New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-01
on TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE.


SEVERAL WITNESSES POR THE PROSECUTION HEARD
CLAIMING THAT THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED
IN A FIT or PAssION-THE ACCUSED MANS
STORY or THH MURDER.
Augustus ID. leighton. the young mulatto on trial
i'm the Court Of Over and Iermlner FOR the premedl
tated murder of Mrs. Mary Dean, sat in court yes
teIdav calm and sei-pOsseSsed. The only way III
which he shows any agitation that he may feel IL
by the trembling Of ms hands. He seldom talks
with his couuscl but once or twice 10 wrote little
lnemOIandums and handed them 10 nr. Quares OF
Mr. Spencer Tie interest manifested Throughout
the Gro Ndcd courtroom was very marked. Al the
Witnesses were c0iored persons except toe physician
Sarah NIckcns the first witness. She was al
the bonse where Mrs. Dean lived on the night when
she was killed. When Mrs. Micbens went in at the
basement door Leighton was standing on Inc stoop
After talking with MIS-. Hill who rented the house,
Mrs MICkens sat down i'll the basement and Mrs.
nil went mn stairs Mrs Dean came through the
hall and went out upon the walk. In a few min
utes size came rushing back with her throat cut and
the blood squirting out. She died a few minutes
Gertrude Hamilton of No. 1913 West Thirty
fOurfh-.t testified TO conversation which she had
with Leighton TWO days before the murder. lie
said To her: Wouldn't Mamie Deans mother feel
nice If should mark her for life ~ She asked him
Il be intended to hurt Mrs. Dean, but he made 10
reply. - s
the afternoon Of the dav of the homicide about the
tealti of Mrs. Deans mother. When Mr.. smith
slld that she was not well. Leighton answered !:
Sac needn't be surprised If something happens to
James b. Lee said that he saw Leighton pass tho
place where Mary Dean lived several times on the
afternoon OF the day OF the murder.
Dr. Leo GOldschudt. deputy-c0Ioner. made the
pOst-mOrtcm examination OF the body OF Mary
Dean He SAID there was an ngly gash IN Der
throat. five inches in length and two and half
inches deep, which completely severed the jugllar
VEN.
his uuTppse 70 prove that the crime pre-
meditated. but was conmi y, ed IN sudden bit OF
passion. The address OF Nh Quaries was listened to
with the greatest attention.
Miss Coriune Hopkins, q young colored woman,
was the first witness for the defence she sad that
she knew the prisoner and the members OF the fam
NV where Mrs Dean lived, 10 well as the dead
woman herself. On the Sunday evening that Leigh
ton killed Mrs. Dean the witness SAID that he came
10 visit her at her place of service No 116 East
EigEteenth-st.. and spent pleasant evening, from
haifpast 10 twenty minutes after 10 o'clock.
When he was about to away she told HIM to stay,
as " he had ten minutes OF grace" But he sand
that be had 10 90 home by way OF Twenty siXt-St:
What for p she asked 10 see that Miller girl ~
mo- ne ansW cred II left my OyercOat with
Mamie Dean and must go after it,"
Charles Morris, cOOred waiter, of No. "a Chris
toDbci-st testified that he had known both Leigh
ton and Mrs Dean fog iour OF hyo years; DE saw
Leighton for four or five consecutive nights before
the homicide On the Wednesday night before the
murder ne was with Mrs Dean wDen Leighton
came to the house. She said that Leighton
had come to sec her and she would have
to 90 ont and talk with him. Sac went out and
stood talking with him IN low tones inaudbe TO
7 q
for fifteen or twenty III rutes Thursday and Fri
day evenings nearly the occurrence took place.
MIR Morris remaining IN Mrs. Deans room while sha
ana Leighton talked outside Saturday evening
Leighton came earlier and was invited into the honse.
He sat for about half an POu, fGIklug pleasantly
with Mr. Morris and Mrs. Dean, and nothing occurred
hefor, Inc went away that Indicated any i'll feeling
Oh the part OF the prisoner toward the woman whom
he killed the next evening. On Sunday, Mi, MOTIFS
said, he was with Leighton nom ii O'Clock IN the
forenoon until O'Clock in the afternoon. short
time Lefore they separated, Leighton began 10 talk
Of Mrs. Dean. He said that he thought good deal
Of he girl that lie liked 10 be with her; that he
loved Mamie" very much.
There was stir Of excitement in the courtroom
when the prisoner was called rs a witness.
He walked deliberately to the stand, took the oath,
aud beean his testimony IN an unconcerned manner.
He told the following story OF tho crime: "
have lived al No. 1873 West 3lst-st. have known
Mrs. Dean fOI more than wear. since QUO first
ncuuaintance we have always been good friends,
ana used to see her frequently while was working
various places as carter On me saturday
nipht before the killing occurred gas at her house
and went out with her and several others to
eat some oysters. Previous to that ! saw
her nearly every cay for several months. We occu-
pied the sane apartments, winch rented from Mrs
Hill never so tar Us eau rec0llect, said thar |
would like 10 bear what NAMES mother would say
ii marked her for lie. put the razor IN my
10 usc it IN striking or killing any person When ]
struck Mrs. Dean / did not know w.at | was
doing | did not know that ! had Killed her.
bat when l saw her stagger INTO the basement
| ran away. When | first went 10 the
house asked Mary Dean, as usual, 10 come out and
gee ne. She refused Then wens 10 the d0or-bcl
and rang but no one camo TO the door. looked
through the window and saw Mrs Dean aud asked
her Tor INV coat She said It wasn't there, but If II
WAS she would send ~ 10 mo next Gay. SAID
vouId wait If II took until doOmsda". Pretty soen
she came oct az the basement door, and grabbing
me by the shoulder, said WHAT II do you
want I told her wanted the coat She asked me
WHY talked 80 about her mother. ! told her
hadn't snc then tried 10 strike NE wifh
the curliug tongs she had IN her hand' and IN the
-, TAT 4 her
throat / spent that night IN ilobOken. and the
noxt day read the account Of the murder III the
myself. had no intention to Kill Mary Dean; |
loved her too much. was a member Of the Young
Aei,'s Christian Association"
The case wall be closed to-day.