The New York herald., 1876-07-26
THE BERDELL TROUBLE,
Conclusion of the Examination Of Berdell
Before Justice Coleman.
DISCHARGE AND REARREOT OF THE DEFENDANT.
What Is Thought Of the Merits
of the Case.
GOSHEN, July 25, lS76


GOSHEN July 25, ls7d
In the case President Berde of the Erie Rail.
way who was held a charge before a committing
magistrate for shooting Wisner Murray, arguments
closed to-day.
Mr.. Carr, OF Port Jervs, appeared for Mr. Berdeil
He held that Berdell had right to shoot both the
ruflians.
DISCHARGED AND REARREsrED
The six days examination resulted in Justice Cole.
man discharging the prisoner. Previous to summing
up the prosecution motion Of the defence, was 70.
quested prove the death Of Murray which they had
refused to do Immediately on his discharge BerdeI
was rcarrested by Sheriff Hoyt warrant issued BY
Coroner }. NJ H. Little of Middletown. charging him
with the killing of Wisner Murray. Tho examination
before Coroner down for nine O'Clock to-mor
morning Tho arrest made on tho ground
that is required by statute the Cooners jury having
found that death was caused by Berdclls handA
GOSHEN.
The case of ex-Prssdent Berdcll to have been
helped by the tragedy which he appears homl.
eide. Before the day which he killed his victim he
very unpopular in his own neighborhood. While
he lived In Of tho most beautiful residences OF
beautiful town he seems to have been held
in adherence BY people who do not
readily accede to tho demands that
wealthy and prominent men sometimes
make on the society IN which they live. Mr.. Berdel
was regarded here as an immoral man. His family
difficulties were the talk; but It known that
his exclusion from his we's room for months did him
great harm. He not n weak sentimentalist who
down wept and he did not avoid the society OF
ladies' Paterson who, whatever may have been Mr.
Berdel's idea OF them were by means of such lofty
character that their regulations escaped smirch
ing 1t considered strange that the exPresdcnt OF
Erie should have been innocent in his estimation OF
women that he was pure when many another man did
not escape being wicked.
BERDELL NOT A SAINT
No doubt Mr. Berdell was not saint. The divorce
case settled that. In tho brought by his
wife he charged his wife with wickedness; but jury
decided against him and in her favor. She was ac-
corded alimony amounting something over So, 900
year.
THE CIVIL SUITS
There resulted certain civil suits, one against his
wie's aunt, Mrs ParKhurst, wherein he claims that
she stole certain securities Of his and she claims that
she gave HIM certain Of money Tor investment
got securities for collateral This civil suit
In which tho world had little interest wsner
Murray, who has just been buried was one of the
most popular men in this beautiful town. He and
Mr., Berdell married sisters. The HERALD yes.
the relationship between these several parties
a relationship amounting to private scandal.
agree sayng that though Mr. Berdell is q very bad
man, his story one that has been currently believed
for long time. Though tho fight had become stale,
the that neither side was bameless ad
hered TO the village mind.
TOWARD THE DEcEAsED
Mr. Berdell is likely to come or in his various COM
plicatons better than he deserves merely because In
thus emergency his enemy, a hitherto popular man,
became unpopular by resorting to the tricks OF black
guard for physical supremacy He possessed moral
advantage, though he himself had seduced nice young
lady OF Gosncn; but he called In extraordinary
physical advantages to support him In attack on
Bcrde. Ho only thrty-three years old and was
tho rising young man of his town in the county.
Murray might been presented for Congress- Few
asked about the young lady who had been fool
Popularity atonod for everything. even for
some Iittlc half forgotten escapade In which
that light when wisner Murray became abully he
favorite. The moment he aud his brother 'un.
manuedu themselves AS these Orange county people
say, he had affairs all his way; but, q man sale
to me at one OF the TOO many hotels OF small town.
Murray sp'. on his hands hand and he got % !. be-
Ho gets moro desert than he deserves No
loves him ana every ono upholds him.
his pian becomes He is respected but every
him justice. II seems ~ II justice were per.
feet only between two tragedies
Mr.. Berdell is man who did not hide his immortality.
morality in which he was second best and he came o6
second best II they were bad he was WORSE At last
they took him unawares and tried to whip him at
disadvantage and he shot first. He may come on first
best, but first best Is by no means good
WHAT IL SAID BEgDELL's FRIENDS.
Bcrdell's statements to the OF his trouble
with his wife and tho Murrays, made in interview
published in Mondays HERALD are pronounced by
parties Immediately, concerned to no false In al.
every essential particular They decline TO
make any statements IN answer for publication.
Mr. Fullerton Mrs Bcrdells counsel has ADVISED her
friends say nothing in the papers. few
facts, derived from reliable sources Will throw some
additional light on the causes OF the trouble; No
doubt the first OF this tragedy Bcrdell's un
aithtulness to marriage VOWS which was abundantly
proved trial. which gave his wife an absolute d..
.,Ae eho tAtu nf nsht Irsn md
alimony Tho first two quarters or this has not been
pa'd and stands IN the form Of judgments which have
property out OF his hands The Goshen property
worth SlO0,0 900 decided to his son Charles IN
Colorado, and New York city real estate valued at
$50, OOO norteaged to daughter by his first wife.
The plantir had nconirovcrtibo evidence OF Berdes
particularly with one married woman In Goshen,
but II was withheld, to avoid unnecessary
scandal in other families where husbands
similarly involved. The unriendly feeling
between Berdcl and wlsncr Murray existed since
the atcrs marriage to Berdcs wife sister, but II was
intensely embtercd during tho divorce proceedings IN
which Murray assisted MrS BerdclL For this Berdell
iu his complaints counter charged him with over one
hundred and thirty adultery with Mrs Bsrdcl al
though the trial he did attempt prove Ber
dell sad two days after the divorce papers served
him when hoped yet settle things, my wiio Ia
a pure virtuous woman; two months afterwards he
SAID 10 the same man they havo muddcd mo all over
BerdeIl removed when she left his house and for which
he brought $50 900 SUIT To recover, largely over
valued and belonged to her, and included SONS OF her
wedding presents The suit commenced four months
ago has not been moved and is not lkcIy TO be
pushed to trial at all
Mrs. A. 5. Mdrray, who Is made party TO II on the
ground OF being present at the removal charged by
BcrdeI In the HERALD interview, went there aerward
10 oier Bcrels daughter the hospitality OF her house
Tor the night; her fathers being deserted by this
Berdcll has esrangcd the friendship OF tue elder A. y
% mno Sa s
paid. The conspiracy TO get his property charged BY
Berdcll against hts wife and her father Cbaunccy Bar
nard Is evidently moonshine. Tho deed OF
the property transferred the latter by Berdell was
withheld To compel Berdel to settle equitable debt
which he did finally pay Tho authorship OF the cards
the circulation Of which tho immediate cause OF
the outbrcak--he attributed TO enemies IN con-
versat.on with ncighbor on the train from
winch he al,ghted On tho dav tho