New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-11
TO CHANGED AS HE WISHED.

| NONNLcoiON OF THE TRIAL OF THE MAN WhO
KILLED MRS. CRAVE FOR A DOLLAR.
| The trial OF William Sindram for the murder OF
Mrs. Catherine Crave was finished yesterday before
Judge Brady in the Court of Oyer and Terminer,
and the jury brought in a verdict of murder in the
first degree. The trial lasted several days, and the
counsel only attempted to show that the murder
was not premeditated and thus save the pris-
oner from the gallows, which in his letters
Sindram said he did not fear, and would therefore
| dsappoint the public, which had no interest in
! hanging when the victim was not afraid
to die. He was not affected in the slight
est degree by the picture of his brutal
and depraved character which Mr.. Lyons. Yesterday
in his closing address TO the jury. drew of him, but
smiled occasionally with complacency. Judge
Brady in charging the jurors, said that as the plea
OF insanity had not been made in behalf of the prs
oner, they could not allow that defence to enterinto
their consideration at all. Sndram's letters showed
him 70 be a man of more than usual intelligence.
He was also. no doubt, an eccentric and violent
man, but the world was full Of such people, and
| they were no less amenabc to the law than 9TH
ers When the jury which did not remain ont above
ninety Minutes returned 10 declare its verdict, Sim
dram quietly folded m the newspaper which he had
been reading and gazed vacantly into space as if he
were The least concerned person in the room in re-
gard TO his fate. He was equally calm when the
foreman Of the jury announced the verdict. Judge
Brady rcmandcd him for sentence on Monday, De-
| ccmhcr 10.
! Sindram declared that he could not have expected
different verdict, aud that far as he personally
was concerned he decidedly preferred hanging TO
imprisonment for life. lie did have some friends,
however. who for some reason did not wish to see
him hanged and he felt disposed to humor then If
he were permitted to do so. He wonld not ask the
r.. l. bn
tel what his counsel might do. He had said in one
of his letters that Governor Cornell might 90 TO
| the devil before he would ask any favor of him.
| In reply 10 question by one Of hrs attendants,
! which he thought the Governor would prefer todo.
| grant him favor. now that hc was convicted OF
murder I'm the first degree, " 60 70 tho deyil'
| Sndram laughingly replied that he would give IT
mp" Sudrlm's aged mother sal by his side nearly
| throughout the trial and was often unable TO con-
| troll her tears AMI sobs. but neither his mothers
| griet nor his own danger for moment dis
turbcd the cheeriuness Of his spirits and
| his apparently quiet intellectual enjoyment
of his part in the drama. When the officers told
hm. after the verdict had been rendered, to get
ready to 90 back 10 the Tombs he rose. put on his
great coat with perfect doliberation extended his
| hand for The handouts, and when oil was ready,
walked away with the tread of n man who was going
| 10 pleasant entertainment.
| Sindram is young man Of about thirty years, Of
medium or under size, with black hair and swartny
| complexion. HIS countenance at first view would
hardly he taken Ia be that of murderer, but upon
| closer inspection IL Is exceedingly repelling.
| The story of his crime ia as f'llows:
| He occupied together with his brother room in
Mr. Graves house at No. Charlton-st.. for ahont
| ten months pTOr 10 January 20 last for which ne
paid 81 n week rent On the Monday preceding
| January 20 ne paid his rent for week in advance.
| Mrs. Crave was informed that Sindram had circu-
lated sandcrous stories about her, and on Tuesday
morning She told him that he must leave the house.
rom rrS I, Which he found locked lie met Mrs Crave
IN the ball and began to use insulting langmagc as
rro,,an that she had swindled him ont of a dollar
| and that sbe was capable Of stealing poor mans
old clothes He was allowed 70 go into his room to
| get his clothes and when leaving 'he house ne
shontcd back 10 Mrs. Crave that he wouif come
| hack the ncxt day q" and make a bloody row" He
came back the next morning. and, opening tIe street
door with his key crrpt stealthlly into the house.
| Mrs Graves daughter was in the basement and
| upon hearing the noise went upstairs To see who
| made IT, When she saw Sindram she asked him
any right there. He replied Never mind, want To
see your mother" The girl called to her mother TO
| Gave leaned over the bauster and told sin
| dram that he had no business there but asked nm
what he wanted Sindram answered.: .
"Come down, and will show YOU what want"
Mrs. Crave did not come down. and Slndram
started up the stairs Tho daughter, noticing that
he had pistol in his hands cred TO her noth'r TO
|
| called. Police, murder. murder" Slndrda. upon
reaching the head of the stairs, fired q her. but the
shot did not take effect. Mrs Crave crouchcd down
| In terror in the corner of the hall. and Sndram.
| going mp TO her. put hs pistol close to her lace
and fred lie then walked out Of The house ana was
| arrested by policeman who brought him back.
| Mrs. Crave was still conscious and identified hlm.
| Sindram told the policeman that he had shot the
| woman all for "a lousy dollar
While in prison Sindram wrote twelve letters,
| some of which were addres sed to Mr. Crave and
Others TO the officials in the Dstrct-Attorneys
| Office In hs letters q Mr.. Crave he IN
dnlIed in the most indecent abuse OF his
wife, and expressed his exultaton over the
fact that he had shot her In one letter he told Mt
Crave that he supposed that he Gravel would have
a turkey on Thanksgiving Day as usual, but II
would not be dressed bY Mrs. Crave, who was
lying in Greenwood. In another letter he regretted
that Mrs. Crave had not died instantly. as IN that
| case he would already have . gone to HeiyenJ
| where all murdercrs go and met Cox and Balbo"
lie declared that he would not allow the plea OF IN
| sanity to he put forward III his defence, ana eS-
pressed his conviction that If he were not hanged
| " then hanging must be played out in New'lork
| indeed"