Middletown transcript., 1875-06-26

AZ times been resorteQ 10
TO PROCURE IMPRISONMENT,
and altogether the case is a very strange one.
The following are the particulars, as given
out:
David McConaughey was the eldest son at
the death of his father, and under the direc-
iion Of his grandfather took charge Of the
estate. He freed the property from debt
which at that time is understood to have
equalled the full value Of the property, and
took the same at an appraisemsnt.. By years
of hard labor he is said to have accumulated a
large amount Of money, and finally sold out
the home place to his two brothers, and also
started third in business in SUSSEX county,
to whom he also afterwards sold out his
share. --=-7--77 I--T5a=T-- n
Being out Of business with an income sufi-
cient to maintain him, he took to drink,
which, after long spell,
oyERrHREw HIS NERVOUS SYSTEM.
He was then confined in Kirkbride's, where,
with the exception of a short absence on
''french leave, he remained for nearly four
years. About two years ago he came home
very much reduced in body, being mere
skeleton, and with his nervous system severe
ly shattered In this condition he called on
q physician, under whose treatment he began
to improve, and as strength returned be be-
gan to ask for a settlement Of accounts
which had remained open during his con6ns-
ment at Kirkbrides. 1t is stated that this
request was denied, but persisting in his de-
mand, under plea Of his becoming danger
ous, he was by force, the statement goes,
taken to Wilmington without any warrant of
law and there held several months, and until
he came to the conclusion he n
i WOULD BE SPIRITED AWAY,
when he left the almshonss Of his own accord |
and went to Philadelphia, where be consulted |
aa old family physician and from him OBJ
tanned a certificate of the sanity Of his mind. |
With this he returned to Wilmington and |
consulted lawyer, obtaining from him q
letter which advised caution on the part of
those who were urging bis imprisonment.
Since then Mr.. McConaugby has bssn re-
siding in Wilmington aud Newark. This
Spring be requested the lawyer whom be had |
first called on after his escape to procure )
settlement bnt the matter was delayed, and |
application was made to Chancellor Sauls-
bury to have 3 3s aas
Mr.. n x'coNAUGHY DECLARED INSANE.
Another lawyer was then employed by
Mr.. McC., and yesterday the trial was pro-
ceeded with, BY orders Of the Chancellor, at
the Deer Park Hotel, as stated. The follow
ing gentlemen comprised the jury: Abraham
Camerson, Smalley, Geo. g. Evans, William
Dean, Levi Ruth, Philip R. Clark . James NJ.
Housman, Thomas G. Morrison, Benjamin F.
Townsend, Robert c. Justice, Robert Haw-
thorn, VIM. D. Cornog. VIM. G. Whitsley,
Esq, represented the brothers of Mr.. Nc
Ceaaughy, who were the applicants for the
trial, and, VIM. @. Spruance, ESQ.,. represent
Mr.. MeConaughy. a. fss s5
i.ias5ssA ;a ~ M 49, ~ as#. gGA
ts6 u THE TRIAL. 8s-s #4.s -
3 Miss Susan McConaughy, sister, was the
FIRST witness called, who testified to certain
peculiarities in her brother, and believed him
to be of uusound mind and unfit to take care
Of himself or his effects. Miss Rebecca Nc
Conaughy also testified to the same things.
Peter Meggitt had known McConaugby for
number q, years, and as be was not now
what he used to be- after excessive use of
strong drink, be concluded he was unfit to
do business 6 III fli'ls
Dr.. Shortlidge physician at the almshouss
during Nj. McConaughy's residence thsrs,
depossd that in his opinion all mon are insane
on some subject; that David McConaughy's
insanity was in relation to the Bible, and he
believed him to be unfit TO take care of him
self or his effects. ~ pIa191-
Mrs. Emerson, matron at the almshouse,
knew AcOonaughy, and from the fact that he
gave her as much as dollar at . time with
which to buy oranges, newspapers writing
materials, &C., which he afterwards gave
away to the inmates, she concluded his mind
was not right. $50 faa
Jonathan McConaughy statedIthe peculiar
tiles of his brother, mentioning particularly
the fact that he would walk long distances,
instead Of riding. 4. u hf5a
David McConaughy himself was then called
and testified that his brothers owed him some
$ls 900 or $4,000, with large amount Of
back interest, but the interest, he said, had
been consumed in his maintenance al Kirk
brides and the New Castle aImshouse.
Some further witnesses were examined,
when Mr.. Spruance hE@ @efsF29.
OPENED THE CASE EoR THE DEEEscE,
explaining that he would prove that David
McCenaughy was not insane, and if anything
was wrong it was from the use of strong
drink, to the use Of which be gave himself
when he thought he was being unjustly dealt
with by his family, and ii had well nigh
wrecked bis nervous system /
large number of witnesses were called,
among them Wilson Marvel, Samuel Miller,
John Atkinson, Seth Stewart, John b. Todd,
Of Wilmington, who had seen Mr.. McCon-
aughy just after he broke out of the aims
house, and DR.. Shaw. Letters were also read
to show the sanity of McConaughy. DR..
Curtis had conversed with McConaughy and
believed him sane. s
VERDICT OF THE yGRY. -
The case occupied from two o. clock in the
afternoon until i73 at night Mr., ,Spruance
spoke one hour and Mr.. W hiteley an hour
and half At three o'clock, on Thursday
morning; the Jury returned with verdict
establishing the sanity of Mr. Mcconaughy.