The New York herald., 1876-01-25
THE BROOKLYN WIFE MURDER.

THE BROOKLYN WIFE MURDER
JOSEPH J. BURROUGHS on TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE
is THR PRISONER INSANE?
The trial Of Joseph J. Burroughs for the murder Of
his wife begun yesterday in the Kings Cou4ty
Court Of Oyer and Terminer, before Judge Pratt and
associate justices, The prisoner, who Is man OF
medium height, about fortyfve years Of age, is of
rather coarse features which give evidence of sn
NAL nature He is house carpenter by trade native
OF Long Island, and respectfully connected,
though for several years past he has
been avoided by his relatives, with the exception
OF his venerable and devoted mother account OF his
habits of intemperance aud dleness He twice
married The last wife and the victim Of the foul mur
der, Elizabeth burroughs, welded about hve or
six years 9go against the wishes OF her family, to the
prisoner He pursued life of dissipation negectng
to provide for her and their child girl four years
OF age She was subjected to the most brutal treat
ment at his hands, being beaten and half starved
while dwelling under the same roof with him. In
the carly part OF last summer she left him
She undertook to support herself and her little girl by
sewing, and hired two rooms ON the second floor OF
two story frame house, No. 247 Fifteenth street, be-
tween Fifth and Sixth avenues, South Brooklyn. She
dwe there happily till about the latter part OF October
when Joseph Burroughs called on her and demanded
that she should return TO him. She empnatically
fused TO accede to his command. A few days
later he again called on her in company
with female relative and importuned hcr TO Te-
turn promising to reform his habits of life She was
immovable in her resolution, however On the follow
ing Sunday he attempted to cut his own throat with
carving knife in presence of his aged mother, whose
hand cut in wrestling the knife from his grasp.
The fatal Saturday morning November Is, about half
past eight o'clock Burroughs entered the house unob
eerved, and wont into the room where his wife
preparing the frugal breakfast for herself Florence
the child He then drew pistol and fred three times
shooting his wife in the head and face killing her in
stanhy. The people In tho lower part Of the house
rushed in and found the homicda sot standing over
the inanmate body OF his victim with tho weapon in
his hand When asked why he had done II, he said,
because of her misconduct Mrs. Burroughs at
tho time her confinement, so that two lives
sacrificed The prisoner accompanied young
man down to the corner of Fifteenth street and
Fifth avenue, whore, at liquor soro, he
dranb glassful OF whskey, told the bartender
walked 10 the Eighth precinct station house, which
is on the next corner and gave himself into custody
Since his Incarceration in the Raymond Street jail he
has simulated insanity. Yesterday, while seated by
the side OF his counsel ex-Judge Daily, he per-
fccy calm and gazed steadily at the wall above the
heads Of the jury II was one O'Clock before a jury
was obtained. Aner roccss, which was then taken,
District Attorney Drtton opened the case for the pco
pie
Samuel Clay, who resided in the lower part ofthe
house No 247 Fifteenth street, the first witness
called He testified that he had known the prisoner
for the past five years; knew deceased Mrs Bur-
roughs for three or four months heard the noise of
some heavy body falling and on gong up stairs saw do
ceased lying the floor and Burroughs coming out
of the room with the pistol in his hand witness told
Cross examined for the defence-Burroughs appeared
TO be little excited at the time he od of the
room where he had shot his wife; he said 81 have
shot her - told him it bad job he had done and
ho replied, II can't help ii, have put up with more
from that woman-" he stopped there; for the last
four or five years witness had seen the prisoner at work
about buildings plastering; saw him driving a fur
nture truck about three weeks before the 18Th OF No
vember
Mrs Ann Clay, mother OF the last witness testified
that she knew Mrs. Burroughs for three months;
the prisoner at the house till the morning OF
November l3; heard scream and, on going up stairs
witness turned the knob but could not push the door
OPEN saw the prisoner In there and told HIM 10 OUT
when the door opened the body OF deceased fell
forward the foor did not anything IN his hand
he came out he said, ITS done; IT'S done Leave
my way" Mrs. Burroughs not dead when witness
went in she lifted her hands and said, ''oh Ohln
Michael Boyle testified that he kept liquor store at
No 557 Fifth avenue; about nine O'Clock November
13 the prisoner came in and called for glass Of liquor
for drink he said "Eill II up;n the prisoner then
showed p stol and sad "Do you see that haveiust
killed my wife," witness asked '1s that so ~ and he
said YES" the glass was nearly nlcd with whiskey,
which Burroughs drank.
oss-eXamined-Did not notice any excitement in
his manner when he first came In.
Captain John Mcclellan OF the Eighth precinct testi-
fed that he Burroughs at tho station house hour
after the occurrence; talked with him after returning
from the house; asked him what induced bin TO kill
this woman and he said she would not live with him:
she had, he said some years ago been intimate with
photographer OF Fulton street. but he did not enter
tain jealousy about that; there Is nothing peculiar
In his manner now, nor was there anything peculiar
his manner then.
Sergeant Brown testified that he was on duty AZ the
station house when the prisoner there az ten
minutes past nine A. NJ had known him as Joe Bur
roughsn for nine ten years; prisoner said on ap-
preaching the desk, 81 have shot my wife, and have
como, Captain Brown. 10 deliver myself 70 you" the
doormnn who stood there said, "Ho has got the linn
jams him >; hc said i1 live at No. 34I Seventeenth
street - witness officer inquire sbout it he
said he had "shot her for her bad conduct ~ he
gave his John Joseph Burroughs and said
he born at Newtown, Long Island: he said in an
TO question that Judge Burroughs was a rcla.
ti0n Of his that ''t done and couldn't be un.
douon
Crossexamined-When Burroughs came IN il was on
quick tmc;n he extended the pistol IN his right
hand when hc approached the desk he had a firm hold
OF the weapon, which was q four barrelcd Derrnger
The Court at hafpast four O'Clock adjourned until
ten O'Clock this forenoon.
STOKES AGAIN UNSUCCESSFUL