The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-28
Is HE GUILTY?
Mrs. Vosburgh Is Convinced Of Her
Husbands Innocence.
"HE NEVER POISONED ME-"
She Is Also Satisfied of Her
Brothers Sincerity.
PROCEEDINGS AT THE TRIAL.
The Pastor Undisturbed by His
; Cross-ExaninatiO

Tho vosburgh poisoning trial Is probably uupre-
,edented in all the annals OF criminal Jurisprudence
there have, no doubt, been many husbands before
charged having poisoned their wives, but who re-
nembcrs OF n In which the husband IS arragned
IL tho would-be murderer Of his wife wno the lat
Ter continues 10 live with him apparently the most
amicable relations, nobody knowing whether she
believes him guilty or not2 From this point OF view
The yosburgh trial has had air OF puzzling mys-
terry all along. 1.-THE pastor attempted 10 poison her,
IS alleged, and If she was only saved through the
Intervention OF her family, why did tho
prosecution no: bring her forward their
leading witness And II shc thought him
guilty why did she continue to live with
him. or at all events 10 share his roof during the
tendency OF tho trial The mystery Increased
when the LADY fed New York to escape tesifying
md 1t has solved since she has been brought
back 10 Jersey City by sheriff Laverty's kidnapping
expedition.
SOLVING MYSTERY.
In order clear il up last the writer yesterday
bad extended interview with Mrs. vosburgh on tho
,ubjcct OF her husbands guilt innocence. The
Interview brought about by a lady friend
Of the PASTORS wife who present. who
heard all that said, and who can, there
lore, If necessary, corroborate Mrs. Vosburgh's
natements With view 10 the fact that in the pend
Ing controversy the life long Imprisonment II not tho
vcry life. OF human being at stake the very great
pst taken down every word just as II
fell from the adys lips, that even the slightest
inaccuracy damaging the OF truth and
Justice might be avoided. The interview may there
fore be accepted literal transcription from full
notes, taken during tho conversation, OF Mrs. vos-
burgh's utterances:
HOW MRS. vosBuRGH LOOKED.
Mrs Vosburgh seated IN an armchair at the
window OF pleasant parlor in the house OF friend
Ocean avenue, Bergen Heights, which overlooks
the bay. She played with tassel OF The shade during
nearly tho entire conversation. She is lady appar-
entity of thirty, with pleasant face, pale Just now
and worn with excitement, with large, expressive
gray eyes. OF fair complexion and with pretty blonde
hair She quito tastcfuly though simply
dressed, and large gold earrings and handsome
gold brooch She appeared to BIO still nervous and
suffering.
HUNTED BY DETECTIVES.
To the inquiry her health, which introduced tho
conversation, Mrs. Vosburgh replied, "rhank you,
feel pretty well now, though / am tired, jaded and
worn with excitement. There you are the detec
lives who have been watching me all day, and IT
makes me nervous. (sho pointed at two OF Sheriff
Laverty's minions who had planted themselves oppo-
site the the other side OF the street) am
logged and hunted about like this all time What
can 1t be for?''
II suppose TO insure that you will be on hand to
testify the whenever wanted ?"
'sBui,n she retorted impusiveiy and with q
tug at tho tassel. Il will not testify"
"You may be compelled TO 90 So.
MR. Vosburgh looked incredulous at this Tho writer
now said he would take tho liberty OF asking her
Q lew questions and begged her 10 reply TO Thorn
frankly and squaroly, TO which she gracefully and
readily assented.
GUILTY INNOCENT?
81 want to ask you, Mrs. vosburgh" rne question
was put to slowly and solemny) '.wnethcr you
think that your husband ever poisoned your"
Theiady's large, prominent gray eyes looked the
writer full in face with that nervous excite
ment which CHARACTERIZED her manner during tho
whole OF the interview and she responded mo;
convinced he never aid. Al lrst It looked rather
dark. but | 40 not believe that poisoned
me-"
'sOr tried 10 poison your"
s'0r tried to poison me,r she repeated, cmphati-
caIIy with a IN cchanical inclination OF her head.
lis It true, as has been stated, that you have
pressed your belief in your husbands guilt to
oihers?n
III never told anybody that my husband was guilty.
have heard the statement repeated several times as
coming from me- bat has been repeated without my
authorityYn
add you never make a statement TO District
Attorney McGll charging your husband with having
~
Jersey CityY"
WHAT SHE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
1T is true tnat 4 made statement TO District At
torney McGl but nolhing OF the kind IN II.
lin an appealing pitiui tone) told Mr.. McGlli that
/ knew notIing OF tue poisonIhg casc-thut 4 was a
poor, sick, invaId woman-that knew nothing about
II have heard that Mr McGill ms written state
mcut from you Is that truc?n
'.Wncn vent 10 him l asked him to regard my
communications TO hun ~ strictly confidential and
he told me- AIRS vosourgn, Whatever you tell mo
viii be held IN strict conhdence. Since thea ne has
told me that he had stenographer In tho room VINO
Took down every word snd.n
..Did you sign that Atatcmcntg"
'No, sirn
'May ask you to INFORM me what you told tho
DISTRICT Attorneyfp
Mrs. yosbgrgh kept toying with the tasscl and
dreunIgy looked out through the winaow AT tue bay
glinung lar away Ia toe sunsniae
II must not tell you mat; ! AIN afraid" she 70.
plieo, looking round after minute with u smile.
ONLY 'soME SIMPLE LITTLE THINGS
"was IL anything 10 bring him before the bar OF
'.On, / told him some simple ntio things he
wanted TO ask menothing bordering on states irson
"Mrs yosOuigb, you say you believe In your hus-
bands innocence dow, then can you disregard your
duty 10 TESTIFY In his brhaifYn
There was nervous motion OF her lips, and then
she said WITH manifest dciibcraon, II have my rca.
sous, winch 10 not wish 90 tell ~ ANY body. snail
not TESTIFY Il eau he,pILn
I'll the trial results in your husbands vindcaion,
or IN disagreement, viii You continue 70 1--we Win
him or wtl you meve for separationYn
Mrs Vvsturgn smiled as she itpNed, "Why should
1 desire a scparatloDT " course | shall live with
himp'
s'Who insigated this prosecution ~
"NVt 1, /" sbc quickly rcturncu; I'm innocent
OF tnat you know the charge uas been made
against me that was al the bottom OF tho proaecu-
ton. That statement Is almost Us baa as the way
1 VAS taken away from New YORK. tWth mucn
fcclngJ There is Quo ABOVE who kuows that
l sm innocent IN ali tns, and Ito can read my ncar,.
have secluded myself very mucn since INV sickness,
anu have not sald any thing 10 anyvvdy.n
t'Iaeh you regard u as great hardship wAich your
hue band Is suffering NOV ~
''sufFERgD EygRyrnSG Brr DEATH.
Calmly aud impreeslyely she rephcds--"l Know he
has sulsr ed evcryt bvt DEATH aud nave cit ana
suffered WITH him. nave lclt his suffering deeply
''How, then, is IL that your brother mas prose.
cuted tim II YOU convinced OF his inEocehcef
IL tb,uk, sne rcsI onded senty, ''tbat my brother
Il as this as you are sincere as reporter
This was compliment, and ~ was duly acknow-
edged.
III has been testified TO that your husband used