The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-13
THE MURDER OF CARRUTH.
THE FIRST or THE TESTIMONY IN
THE TRIdL or Lands
Witnesses Describing How the shooting was
Done The Effect Of Probing n Brain
Womnd-The PrIaoncr'a Own Admissions.

won -Ine tFisOncrA OWn AdmtSfOns.
BRIDGEToN. Jan. 12.-when Charles X. |
lands entered the Drdgcton court room this
morning. followed by his sister, and took his
place at the table around which were gathered
the numerous array OF counsel. not only every
seat but all the available standing room was oc-
cupied, and a throng unable to get In stood be-
fore the door Of the court house. District At
torney james floaGland briefly opened the case
for the prosecution, explaining the law under
which the prisoner was to be tried for the will
ful murder OF Uri Carruth, tho Vneland editor.
Bradford j. Foster, the Hrst witness called,
was with Uri Carruth when he died on the mcrn-
ing Of Oct. "a. The next day post mortem ex-
animation was mace OF the remains. The wit
ness thought that Carrutb, before receiving the
wound said to have resulted In his death, was a
robust and remarkably healthy man.
DR. II. Thomas. Professor OF tAnatomy. attached
to Hahnemann College, Philadelphia, said he
made post -mortem examination OF Carruths
body on the morning Of Oct.A. In the tissues
at the back Of the neck, below the opening Of
the skull, he found flattened piece of lead
triangular fragment OF Carruth's skull was
produced. showing a round hole where the ball
had entered. The witness, who Is professional
lecturer, produced skull and the model OF
brain, and accepting the jury for an audience ho
+ mbled on into n lecture on anatomy. lie
further testified to having found four aoscesses
In Carruths brain. The walls or coverings of
the at sccsses nllcd with cotton to show the
sizes were produced, as was also the bullet
found below the abscesses iu the brain. Near
1t a small piece OF lead which, like that
taken from tho neck tissues, was a detached
portion Of the bullet All the other organs we're
In a healthy condition. and the witness believed
tue immediate cause Of Carruth's death was the
Assesses. The remote cause was the injury TO
the brain substance The eoscesse; were pro,
through the skull penetrated to the depth Of an
inch only.
| that II a probe were pa sed through the aver
| tufe an inch forward and three-auarters OF an
| inch toward the rgnt eve before the formation
| OF the abscesses and soon after the reception Of
the wound. 1t must have injured the brain, for the
course Indicated was not the direction taken by
| the bullet. which passed inward and downward.
IL would not h we been possible to infict brain
wOunu ia which the chances OF recovery would
| have been more favorable than In the case Of
| Mr. Carruth but as a rule tie result ot such an
| injury IA death.
| behind the District Attorney, and listened to tho
medical testimony witn uncontrolled emotion.
| A WITNESS To THE SHOOTING.
| Henry W. W wilbur was n foreman printer
employed by Mr. Carruth He was In the print
| ing office on the l9th Of March. He said that
| Charles X. Landis entered between ten and half
| past ten o'clock in the morning. plan OF the
once and it, approaches was nailed to the court
room window shutter. and the witness pointed
out TO the jury the stairs by which Lands reach
| ed the secOnu floor. He stood at the door be.
tween the editorial ana composing rooms and
went into the editorial room. Witness was
| standing by a case OF type when Mr.. Carruth en-
tered. Almost at the same moment Lands
| stepped out Of tho editorial room, drew pistol
| and frcd at the editor who dropped to the
| floor. Lands was about eight feet from Car
ruth when he nred. Dr. Bdwell was SUNNI oned
and found Carruth l,ine where he had fallen
| apparently dead. He groaned when he WAS
| raised, Out eynced no otner sign OF conscious
| ness.
| show that when Lands took his seat in the
edituria room he was not FUZZY conscious aud
| had to be aroused from sent slumber. The
wi ness, however, thought Lands was In full
| possession Of his senses.
Ms- Miy Case, Young lady formerly EN-
ployed as a compositor in Mr.. Carruth's once,
was working At the second case from the ed-
whether Carruth was In, About twenty minutes
aftetward she heard pistol shot and saw Car
previously, stagser and fail. Lands was standing
at tho door with the weapon in his hand. Mr..
Wilbur ran down stairs 70 summon assistance,
and Lands leaued over the body Of his victim
ana exclaimed. GOD forgive me One Of the
employees, Mr. WILEY, said " Mr.. lands, am
to do IT, i did IL in the cause OF God and
humanity There lies the man who has caused
ali the misery In my family
IANDIss oRIEP.
b Frank Todd. printer formerly employed
| by MIR. Carruth, was In the composing room on
the morning Of March 10. He beard MIR. Lands
ask whether Carruth was In. when the editor
returned he went into the room where Lands
was slttirg. and In a few seconds he hurried
out, looking very much frightened. He was
standing beside case Of type. about eight feet
distant from tho door. when lands followed
and fhO h% s1f.soS TSe w'psis sid
the pistol. but Immediately after Csrruth had
fallen lands uttered an exclamation and then
standing over wnat the witness supposed was
the dead body Of his victim. he said he was
sorry but be had been compelled to act as he
had done. "Oh my / oor crazy WIFE," he cx-
claimed. and he held up article clipped from
Carruth's newspaper which he said his wife had
that he was willing to die that moment In
atonemant for his crime. The article referred
10 hy the witness was the last one written ty
Mr.. CMruth, and II rldcu'ed Lundiss family re-
lations.
James Wiley printer. was employed in Mr.
Carruth's Oilce on March ~. lie saw Nr. Ianrts
enter, and CorrobOraied tho previous testimony
with regard to the shooting ~ M tarruth
When CaTuih went out Of the editorial room
lie dodsed from side 10 side before the glass
windows as though he were trying 70 escape
had gone there 10 thrash Carruth, and decided
not to interfere. ms he wanted To see some fun
After Llnds mad nrcd, the witness saw pistol
in hi, hand, but he did not care to examine the
weapon very closely.
A PHYSICIANS TESTIMONY.
Dr. Edwin Bidwell. who WAS summoned TO at
tend Mir Carruth, testified to having found the
wounded man on tho floor. face down. Blood
had run from his mouth, his tongue having been
cut by his teeth closing upon It. The aperture
in the skull through which the bullet had
passed was entirely filled with brain matter. The
doctor passed his little finger through the orince
| and satisfied himself that the bullot had pene
trlted the skull. Two other physicians were
called In, aud while they were making their ox.
The witness asked him what physl ian he de.
sired 10 attend MIN, and with some hesitation
of the wound satisfied hun that II wss fatal
The witness Identified a heavy hve-chambered
bulldog as the weapon takon by his son from
Mr. Lands. When he received II one OF the
chambers mad been DISCHARGED, and leathel
, thong in the form Of anoose was attached &c
the handle. lhe witness heard Lands say,
have Killed him, ! have killed HIM ! wa wa,
OF God and humanity. | am sorry for IT,