The New York herald., 1879-02-26
THE RICHARDS MURDER.

ALL rHE TESTIMONY IN-CoUNsEI. SUMMING UP
FOR THE PRISONER BUEL-ARGUMENTs TO
SHOW THE pRrsoxER's INNOCENCE
[BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE HERALD
CoopEnsrowN. N. Y, Feb. 25. 1879.
The Of the State Buel for the murder OF
Catharine Richards continued here to-day. The
Court convened at nine o'clock and the defence rested
at about ten o'clock From that time until the recess,
ut twelve, considerable evidence was introduced by
the people and the defence corroborative Of that
already produced. Ten witnesses recalled. the
last of the number being the prisoner. w. j. Saun-
ders, for whom Nathan Burgess testified he sheared
sheep on the Thursday after the murder.
testified that Burgess had assisted him but
day that summer shearing sheep and that was
the 29th instead Of the 9th. 1t will be remembered
that Nathan Burgess the fish pedler who passed
Richards premises between three and four O'Clock
on the day Of the murder. and who testified that
when passing he saw some one dressed in red
shirt, near the west COW stable door. whom he
thought at the time was Buel. He unable to
swear it was Buell. It was through this west stable
door, the prosecution claims that Bnel left the barn.
and hooked the door after him from the outside.
by the bulls stanchion at the east end.
TESTIMONY As To BUEL's CHARACTER.
number of witnesses were called by the defence
to prove the character of the prisoner. Some test
fed that for aught they knew heard prior to the
character.
Others called by the people thai, judging from
common report. his character had always been bad.
They referred to suspicion of his having few years
ago stolen some oats. Daniel Il. Bowen recalled
and testified to certain ''rows in the hop yard but
to nothing new An effort was made by defence to
impeach the character of &. VI. Ayesworth and sew
eral witnesses called to that effect. An
affidavit was also read, signed by six per-
sons. saying the sgners would not believe him
under oath. The prisoner left the stand at twelve
o'clock and the declared closed but the de-
fence after dinner allowed to introduce two wit
nesses who account of illness and error in the
date of the subpoena, had only just arrived. They
both testified that the morning after the murder
Nathan Burgess told them that in passing Richards
the afternoon before he saw no one about the prem
ises. Mr.. Burgess wasirecalled and denied that he
told them so He told them he about the
house, but did not mention premises" This ended
the testimony
at half-past two O'Clock Counsel James Tynes be-
gan to sum up He began by alluding to the very
grave responsibility resting upon the jury He read
to the jury on the question OF circumstantial evil
dcnce jurors duties. facts and doubts. from the fol-
lowing authorities People against Bennett 40. New
York; Mills on Circumstantial Evidence, III; Margin
149; third of Greeneaf page 28; Wilson's American
Jurors; Ram on Facts page 100. He said the ques
ton to be decided by the jury whether the
prisoner killed Catharine Richards not whether any
else committed the deed. After referring the
suspicion attached to Bucl he claimed that every act
Of the boy at once bore indications OF guilt. If he
cried ii guilt. II he did not, it guilt. Then
he entered into the evidence He demonstrated from
the scnoa raphers notes that the time given by Davis
in his visit to Richards that afternoon proved the i'm
time Davis Catharne ut the house before meeting
Buel the cheese house, when on his way to
change his boots, until Davis finally went home the
question of time handled no adrotly, supported
| by the testimony as to surprise many who deemed
the prisoner guilty. After disposng of the question
OF time counsel then approached the blood marks
| Buels boots. the STOOL doorpost and floor. He
asked why blood was not found on the stable floor
where Catharine lay. Because no blood had tricked
| from either of the wounds upon her head face.
At this point it six O'Clock, and the Court ad-
journed until tomorrow.
THE SCENE IN COURT.
The summing mp for the defence will probably
consume all tomorrow mornings session. 1t
seems likely that the will go to the jury
on Thursday afternoon-perhaps sooner. Since the
summing up began the court room has been filed
almost to suffocaion, more ladies being present to-
dGy thau at any other time The prisoners sisters,
who with his parents and brothers have attended
each day, were visibly affected when the testimony
impcaching his character introduced They and
his mother said to be very worthy and respect
able. Much sympathy is expressed for them. Dur
ing Counsellor Tynes' argument Buel sat composed
usual. tipping back and forth in his chair. But
he watched keenly the jury IL noting the i'm
pressions made upon them by his couusels argu-
ment. As the time approaches when the prisoner q
fate shall be decided the suspense becomes dreadful.