The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-20
MAGGIE BAUER'S MURDER.

PATRICK TAFT MURDER - RYERS TRIAL
POSTPONED.
The trial OF Frank McConnochie for the murder OF
Maggie Bauer al Fosters Meadow, In August last, was
commenced at the Queens County Court House, North
Hampstead yesterday, before Judge Pratt fprcsiding
County Judge John J. Armstrong and Sessions JUS
tces Baxter and Chpp, adjourned OF the Court
OF Oyer aid Terminer being held for the purpose An
hour before the Court convened there large
crowd assembled In and about the Court House,
and this was increased during the forenoon
TO such an extent that the large
in which the Court was held was much overcrowdsd.
The Bauer family were all present. and the crowd
largely made up Of residents Of tho ncighborhood
where they reside, number OF them having sub
p9naed as Witnesses District Attorney Benjamin W.
Downing conducted the for the people, and
McConuoche WAS defended by ex-Judge Richard Bus
ced, assisted by 7. j. Armstrong, OF Jamaica. of
the County Judge-boh assigned by the Court, tho
prisoners family have in O discarded him and
proposed to tako steps toward procuring counsel
If any Of them we're present during the proceedings
yesterday they did not make themselves known, and
were no, recognized by the prisoner
McConnoche was brought into tho court room at
haif-past O'Clock. He dressed in pantaloons,
and checked shirt, with the vest open Consider.
ing his long confinement ne looked WE'LL though It,
tie pale ana evidently quite nervous, looking furtrvcy
about and kccpinl his hands almost constantly
ton.
Ex-Judge Bustecd moved for quashing the indict-
mcnt as found by the Grand Jury. He found three
counts in II, each charging a separate and distinct
crime-the nrst. MURDER the second rape; tho third
robbery he asked the District Attorney to explain
which Of the charges he proposed to try the prisoner
upon. District Attorney Downing explained that the
sccond and third counts charged crimes committed
while In the commission 0t the main OF
murder In the first degree, and Intended 10 hold the
Noa
Judge Pratt denied Mr.. Bustced's motion. An cxccp-
ton was taken, and the work OF obtaining aJury
proceeded with.
ExpAyELLIxG A JURY.
Mr. Busteeds inqusition Ms TO the acceptsbility OF
me Jurors was very searching Most Of those 90.
Meadow, where the crime committed, and had, as
assumed, received Impressions too strong to DO easily
removed The jury al last obtained IS as foows:-
John Kemsen Of Hampstead, farmer; Samuel o.
Wright, Of Hampstead, carpenter Thomas Duncan, OF
Astoria market gardener; John H. Van Cot, oil Oyster
Bay, farmer; Oakley Ketcham, OF Glen Cove, insur.
anco; John NJ sammis OF Oyster Bay, merchant;
Nathaniel NJ. Baylis, OF Jamaica, farmer Charles O.
Van Nostrand, of Hampstead, farmer; William II.
Hicks, oil College Point, merchant; Richard A. Sam
MIS- Of Oyster Bay Yam merchant SarenSe Bets OF
In obtaining this jury some iorty names werc called,
there being ten pcrempory challenges by the counsel
those Jurors accepted hac talked with or seen
Detective Payne, and some Of them had not oven heard
OF him.
| Before the trial proceeded cx-Judge Busted an
nounccd shat he could not possibly be able try the
kyer, with Tho murder Patrick
at this term OF the Court Mr. Busteed Is also retained
for Ryers defence, and tho understanding that
both would be tried at this adjourned The
District Attorney stated that his expectation
try Rycr As we'll as McConnochie and he objected TO
the proposed delay, which, however, was earnestly
insisted upon by Mr. Bustcsd, who stated a
for delay that his state Of health In addition to his
unreadncss would not permit HIM 10 try but one OF
the cases.
After consultation by the Court Judge Pratt an
nounccd that the Ryer would 20 over until the
ncxt term, when would probably be held IN the now
| (.nn n Islu and
ON the secoud Tuesday OF April These iurymen not
engaged in the trial of the McConnoche then
| discharged for the term.
| OPENING FOR THE PROSECUTION.
The District Attorney proceeded open the for
not succeed In proving the allegations OF the nd,c-
ment he would join IN asking the jury TO acqut tho
prisoner. He then detailed TO the jury the circum-
stances OF tho murder aud tho which pre-
ceded and succeeded 1.-THE prisoner listening ntently
and bcrayng great nervousness In his manner occa.
sonay shaking his head II In dissent from the Dis
| trict Attorneys statements
Mrs Bauer, tho mother Of the murdered girl, was
Margaret Eva Bauer and she was eight years and nine
months old when she was killed. The mother related
The circumstances attending the visit OF Kate Hoffman
to their house; how Maggie went to show her the way
TO the Valley Stream depot and how her nanged body
was found tho next morning In the woods. Her de-
scrpton OF the condition In which the body lett
by the murderer, bruised and bloody, with the mouth
crammed full Of caves portion Of hor bonnet stuffed
into II and tied SDund her head, and the throat encr
ced tightly by her waist belt while portions OF tho
skin and flesh Of her brutal assailant under hcr
finger nails, proving that she had fought desperately
for her liical this created deep sensation In the
court room
Mr.. Busted cross examined Mrs Bauer at consider
able length ana very mnutely as to what she tho
condition OF the body while 1t ay in the woods, and
upon the production in court Of tho bonnet ana
belt (rhcy will be produced this morning, tho mother
having left them ut homcl Mr. Busted then ques-
toned her closely to the actions aud OF
KATE Hoffman on tie day OF tho murder disclosing the
intention OF suggesting to the minds OF the jury that
perhaps Kate and not McConnoche was. after ALL the
murderer. Counsel also endeavored elicit the dec
had h>evn
the Baucrs. Tho District Attorney objected to this
line OF examination and the objection was sustained
THE EXAMINATION CONTINUED
Mr. Bustocd-Did you at any time accuse Kate Hoff.
mau OF numbering Maggie?
Tho District Attorney again objected; tho objection
was sustained and Mr. Bustoed took exception When
further questioned, Mrs. Bauer said she thought
Maggie GOT killed where her body found because
there were no evidences Of struggle; she nrst saw
McConnochie wnen Detective Payn brought him the
house. She detailed the conversation that took place.
becoming at tunes considerably animated and excited
especially she gave the details of McConnochies
confession that no killed tho child and described the
manner in which he did It. Shc also heard Nc
C0nnochio tell fayn that he took from Maggie ten
cent peco with hole IN II, and McConnochic told her
how Maggie scratched him the nose and elsewhere
| on his lace.
The District Attorney exhibited map OF the neigh.
berhood OF the MURDER including the Bauer house,
| the wood where the body was found. &c II was Oh
Jcctcd to on account Of It's alleged ncomplctencss but
the statements OF Mrs. Bauer in regard TO It were ad-
mtted. She became very indignant when the junior
counsel for the defence desired her TO show the
OF n house not indicated on tho map, and burst into
tears, saying that they wcro trying to make fool Of
| her
PURTHuR CONFESSION or GUILT
John De Mott Henderson called and testified rs
to the manner IN which the body was found and 10
occurrences after McConnochlc's arrest, including
confession made by him and his identification OF the
waist ribbon which tied around Maggc's throat;
McConnochie showed witness where he In tho
1sld when Maggie passed how be sprang out upon her
ana grasped her by the throa; how he carried her
the place where the body found how he ed
the wads Of leaves into her mouth and afcrward tho
cape OF the bonnet, and how he held down the limbs
Of tho tree under which she lay that he could
intention which no was prevented from carrying out
because there were people In the roads that
night with lanterns searching for tho lost girl.
Cross examined by Mr.. Busced, the witness said he
HAD never before testified In this matter; he had met
The District Attorney, with Detective Payn aud
three others, at Jamaica about month ago The wit
ness went for the Coroner and OF The Coroner
jury. Before the murder lao had never Mctjon-
nocbe, but he mad kato Hoffman in the
hood all the Jurors saw the body and the leaves
taken out OF Maggics mouth by tho Coroner. The wit