The New York herald., 1876-12-26
THE MICHIGAN HORROR.

WOMAN ACCUSED OF MURDER LIES IN BED
THE CRIME.
The sensation of Northern Michigan Is the terrible
murder al Chesaning, near Saginaw. u ich. woman
named smith loves young man named Alexander
They continue their Illicit love for than year.
Smith. The husband. cross and Jealous They want
him out OF the way, and plot to murder him is
one Cargin, in New York state. she hates Smith and
SO does her young husband. Correspondence follows
tho letters destroyed. They agree kill the ea
Gus husband and make journey to Michigan for the
purpose Alexander is to stand by with trunk strap
for Cargn TO choke Smith alter he has been stunned
with club Al midnight while Mrs. Smith is lying
with her husband, Alexander leaves his hotel,
enters opon window, meets Cargin and
his wife, who stopping in Smiths house.
Cargin gets the club and falls upon the sleeping smith,
who gives one groan of despair The guilty vito
arises softly goes her babe in an adjoining room,
and while the blows continue her husbands head
and while the trunk strap is drawn around his gaspng
throat she puts her Angers In her and presses
the babe to hor bosom. Smith killed after fright
iu struggle. Once he cries out and moans Blood
flows from his nose and mouth. The bed Is saturated
with the blood. To romove all traces Of violence
Alexander and Cargn cut the pastering from the wall
put II IN tho bed and carried the sti warm body on
The mattress to the barn they pitch ton Of hay upon
IT, then set lire to the barn in two places While they
are doing this the women scrape tho bloody floor
and headboard in the house with pair OF scissors.
suddenly urd flames burst from the roof Of the barn.
wild cries echo the midnight air. tho neIghbors
hurry from their beds only the red hot outlines
OF the barn sink into a mass OF tame The women
scream and pull their hair and in convulsivc sobs
INFORM the appalled, listeners that poor Mr.. Smith went
out TO look after his horses, when Kick from one OF
h,p, alntfn harm
on hro On the day following that night OF sin and
shame the remnants OF the mattress we're found aud
other proofs that could not be explained away. Then
Alexander, the Don Juan OF the tragedy, confessed,
Mrs. Smith corroborated his dreadful story and the
trial began Carsin has just been convicted OF murder
in the first degree. Tue evidence against his vile Is
now before the jury, alter which Mrs Smith and her
lover, Alexander, win take The prisoners stand
Cargin declares mis- innocence; also his wie's She
says she is sick and bod is allowed her in open court
The following description OF the strange scene, as
given by the Saginaw Courier Of December 23:--
Yesterday proved to be an interesting day in the
Cargin smith murder trial and considerable progress
was made though from present appearance II is not
probable that tho will 10 tho jury before Tues
day or Wednesday next. Twelve witnesses were called
and testified the part OF tho people. The crowd Of
spectators smaller than common during the fore
noon but after the noon reccss every available space
outsds tho bar occupied, both on tho floor and In
keep the crowd from pressing forward obstructing
the Wow Of tho ladies' occupying the seats The de-
iendAnt s becoming generally known As Inc
SLEEPING BKAUry
She still occupies her easy chair and recnes her
LETT side with her feet upon the rounds OF another
resting with limbs extended 10 full length IN
the chair ITSELF she Is turned partially toward the
jury, but only tho pointed right cheek and forehead
visible them. Her eyes shut almost c0ntn-
uay, that impossible 10 get iar look at them,
and during tho whole day sho did not raise hcr head
from the pillow except as she rose To 80 10 her cell.
One would naturally wonder what kind OF nature sho
must have TO remain SO unm0ved At the startling and
blood curdling revelations made against her ny tho
witnesses upon the stand. At times. when ono is
known her DO observing she can be to peep
the witness with her right eyo partially opened, tho
icf being hidden from sight by the pillow. But the
moment she observes any person looking at her tho
eye Is quickly closed and remains until she again
thinks herself unobscrvcd and al no time she sits
rccines easy way can tho eager throng eaten
even glance al hcF
Alter giving the testimony the reporter continues
AZ this point IN the testimony Mrs. Cargin was
seized With ono OF her frequently occurring hts and
she began 10 gasp stretch Qneal and clutch at empty
nottingness With her oustretched hands, and at oncc
William A. Clark, Jr., laid his hand personal---very. upon
hers aud whispered forcibe uttcrances in her
by which she made to understand that It WASH I
tho right put In 1T tho best effect and ad-
vantage, whereupon she Instantly became quiet.
Mrs smith VI the close OF court was still on the
stand. ana will be again this morning. We could
percoptibc change in her Testimony except as to
facts, and dcmcanor about the same
the former trial. except that she testified to her
criminal intimacy with Alexander with little more
nerve than the former trial. though yesterday Il
Was interspcrsed with an occasional giggle.