loafer.
After brief opening by Mr. Laird several witnesses
were called for the defence Their testimony went to
chow that the deceased had been addicted drinking
for several years. that the day before her death she
fell while intoxicated into basement inlictng severe
injuries effect of which partly destroy her
speech.
Counsel will commence summing up this morning on
the reassembling Of the Court, and all probability
&he trial will be concluded to-day