National Republican., 1883-04-03
FOR HIS LIFE.
Commencement Of the Trial Of Frank Minor
for Numbering His Wife.
BRIEF Resume Of the Circumstances OF the
Crime-Thc Record In other Courts.

Frank Minor a colorcd man, was arranged
in the special criminal court yesterday for
murder of his wife, Victoria Minor, on the
11th of October, 1882, at No 323 j street
southwest. The crime for which Minor is
being tried was one of the most terrible cases
of brutality that ever figured in the criminal
annals. For some time before the day OF the
tragedy the couple lived unhapply together
Minor was very jealous of his wife and ire-
quenty quarreled with her for being unlaith-
ful TO him. On the night of Oct. 10 Minor
and his wife were at a gathering at Island
hall and he there publicly npraided her Tor
intimacy with other mon, and but for the in
terferonCe of friends would have beaten her.
They went home together however, ana
partial reconciliation was effected. inc next
morning after her husband had gone out to
his labor of cart driving, Mrs. Minor pro-
ceeded to pack up her things with the inten
ton of separating from her husband. Minor
mother and sister approved OF the step sue
was taking and she was about 10 leave the
house when Minor returned to the house
Mrs. Minor was up stairs in the second story,
and Minors mother and sister were down
stairs. Suddenly the two women heard ter
ribe shrek, and rushing up stairs they dis-
covered Minor, his left hand wound in his
wife's hair and his right hand dealing her
lightning blows with razor. Ills mother
endeavored to stop his hollish work, but he
threatened to cut her and continued TO mutt
late the body Of his wife. After butchering
her to his hearts content he went TO the hrst
precinct station house and surrendered him.
self Upon going TO the house the policemen
were greeted with a most horrible scene. Mrs.
Minors body lay in pool OF blood, ana
pieces of her flesh were scattered around her
body. The cuts upon her were innumcraDle.
The head was merely attached to the body by
the skin at the back of the neck; all the veins
and tissues and the windpipe were severed,
there were deep cuts on her face and arms,
and terrible gashcs in her breast. AT the coro-
ner's inquest Minor said he had murdered his
wife because she had been untaithtul to him,
and verdict was found in accordance with
the facts.
He was indicted shortly after the crime
and pleaded guilty, but the government
thought it wise to inquire into the facts Of
the case before sentence was past, ana ac-
cordingly Minor was again arraigned, and ON
March IL entered a formal plea Of not guilty.
Tho case was set for yesterday, Messrs.
Thomas f. Miller and l.. ID. Wright having
been assigned to defend Minor The pris-
oner who sat at the table with his counsel, is
medium sized man of dark complexion.
He has short black hair and u black nous
tache His expression was one of dogged
carelcssness. He was dressed in dark coat
and vest blue and black striped trousers, and
wore a rundown collar and dark plaid tie.
The entire day was spent in an effort TO get
a Jury, and but eight were secured out OF the
regular panel and twenty-four talesmen.
These are James NJ. Foster, George II. Boston,
Henry NJ. Dellinger, L. J. Heiberger, jr., An
drew Goddard, Charles Ruof, John Riddle,
and William b. 5. Clymer. OF the gentlemen
who were sworn on their voir dine and eN-
amincd as to their fitness to serve in the case,
Messrs. George H. Trunnell, Noble ID. Larner'
S, X. Contco, Dorsey Clagctt IL, 4. Ballan-
tyne Zacharah ID. Cromwell, w. o. Douglass,
G. A. Crummell, Joseph Redfern, and w. L.
Walker had opinions upon the case.
J.S Swormstcdt U. H. Ridenour, and Wal
ter d. Wyvill had conscientious scruples
against capital punishment.
J. II. Ghccn, J. A. Marr, Robert Boyd
Charles +. Keys, Isaac Newton, jr., X. o.
Polkinhorn, w. Lord, and John j. Peabody
were challenged by the defense
r. A. Pyles, physician, was excused.
The following gentlemen failed to answer
Doyle, George w. Gray, solomon Fowler,
Thompson Ross, +. A. Mclaughlin, Harry G..
Noyes, w. Scott Smith, 7. Il. Burley,. W. A.
Hutchins, John Patterson Roby G. White, j.
II, Conncll, Daniel O,Leary, b. w. Ferguson
w. /. Davis, and d. +, Robinson.
The court adjourned at 2:i5 until this morn
ing at l0:30 O'clock, when the jury will be
completed aud the testimony begun The
government will call as witnesses Minors
mother and sister, two police officers, and Dr.
Hartiean Tho razor, which now looks more
like saw, and Minors bloody suit of clothes
will also be put in evidence.
The usual crowd of morbidly curious peo
pie who usually flock to q court room when d
murder trial is in progress was not noticeable
Outside of the court house there was II mum
ber of men standing in groups and discussing
in unmcasured terms the order recently is
sued which closed the doors in their faces
The space inside the rail of the court room
was occupied by the members of the petit jury
the witnesses, and II sprinkling OF lawyers
Outside of the rail there were few friends
nr hn prignnar aud hig family. When Mr.
Clymer was accepted and sworn his disgus
was plainly evident He was elegantly
dressed and is n very handsome young man
He raised the hook Ia his lips with hanC
that was gloved in yellow and looked at th'
judge through eyeglasses Mr.. Clymer is
member of the Metropolitan club.
THE RECORD.
Supreme Court IN General Term Chief Justice Cart
Ter and justices Macarthur and C0r.-lIenIietta :
Butler VS.. Lcynidas scott; decree OF the specia
tenn reversed, and sale of real estate ordered.
John H. Zug et al. vs.. o. d. Barrett CT al. appca
+, l., Downham x Co. vs. Ellen Kelley ct al; sal
OF certain real estate affirmed, and division an'
Marion Jones VS.. James and Jane Smith de
cision below affirmed.
United States ex rel. C. F. liavenner vs. snmuc
Cross, treasurer Of the Columbian Bank Note com
pauy; defendants reply 10 rtlator's plea ordered
filed within ten days, or decree pro contesso u
Adjourned sine die.
Equity Cour-Judge Cor-sGge VS.. sagei Mar
L. sage appointed guardian ad litem.
No assignments Tor to-day.
IrObate COurt-Justce tor.-Estate Of Charlie
Gordon; inventory Of household furniture; re
turned and filed,
Estate of Maria Benter; order appointing DRv
w Bruce collector; bond, $1,000.
Estate of Jared Elliott letters of admnstra
ton granted TO John J, Johnson; bond, $4,000
81 200 attorneys fees allowed to w. L. MattinGl
and j. j. Johnson.
Estate of John G. Stahord cause continued un
Ill Friday next
Estate of John +. Clark order granting letter
of administration TO William H. Todd bond, slOl
In re Frank Il. Browning guardian 10 Thoma
and Hugh FlzimorrS; first account passed.
Charles e.. COLLISION, guardian TO Indiana Gal
ner FIST account passed.
Estate of Laura V. Coyle; first account ofadmir
istrator passed.
Love l.. Fort, guardian to orphans OF Franc
W. Fort; first account passed.
Walter Middleton, guardian TO Clayton Dorsey
first account passed
Estate of ChaunGey Smith; first account Of ad
ministrator passed.
Estate OF Elizabeth Tautier; first account ofexC
cut0r passed
Estate of Henry Thorn first account of execute
passed
Sarah Wingate guardian to William Jones Wiz
gate; first account passed
Estate OF Royal Parkinson George b. Parkit
son appointed administrator, bond $1,000.
Win OF Cecilia Cain admitted to probate an
letters testamentary granted, bond S2s2.
James b. Peake, appointed guardian TO his wi
and children, bond $3.50.
Estate of Sarah w. Paris; commission sent to
II. Walker Bridgeport, Maine, TO take proof