Morning journal and courier., 1889-05-06
rHE EMmA BURDIOK MURDER.
Little Evidence to Convict HIrs. Eva \
 CPoabv of the Crime

 Crosby of the Crime. NORWICH, N. Y., May 5.-The interest which has been manifested over the trial of Mrs. Eva M. Crosby for the murder of Emma Jane Burdick seems to increase rather than to abate, the court room being crowded from the opening of court this morning to the ad- journment this afternoon with spectators, who eagerly listened for any evidence which might throw some light on the cloud of mys- tery which surrounds the murder. The prosecution was reopened this morning. the first witness called being Vaudeville Crosby, who testified that the prisoner threatened to make away with him should he ever reveal the fact that her husband killed the girl
 Ex-Justice Stratton of Oxford testified that when the Crosby woman was before him on the charge of stealing 8 shawl she said that if she was prosecuted she would reveal a mur- der, and gave several conflicting stories she told him at different times in regard to the crime.
 Coroner Ormsby, who held an inquest over the body of Mir. Crosby, who committed suicide, testified that there were no marks around his neck otherwise than those made by the rope, and that, in his opinion, he died of strangulation. This virtually dispos
 
 by his wife, which was hinted at by the pros- ecution.
 After a few unimportant witnesses had been called the evidence for the people was closed.
 Before the defence was begun the Hon. G. W. Ray asked the court to release the prisoner on the ground of insufficient evil dence: or to direct the jury to render a ver- dict of not guilty, as not enough evidence was presented to find a verdict of murder or msnslaughter in any degree. Aside from the admissions of the de- fendant there was no evidence that the girl died by other than natural causes and there were no suspicious circumstances except the finding of the body in 6 peculiar manner. The defendant admits that the girl was killed by Mahan and Crosby, but denies any complicity with the murder. The court de- cided not to take the case from the jury.
 NJ. D. H. Knapp then opened for the de- fence. He impressed upon the jury the gray ity of finding prisoner guilty of murder on the evidence as presented. One of the theo- ries he advanced as how the girl may have died was that she may have become intoxi- cated with her companions, and in scuffie fallen down the doorstep and came to her ignorant and conscious of their bad reputa- tion, might have feared being suspected of killing her and buried her where she was found.
 The first witness for the defence was Rch- ard Stafford of Oxford, who testified that he told Crosby on the night of Aug. 5, 1887 (the night before Crosby's suicide), that he was to be arrested on Aug. 2. He saw Crosby lying on the lounge at his house the next morning dead.
 James Smith contradicted the evidence of- fered by the people in regard to an altercs- tion between Mason Burdick and the defend- ant, in which she was alleged to have threat- ened Burdick with club.
 After one or two other witnesses had testi- fed the court adjourned until Monday, and the case will probably go to the jury on that day. Few people believe that the prisoner will be convicted, as there is little evidence against her beyond that of her previous bad character, except what is purely circumstan- tial. The prisoner was accompanied in court by her aged mother, and spent most of her time reading a newspaper, and on the whole appearing more cheerful than yesterday.