New-York tribune., 1879-05-24
MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

MURDER IN IHE fIkS1 DEthEE'
EDWARD REISHARDT CONDEMNED TO DIE-HIs
sPgECH BEFORE rHH SENTENCE WAS PASSED.
The trial of Edward Reinhardt at the Rich
mond County Court OF Over aud Terminer, for killing
his wife on the night July 10, 1873. resulted yesier
day forenoon in conviction of the prisoner for mur
der in the first degree. Owing to the long session on
Thursday Judge Dykman lad decided to postpone his
charge to the Jury until yesterday morning, and when
the court called to order promptly at O'Clock
there was crowd IN the large courtroom eager to
listen Judges charge The prisoner looked pale
although there were no evidences OF unusual ala
ton In his charge Judge Dykman laid the points OF
the evidence before the jury reviewing in detail the tes
tmony witnesses and advising the jury in regard
to differ ent degrees Of murder on which 1t might
convict The prisoner The question: be said for the jury
60 decide was whether the died natural death
or was killed with without premeditated design
Renhardt had admitted his wes death and subsequent
secret burial Silver Lake. The jury must decide
whether this could lie down, Reinhardt said
she did pains OF labor aud yield up her life with
out any outcry grOan that would have at
traeted the attention OF her husband the people up
stairs listening for sounds.
The charge lasted about half hour and was closely
listened The jury then conducted to their room
and the prisoner his cell In forty minutes 1t was an
nounced that the jury had returned and men hurried
quickly 10 the courtroom, which wa5 soon densely
crowded The iIry entered looking very grave. Rein
hardt when ne brought In seemed more deeply al
fected than at during the trial His face was
deathly pale and his lips Jwitcbed cOnvUsiyely He
seemed anticipate death sentence owing 10 tine brief
time that the jury out. Judge Dykman directed
the prisoner TO stand and look at the jury and the
iurv TO look al the prisoner The Judge tneD asked the
jury II they had agreed upon verdict and the foreman
Cornelius Cole replied " We have" "Do you find him
guilty or not guty3" asked Judge Dylmau. Guilty
OF murder IN degree" replied the foreman The
prisoner card the verdict without much apparent emo
tion, although he very pale ana his lips were tightly
pressed. At announcement of the verdict the per
M excitement in the courtroom showed itself in long
breaths Of relief which the spectators drew Mr. Howe
the prisoners counsel. then moved for new Trial
which was refused and the DstnctAttorney then
moved that the Judge pronounce the sentence.
"Nuw, ReInhardt, stand up" said Judge Dykman-
You been convicted 0 murder IN the first degree
Have You anything say why senteDce Of death should
not be passedP
The prisoner hesitated instant and then resting
himself with hand the back OF his chair, sad IN
Slow measured and 40 times with some emotion;
"wel have. did not murder Annie Degnan or Mrs.
Renhardt they call her. she died from eauses OF
taking medicine herself did not fnstgate her to do
tins. to prove that Size had been to
various doctors In Newark and in NcwYOrk thar could
not produce counsel did not ash me abOu them
and did not sec him. l only saw him twice, and
too poor make great deal Of preparation for this
trial had witnesses and could get them here.
There is a woman doctress that had visited here in
Staten Island when we lived stapeton. There is also
one she had visited in Newark Ann Degnan had been
in the habit of taking medicine did not know what It
was She had also borrowed medical book from Mrs.
IIerborn and had the house for several weeks.
This Won aid not mention your charge the jury.
The blow inflicted on the head could be done this
The barrel iel of the whreOaIroW on some stones.
That fracture could have been caused by falling On some
stones ! never struck Anne Degnan IN my He.
happily with her, but during that week there might
have been spat between US as there lsI' m gt'%eeh
about wheeling the wheelhaIrow between halt
motive was to conceal me BODY, 10 keep me from beng
arrested for any charge Of that kind that
GoIiu So read so much in the papers about cases
OF that kind where parties have been arrested Tor
criminal malpractice. she dled between IL ana
IL o'clock that Friday night while was in the store
As to her father or her buying this furniture,
can say had nearly 500 from mother two or three
her DOM deny that whai found IN tue barrel be
longed 70 Mrs. Reinhardt The reason that married
S i live Win ne she thought She could do better to
live with Aer old lover that she had in Newark. Sac
often wanted to 60 back With him. did not Kill her.
nor did ne die as they say from fracture of the skull
on che wheeDarroW. The hfad struck on stone.
That "a how fracture produced For that reason
dopt ace me now they eau fetch for the charge
1t stands murder in the 1rs degree Gid not murder
had money suppose could defend myself better. II
had Iaore money 70 procure flsnt Witnesses, peh5ve
that would be acquitted to-day In the case OF TINS
Jury here, prove that nan alone OF the Jury
David O'BiIgWaS piisODef IN tIs jail WIN me- ne
told me then he thought he would be on the jury He
said, You jury don challenge me- VIII
clear you If can sse his motive now dos young
what they call Dutchman had no far show on that
jury. There was not any in the panel only three or
Your counted of the whole panel say there was
more pr iudice against than anything else People
had ther minds made up before came up here 10 he
tired. This is asO a reason Mr. OB.ien, one OF the
jurymen. came my window I'm the jail last Monday,
and said. II the jury keep me there Say moth
lug II he his Oath can lay that that was not our
conversation he IS peT1uTylng hlmseI
There is another IN that Jnry-his name do not
kpow-WnO passed his opinion outside yesterday Also
can prove that this Mary Ann Degnan before l was
married hcr-I knew her about three years ana nDe
ten months can prove mat she was not very ee
cent girl The first time met ner met her III dance
house. don't know what else can have to saw II i
had shOw-I must speak IN plain words thlnk
would have been acquitted accOldDg 10 my eNiuohCe
was not prepared be tried quick. nor to have II
rushed through last. thought II would take more
IDe and Thought the defence would in a different
course sItosether But IL has turned and very
different from what thought 1t would. have nothing
more 10 say, bus what did say can prove"
Judge Dvkman then pronounced the sentence that on
Julg IL 1879 between a. and p. the prisoner
lnhardt should be hanged by the neck until be should
be dead Ny. Howe then moved for stay OF proceed
iDgs. and drew up writ OF error Inc court 81 abteo
The stay aud made the viii reiurnaD on the second
Monday IN sePtemoeI' before tne 1usees & 0i tne ne Gu
ceptOns taken By the defence 70 the courts fdlnGs on
Thursday will b0 passed upon. Reinhardt was Then re-
moved hs cell, where ne VIII remain until the case Is
David O'Bren, the juryman whom ReinGardt made
Charge against made affidavit after the was
over i'm winch be denied nhardrs charges. OBrien
WAS III ia but DISCHARGED. Pauline DittmAr said
she had desire 20 see keDhardt again bbe ulG not
know until two weeks after she married him thai De
had a wife living when the ceremony was performed.
Her relations with him were always perfectly proper
TIE SMITH CASE NEARLY CLOSED.
A SECOND DAY OF ARGUMENTs-THE LAST SPEECHES
MADE FOR THE PRISONERS.