The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-01
PASTOR VOSBURGH
His Trial in Hudson County Court
Nearly Ended.
THE DEFENCE SUMS UP.
Ex-Governor BedIe's Argument on Behalf
Of the Accused.

Despite the rain storm the crowd Of curiosity
seekers tho vosburgh trial was greater than ever
yesterday witness the closing OF this cause
ceebre Of New Jersey. For the nrst time during the
trial the accused pastor appeared haggard and worn,
and looked though no had passed sleepess night.
AS usual, however, he dd his utmost to preserve
perfect outward composure, and in answer to inqui
ries made In tho court he replied that he lelt
very we'll that he had had little sesp and that he was
all right. When bis palor was noticed be quioty re-
marked that this was "rathor business now"
He evidently appreciates that tho dread moment IS
near when honor disgrace, liberty almost life
long imprisonm ana. perhaps, It's ultimate
sequences, Ito or death will BIO trembling upon the
iorcmans lips when the 'guilty" or mot guil,y"is
to be pronounced. Mrs vosburah appeared still
feeble and delicate, but seemingly in good spirits,
ana manifestIy confident in her husbands acquttal.
AS before she kept her seat among The ranks Of
the female spectators, being anxious to shrink away
from tho public gaze as Tar rs possible
Judge Knapp assured the writer yesterday that,
although the Court did ususlyx III jury trials
Saturdays, would certainly sond out the jury to-day
EX-GOVERNOR BEDL.'s AkDREss.
Ex-Governor Bedc, who made . most earnest and
impassioned address TO the jury ~ behalf OF tho do
PENDANT, began by aluding TO the magnitude OF The
issues involved IN tho conviction or acquittal OF the
defendant The presumption Of the law, he said, was
In favor OF his innocsnce addod TO this was his own
testimony, unshaKen and unoonradctsd by his cross
examination and the burden OF proving his guilt lay
upon the State Tho defence, however, wouid not be
satisfied with bare acQuittal, but the con-
trary, they expected to establish justification for
every done by the pastor which had been pon ted
out as suspicious The defence would show that every
such act arraigned suspicious in reality act
OF kindness love for his vile tor which he ought to
be praised instead OF being censured TAT this emphatic
claim the foreman good natured old man, smiled
placidly while crossing his egs) Many had been
tortured out OF their proper and natural meaning
Take, instance, tho bod scene out Of which
II sought make capital against tho defend
ant James Sickes swore that when Mrs. vosburgh
was expected to pass away the defendant promptly
said .Be STILL she is with the angels" and that "hc
came over her that way" thereby illustrating the
motion OF the defendants passing mis- hand her
mouth. Now, what natural, delicate action this
for gentle. delicate manf HIS vile was thought by
everybody round her to be dying. He passed his
baud over her lips TO II life and warmth still
there, and then he said. "She is with the angels
now.n SIckes asking vosburgn to pray! Men who
don't pray pray IN .as nour o. aansermen VINO 90
brute could pray while his wife was passing away.
4 STRIKING COINCIDENCE.
Il hnd'bceD claimed by SicKes that Mrs. Nosburgh
was worse after every night on which her husband
sat up with her. Ex-Governor Bedie, on the con-
The case aud tina. sue was worse alter every night
some one Of the Sicklcs family sat up with her.
10Th OF FeOruary Wednesday, the 1s,n ana Tuesday,
the 18th; and on every one OF tho nights preceding
days one Of the scxlss family pad sat up with
her. Sckles arrived at the house the 9th and on
the night OF tho 9,n Mrs. Mantou, hts sister, test %
she sat up with Phiis. Al the bedside OF the pa
uent. The 10th WAS one oil her worst days and this
was tho day whch Slckies charges thai vosburgn
would't pray Tor his wiio because sac was
with the angels. IL was twisted ~ y suspi-
c,ous circumstances against the defendant
that he assumed she must do And yet
Mira Vo.burgn's ring aud try her clothes to
II they would H. her ana Mrs. Vosburgh herself had
picked out the very hymns 10 oe sung ~ hsr unsra
MIRA Vosburgn's two sisters, who mad attended her.
aud one OF whom, Mrs. Manton, was very sharp wo-
man, had entertained any suspicion until Scklcs, at
the breakfast table, the morning Of the 10th. spoke
OF Mr.. vosburgh EMBEDDING With the incidence aud Of
poison. "Strke James Sickles out Of this case and
there / nothing lett Of itl'
.MoRE STRIKING CONDOLENCES.
On "Wednesday, the is1n, nsr death was expected
with herf Mr.. and Ars Sickles and MRS. MAntonl
On the following night Mr vosburgh sits up with nis
wife and much better that the next day
Sickles upon his own testimony, was able 10 leave
her and 60 ~ Brooklyn.
AT this point Ex-Governor Bedle LETT the OF
his calm reasoning and burst into vehement appeal
10 jury clear this innocent man. only 0v an
acquitia but BY a prompt and ready one. .'God give
YOU courage ne cr,sa IN passionate voice. 80 awe
this verdict boldly ana prompty tor the more look
into this case the more thoroughly am convinced
that this 10 the victim Of the foul act OF James
Sickles." Ex-Governor Bcdle went on 10 point out
tho contradictions In SIcKlos' testimony SicKos
testified, and Ex-Governor Bedle read hrs testimony
at Length, that u certain DAY, when Mrs. Siekies
made some tsa for Mra vosburgh. MI vosburah said
from Mrs. sickles' lsstimony thar she herself had
said upon that occasion that she Was in hurry and
wanted 10 comb her hair, and that u WAS only then
that vosDurgh took tue cup from nor hand. Gould
no DO less OF y man than TO oher 10 do thatY
MIR. Bsde pointed out tho Inconsistency Of brother
allowing his sister 10 take "two sNsllowfuls Of
the poisoned tea aud having vial all ready IN tho
bathroom 70 save the rest for anaiysn This cup Of
tea must have contained about twenty grams Of
tartar smstic. ~ behsve," continued ex-Governor
Bedie. with vehement iervor, "thst Scxlss put It IN
the tea may be judged upon the Judg ment day!
WHAT rhE Jury worLD DONE.
Continuing, he queried Think you That II you
had sister who you 0ohsved was being poisoned you
would wait 10 experiment for days whether the pol
son would XIII her or nots Alter you had logged and
watched him about and MIN give tho poison TO
| your sister In her bedroom would you not have
| seized him by the neck-bs you big or httie--and
| hurled MIN down the sta,rss Roierriug to vos-
Durgh's alleged statement about "aEng her homo IN
| a box" Ex-Governor BedIs said Il socmniy de-
| nicd by Vosburgh himself, and nobody heard him
make use o. .ns OPPRESSION nas sscspa-scE .,rn
| Sickles might have made use of but never
| vos1urgh. asa remarkably suspicious circumstances
sickles Tho counsel pointed out the TACT that
whom Sickcs took the glass Of red water, winch he
| thought vosburgh had poisoned, and showed tho
sediment TO hts sissrs, scxIes, before he poured
the into tho v.i which he had all ready, caro-
| tuiiy stirred the water in the glass. Was that
vial WITH him 10 ssuyvssans N Y. and no, send i 10
Professor Dorsmus until lats In Marcnf
was taken here Tor luncheon, during which
Mr. vosOurgh, his wife, his sister Ida and Sckles and
hts vile anu sister aud the lady friends Of both
| parties, chesrfuly munchsd sandwiches.
sonk QuKER FACTS
After recess Ex-Governor Bedle continued his nd-
dresa He directed the attention Of tho jury TO the
excessive quantity Of the poison found IN tnc aud
she medicine. Ten grains in the and eight grains
the other, while the ordinary dose OF tartar cmstc
allowed BY .hs pnys.:;n was IRON an eighth 70 nal
not vomt saved by SickIss and submitted 70 Pro.
| lessor Doremus. fhs speaker strongly emphasized
tho Tact that Mrs. vosburgh disDeeved tho charges
against her husband, and despite The Efforts OF her
| family had renamed with him and was with him
! nov. He denounced IN scathing terms The cou.
duct OF the prosecution In dragging into the
! case and into the newspapers The nane OF MISS
Psrshal OF Cooperstown VINO was baptized and visited
by the defendant without particle OF any evidence
showing improper intimacy TO follow II up with.
Ex-Governor Bsdle criticised Professor Dorcnus and
the other scientific experts OF The prosecution. He
claimed that Mrs. VvsUurghs disease was gout OF tho
| stomach aud nothing else Professor Morton. In his
hufr ~ nf Al