The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-01
MRS. LouNsBURY ACQUITTED.
HER HUsBAND-THE JURY's VERDICT, ''NoT
GUILTY BECAUSE INSANE

OVERWHELMING TESTIMONY THAT SHE KILLED
HER HUsBAND--THE JURYs VERDICT ''Nor
GUILTY BECAUSE INSANE
BRIDGEPoRr, Conn.,, Oct. 81. 1879.
The trial of Mrs. Mary +. Lounsbury for the muir
der Of her husband, the Rev. Dexter L. Lounsbury.
at Stratford, on September ~, was begun in the
Superior Court this morning. before Judges Martin
and Culver. the State being represented by State
Attorney Olmstead and City Attorney Chamberlain.
ana the defence by Goodwin Stoddard.
Mrs. Lounsburv came into court leaning upon the
Of relative and reclined during the session Of
the Court upon lounge placed near her counsel.
She was dressed in deep mourning. with . long
Widows veil drawn over her features.
To the Indictment she pleaded not guilty.
The jury obtained in half an hour, only one
challenge being entered by the defence. Mary Cum
mngs. servant in the Lounsbury family. was the
first Witness She awakened just after daylight
by what sounded like fall heard Mrs. Lounsbury
rap the door. calling her to open IT; open
ing the door Mrs. Lounsbury placed her hands on
the witness shoulders and said, II have killed my
husband" and kept repeating it. her eyes all the
time rolling wildly; went down and shook Mr..
Lounsbury; then went for the doctor, who examined
Mr.. Lounsbury and pronounced him dead: the ac-
cused was walking back and forth crying and shout
ing. saying she was willing to go to her death and
which Mrs. Lounsbury said she had bought for pro-
lection against burglars; Mr.. Lounsbury lay ~ If
asleep, the bedcothes being undisturbed.
Annie May Lounsbury. eleven years old. daugh-
ter of the prisoner, testified that she awakened
by the report of a pistol and went down stairs;
when Mary said. HE is not dead" her mother re-
piled. Eyes, he is; it killed him the first thing;
saw 1t FASH" about five or six o'clock on the pre-
vous evening heard father say he wanted mother
to wear supporter; she replied that she would lot
and he said If she did not no would turn her out
Of house and home.
Nra Iar ia pn taat that sho Ind hacp in
attendance upon Mrs. Lounsbury since the day after
tho murder; the accused had made numerous state
ments OF the affair all of which agreed that the FIRST
she recollected the fash of the pistol; she had
asked for water during the night and her husband
had arisen and procured come.
The cross-examnatiou proved that Mrs. IouDs-
bury had been moro or less OF an invalid Tor
fifteen years, and much OF the time she was
confined to bed; her mind has been affected by
physical suffering; time she had contom-
plated suicide. but had not the courage to do it;
Mrs. Lounsbury had stated that there
peasantness between herself and her husband with
but little cause.
DIR. 4. $. Allen testified that he saw the victim
soon after his death tho wound was an inch below
and TO tho loft OF tho occipial protubcrancc death
was instantaneous; a probe nvo or six inches in
longth ala not reach tho ball.
Mr.. Stoddard then called DIR. G. Il. Sanford. He
had visited the patient daily aimee the 10th inst;
found her suffering from general debility: lie de-
scribcd the results OF uterine troubles the mind.
saying they produced insanity. hystercal spasms.
Inconsistencies and mania; no believed Mrs.
Lounsbury TO have boon unconscious at the time tho
shot was fired. DIR. Robert Hubbard testified in
roboration.
state Attorney Olmstcad said no had visited Mrs
Lounsbury at the request Of her relatives. no
stated that Mrs. LOunsbury had given him tho same
account that she had given to the other witnesses
The Court then took rcccss.
At the afternoon session MIR. Omstead continued
ais evidence. On his lest visit to the Jail Mrs.
Lounsbury's condition was so changed that lie
deemed IL his duty to sond medical experts
to examine her mental condition. Annie
Lounsbury testified TO tho frequent prolonged
ilIrpsers Of her mother, ut which times she looked
- and her eyes rolled. DR.. Robert Lander, the
O. inty Physician. had examined tho accused aud be-
scvHu nor irrcsponsIplc. Dr. y A. sewi,,, OF New
previous knowledge OF tho case. and believed she
was Irresponsible
The case was submitted without argument. after
a brief charge by Judge culver, md after short
abseucc the jury rendered the verdict, mot guilty
because insane" Sentence was not pronounced to-
day, but tho prisoner will DO committed to the
StAto Asylum At Middctown.