New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-03
MRS. PTTNAN ON The WITNESS STAND.

SHE TEsTIFrEs TO HER HUSBANDS AEGUIsR
MIND-SoME CONTRADICTIONS.
Francis W. Pittman, who Is on trial before Recorder
smyh the charge Of killing his daughter Rachel %
stabng her with carpenters compasses sat throughout
yesterdays with less cscomposure than on Thurs
day. when his most earnest opponent Miss Reoecca
Fream was the witness stand That aggressive Wit
called only for moment yesterday to prove that
Rachel Pitman had actually died the witness was one
OF the persons who prepared her body for burial
Assistant District Attorney Fitzgerald for the prosocu
ton called Nicholas Clark to give additional testimony
premeditation with which the crime was commtted
He testified that had known Pltmsn for several years
On August g. the day before Rachel killed Putnam
told him that his daughter had left home II abe has
done any wrong" said Pitman, =" IN fix her." Pitman
made a similar remark few hours before the killing
After some formal testimony the Tor the prosecu-
ton was closed MI Eden made the opening speech for
the defence He declared that Pitman not response
Bile for his Pitman. the wife OF the prisoner
was called the arst witness on his behalf She was
dressed In deep mourning She has been married 70 rt
man for twenyone years and they have had ten children
Mrs Pltman gave her evidence with some hesitaton
She sad that her husband had always eeen KIND 70 hef
and to the children. Rachel was his favore dauen'ef
He always insisted that his daughters should De noms
10 o'clock at night but Rachel sometimes out moen
later When witness told Of the events OF the Tow
days preceding murder she became Affected ana "eps
bitterly Tears the eyes Of her husoano-
She testified that her husband whipped haenei
with rattan July % because she had made an appo
nent 10 meet franklin Lewis He became sorry sies-
ward and asked daughter TO forgive him. but she "oao
not do It and left house the next day When fiunan
found that Rachel had gone he became extremely sns
His eyesn said Witness seemed TO become srse'
his face was white sheet and he remoled FOR iou.
DAYS and nights be did not sleep. He walked up an'
down the room and up and down the stairs al hiane
lie renroached me and talked that was aasio
of him lie said Woman, you don't know tne ae.nuy
there Is in this town tempt young girl why ao 'os
let her goP 2" 1000 -, H.. a..
Mrs Pltman said that her husbands athef mao ueu ~
an insane asylum; his uncle was also insane oe''e MS
death and the prisoner badly Injured ID 'ns
head when child the doctor said that his ofan ~
DO affected whom he grew up The crossexainihauo" "
Assistant District Attorney Fitzgerald weakened 'ne ~
timony OF the witness materially. She contssaS'eu no.
self several times She said that she once caused he'
husbands arrest for knocking down Rachel "heh sac We"
aft4en years old Mrs. Ptman and her daughters bo'
md Sadie who were called the witness stana tof "
ment all testified that Rachel had told them That vac
cav no pistol In her fathers hand when he was at hss
Fream's rooms $3.50.
A sensation was produced when ex-senator Eeces'ns
called the wife Of Franklin Lewis the married man "ne
visited Rachel Pitman, to the witnessstand ehe
male frecked and not attractive in appearance cue
walked unseadlly toward the witnesschsr ehe Ns'
apparently about TO go into Mysteries or was o'no"
united to give intelligent testimony and af'ef
Ing with the Recorder. Mr.. Ecclesine dism'ss'i INC "
ness for the time. The trial Will cohuhue wN''