The New York herald., 1878-09-20

me eontinusd II would cost him 81 900 III
oas s scs saS ~ vas cray SO na ns could pu
fused 70 become party 20 any such scheme He
put me 70 school and close the house l asked what
was 70 DO dsns with mother He said she ought c be
drowned Then ! said, III anything should ever
has for revenge. This was in February last. shortly
af.erward they had d,fncuity In the store. was
not witness 10 IT, but when mother came home she
showed me black and blue marks on both her arms.
The prints OF his hands were clearly dscernible lie
Under such cloud Of testimony as TO tho ugly re-
lations which had previously existed between him
charge OF committing the sowardiy murder on the
evening Of the Am OF June The events which imme-
tey preceded the murder all OF kind 10 have
goaded him It II he had made The previous At
tempts or even the previous threats which he is
alleged TO have made-f, Indeed, he was a man who
had murder HIS heart His wife, soursd and tired
| by vrelcnsdness. and thoroughly out OF patience
for divorce and also 10 sue him Tor the recovery Of
money which he had had from her and had declined
have involved disclosure Of tns interior
The Billings household, which B,hogs was man Of
sufficient pride 10 wish avoid. Llkewse ne dreaded
the expense OF legal contests in which no likely
10 be worsted.
poned on the very day before tho evening OF the
murder.
II was as nearly as can DO ascerained from all the
evidence, twenty-five minutes past eight O'Clock.
char near the window jennie Billings her ghter
sat nearly opposite. Tho servant, Maggie Mahoney,
Mrs. Billings right. The latter was engaged with
some needlswork, and the three women wero quietly
Discussing Tho marriage OF MIS-. Billings brother,
which had taken place on the preceding day. Al
though The window curtains were raised there was no
dayhghh ana nehted lamp stood on neghboring
stand. Al tho instant snot was fred without, q
ball came through the window pane and struck
MIRA Billings IN ths mead, killing her instantly. she
did not fall frem her chair Her head fell upon
her shoulder. her hands dropped into her lap, and
she sat, corpse, before she could utter cry Al
the hue cry o murder was raised and search
was mado for Tho assassin. IL was continued with
lanterns late at night, resumed on the following day
aod conducted thencciorward with diligence and an
usual skill Tracks were discovered and carefully
noted; o!her traces were hunted Tor and shrewdly
examined, and carbine containing an empty shell
was discovered In neighboring we'll
BILLINGS SUSPECTED
In spite OF his wealth and high standing Bngs'
domesiio dIfiouties wero SO welI and generally an-
derstood that suspicion instantly marked him Tor its
through The ilsis h.mio. when he was assd upon as
the assassin and dozen mon were actively engaged
In tbs search Tor proof against bin.
Apparently the murderous shot had beon hred
from an asbor naar ao old ofiice and tool shop,
ovss sns % s oso ,De
adjacent garden and orchard. leading suspiciously
fence adjoining Two connecting fields, and
thence apparently leading to lane the opposite
side OF wh ch, in another aeld, Is the well whore
the carbine was discovered. Thence, TOO, were the
tracks OF q horse and wagon, leading down the lane
and up she river road = neighbours where Billings
was known 70 have gone. The foot tracks, or some
lisrity OF the SOLE the carbne one which had
long rested in closet at Billings store until he
the murder. Terrible facts these, some Of which
admitted BY Billings Ae admits the foot prints,
taken, but not admit all OF them, route
taken by shsm. His whole explanation OF the loot
murder Is a consistent sne-rcating as II docs
to examination OF his farm and fences and the it.
storm. Rs WAS seen in his house, having saxen MS
tea there the evening Of the murder He was also
prove an aibi by Designating his exact movements,
some OF which are denoted by tho footprints and BY
time when the fatal sho. nred His task is one Of
immense difficulty BY reason Of the nature OF she ev!
denes For example, Billings alleges that he left his
paired 70 WsshburDe's, did not find him homo, loft
wsshburne's and met MIN on the street soon aitor
and hoard from hts (washoarne's) lips the first news
Of his whe's murder But two msn, taking Billings
story as correct, have since started from
and don. the same things tina. be did, re-
paired 70 w.shourns's, stayed there the
down the the point where Billings aiterward
met washburne-two men. say, have done all this
ana found that is could have bsen between tho
moment that the shot was fred tho moment that
Billings aud wsshburne Aiterwsrd met. They have
Billings really did doinciudins the throwing Of the
carbine In the old well alter he had committed the
the shot and The time whom Billings met washburns.
To se surs these experiments were made In the day
were were made In darkness, and some part Of the
route Is extremely rugged. Apart from an endeavor
to prove an AN .ie as s.s'sa no. YET knorn wnas
lace, besides the cireumstantial evidences, mountain
OF prejudice created against the prisoner BY the
tesumony OF his daughter.
THE TRIAL
The little court house at Balston. where tho
cused has been brought Tor trial, is situated on
shady hillside, In every respect pleasantly, except
that Tho railroad being near the proceed nes Ire
ins court room, on tho second floor, has walls Of
clear wnits garnishcd with window frames Of black
The pervsrsity architect set elevated desk
OF The judges directly IN front OF the enormous
are Open their honors appear the dazzed eyes OF
lawyers ana Spectators IN silhouette rallied square
counsel and reporters which Is encrsacnod upon by
other persons at every crowded sitting Out
sids Of this square the seats occupied by
raised door. In the afternoons especially the
seats and every square loot OF standing room
taken up by audience composed AS largely as
usua Ia sucn cases OF women with larger propor-
lion than usual oil young women aud giris. Since
portions Of the testimony became profans, indecent
and some instances particularly repuisive. the
OF women 70 The court room has increased, and
yesterday, while Mrs Harris tho mother OF the mur
asred MIRA Binisgs, giving evidence totally unit
for pubication-which counsel In case less urgent
than Of life death might have altogether dis
psnsed vith--there at leastnn women present,
who sustained the 0rdcal with entire pesurc
while many OF tho auditors lowered thor heads
In shame. 1t apparent that tins latter mancssa-
lion due not much 10 the narrative OF the |
witness as 70 the con that It was uttered IN
the hearing OF ladies' sc), who appeared TO 10 most
RECALLED BY It's most disgusting details A county
raI,%.dss and q Borsr,. st a, ,hs r,shs Of Hon
LAndon, the presiding judge The latter is apparently
forty SIX years oid-a man OF strong, yet gentle |
visage naicating nrmness, resolution and decision,
tempered by amiability. His nnir and ir beard arc
almost jot black. HIS demeanor Is frank and calm,
his voice deop and commanding HIS decisions are |
given the instant, Ia the iewcst words, and have
been generally apt and just as 10 settle differences
between counsel without provoking exceptions
coussBL.
A. ono OF the round tabieg below tho people are |
represented By the District Attorney, j. O. OrTnsby
thick-set, partially bald, with iron array hair and
short chin beard and wearing JET eyeglasses; 6y H.
H. Pike and John Foley of Saratoga springs, by r.
Z. Ford, Of Schuyierve, and by N. @. Mosk, OF Al
bany Tho latter Is perhaps the most conspicuous OF
tue lawyers arrayed agsinst the prisoner HIS lrge
lgure, thick auburn har, rsd beard, positive
LOUD voice aud Dustling INDUSTRY would attract some
notice anywhere. He 10 The OF cross
iners 10 willing Witness and sometimes succeeds |
In badgering troublesome out Of MS her i've
w1ts.