The New York herald., 1878-09-13
THE BILLINGS MURDER.
YESTERDAYS PROCEEDINGS AT THE TRIAL Oh
JESSE BILILNGs, JR.--rEsrIMoNx or W.T.
NEssEs FOE THE PEopLE-rHn SHOOTING
DESCRIBED BY AN EYE WITNESS.

court room was crowded. All the witnesses were
present, numbering los, OF whom forty were fsmsieA
large number OF ladies was also present
Tho limo OF defence far as indicated. seems to be
the number and Intensity OF The enemies Of Nrs.
Billings by reason Of her vindctive gossipping. Mrs.
Curtis, the woman about whom Mr. Billings and his
wife quarrolled continually, and who augmented
the laters jealousy has disappeared and cannot be-
found Mr.. Billings was accompanied TO court this
morning by the Rev. Mr. Ford, his former pastor,
his father and brother n-law. tho member Of Asscm~
bly, from his district
The prosecution have produced large number Of
photographs ma2s, surveys, sketches Of the house
and the grounds. One photograph represents tho
murdered womans head, Iiic size. tho bullet hole
iu her tompie. Another tho perforated window pane
ana the chair in which she souted beside the win
dow
Owing to the excessive beat the Court com.
pecd to adjourn earlier than usual this. afternoon AZ
the request OF tho counsel and jury,
gvipEScg.
Tho testimony of Jesse Billings. Jr., tho accused al
by HIN bc!ore tho Coroncr's jury prior to his
arrest, offered and accepted partof tho tests
mony for the people
THE SERVANT GIRLS STORY.
Maggie Mahonoy tho servant girl, was the first
wtness called. Sho testified as ioliows:-
knew Mr.. aud Mrs. Billings; present At ths
time Of her death, the evening OF June 4 wo were
oil In the sitting at their house: there were Ia
the room Jennie, myself aud Mrs. Billings; tho latter
was sitting IN u rocking chair beside the window,
the south side OF tho house, jennie was Sitting oppo
site to her mother; small stand stood between tnd
windows. on which there was lighted lamp; aitor
dark was sitting sofa the sido OF the
room cannot tell whether the curtains blinds were
raised or open; heard the report OF rife; saw the
hole through The glass; Mrs Billings was struck on
the sde o, her head; she did rise but her head
dropped toward the window; won't out OF tho west
door Immediately; was not there whom Mr. Bungs
from the house alter supper, about six O'Clock;
saw IA IN have rubber boots on alter supper; have
seen hl,n wear the boots bciore / was at the nouse
ou Wednesday, the day after the sAooting ! Mr..
Billings thigh, in tho dining room; said, II
afraid to pass that Window" Mr. Billings replled,
'Mageie, you need not DO afraid whoever lred that
shot bit the they 20; they not moan il
Tor you" during the inquest SAID TO Mr.. Billings,
"You ought to have got ria OF Mrs Curtis"
TOO BAD TOO BADl
After my remark about Mrs Curtis Mr.. BiliiDRD
asked to see Jennie, and wanted 70 know whom the
funeral would be; he went into the paror whore the
corpse was, and laying his hand her head said,
''roo bad too badl" he said he wished he could die
she mad died, because sne never know what
her; l do not remember whether he said IN ythng
about tho death being an easy one; my memory is
very uncertain, and | was very nervous at
had in tho house, did general house.
work; Sam rnilo was the man employed about
discharged some timo before tho murder by Mr..
Billings; he was about tho premises the morning
that the shooting happened; his business with
Mira Billings; he came through the kitchen and
passed into the sitting room; did not the two
ihero had been trouble between Phio and myself bo.
fore he left; wnen Pho camo he walked up
member that there were any strangers about
house that day. Mrs. Billings mother ana
sister to the house that day between -four ana vo
o'clock they remained to tea and loft between seven
and eight O'Clock; Mr. Billings took his tea alter thoy
camo horas abou. three o;siock: Mrs. Biiiinrs sat
near tho southcasteriy window and Jcunie near the
other; looking directly at Mrs. Billings; ouk
heads were about line from the window she
was In rocking chair sitting sii; had been III the
room about minutes before heard tho shot, Jcns
Mo sowing; tho mother was not doing anything:
WHAT JENNIE SAW.
Jennie out into the hall ana tho front stoop;
cried smurder !" did not 500 or hear anybody out
there: went INTO the hall and met jennie as she
came back; she spoke 10 me and sad:-'ohl saw
q run across tho road bohnd that lumber, with
high aud broad brim; thero pile OF lum.
ber from the house on the river bank; haa
| previously expressed to Mr. Billings a fear that
| tho shot had becu intended for mo- tho
ladies' a up stairs together; tho funeral
arrangements were all undertaken by tho rcativcsa
whom Mr. Billings was arrested and taken away thS
body had bocn buried have not seen him since he
was arrested until he was brought Lho court room
this morning; Mr.. Billings had boon away from nomd
the day previous TO the murder; he carries on
boat yard aud employs number OF mon; Mr..
Buiinss generally cane in meal time. but ncvea
stood around the house much; when In the house
during the evenings he usually stayed the sitting
room; no generally went ~ bed i0mcdiateIy after
coming into tho house.
DR.. Charles 5. Grant, OF Saratoga, was the nRxt
witness. He said
Ihavo practised as a surgeon and physician at
9th went to Schuylervo to assist DR.. Cow 10 Q
post-mortem examination OF the body Of Mary Eliza
Billings; wo found a gun shot wound on tho loft
temple, which made hole about nrce-quarsera OF
incn in diameter; the bullet had passed directly
through the brain and lodged IN tho skull at
exactly opposite point; tho bones were spiintered.
aud tho mole was irregular; portions OF tho
skull bono wcre carried away win tho ball
ana lodged In tho brain the distance through tho
head from side 10 side was about Gve inches; tho
bullet attencd and battered when extracted, and
Irregular IN form wo had to saw the sku cap Oh in
order 70 got al the bullet wa 90 thorougnl,sm.
boddod the oone tho hoio through the outer skin
was irregular Il was not clean cut wound outlet
shown); recognize this as tho ballot extracted; u
substantially in the same shape and condition
NJ when taken from the skull; tho encos OF the shos
was instant doaih tho wound was elongated perpen.
diculariy.
Tnc witEoss requested TO make o drawing the
wound. giving It's location, shape and Appearance, In
dependent OF the fracture winch no proceeded to do
BviDnacR or DK. Cow.
Dr. Frank Cow tho Coroner OF seEuy lervlle, who
presided at the inquest and post-mortcfn examination,
called to tho witness chair. His statement
under oath, which was read, was as folows:-When
Mr. Billings Tor me on tho night Of the murder
IL was exactly ten minutes after nine O'Clock;
Billings evening in room adjoining ths siting
room; We conversod; inter had empansliod the
jury went n,o the room no spoke to me; / asked
hni n he had any suspicious, that could make
arrests; no said, 81 think We had better ali be
arrested % returned 20 tho honsc from Sch uyierve
tho night; saw him again. an hour and nalf
later; found min IN tho sains place lying on tho
sss,,vs ns ,ssworeT aYes ,nR u would Ss
a good iden," or something TO that oaect; he SAID
be would bear the expense; sent oleer fennock "a
Troy for a actcctvo; ho made no remarks about anr
Efforts to discover tho murderer; hc remained iyina
o. Tho bod on both occaaions then discharged tho
Jury and cmpancilcd a went In TO
him my own suggcstion; took tho bullet to
my ONCE, weighed II and iosnd tho weight 10 bc l65
grains; this bullot ideptfy as tho taken from
tho head OF Mrs. Billings; IL was scratched with a
kuife by DR. Grant, 90 that wo could recognize VI wo
searched tho premises found tracgs ncar tho
house that wore loading west; covered track with
q board | observed that Biilinss' pulse very
high on tho night Of tho murder; no was greatly ex-
cited.
ESGISEEi.s STORY.
LOWS H. Craner, a civil en- sinser. was examined
nc said IL made map OF tho BIiings' premises;
travorsed the distance from tho house TO point In
tho lane the old vol, whore the gun found
and then drove horse 70 Mr. Washburne's house;
tho sano Billings did, 10 took mo ntno miE ut0a
AT the conclusion OF this witncss's evidence the
trial was adjourned TO nine " clock this morning.