New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-22

FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER N THE
FIRST DEGREE.
THE FLEA or INSANITY UNAvAIL1NG- CLOSING
ARGUMENTS OF COUNSEL AND JUSTICE
EDWAEDS'S CHARGE.
EDwAEDS's CHARGE.

ARGUMENTS OF COUNSEL AND JUSTICE
EDwAEDSs CHARGE.
| Monticello. y. Y. June 21.-Mrs. Halliday was
this afternoon found guilty Of murder in the
first degree and Justice Edwards announced thai
he would pronounce sentence at $50 o'clock TO-
morrow morning. The prisoner did not seem T.
be affected 10y the verdict. When she was told
to stand up and face the jury she did SO upon
being raised by the constables in charge. She
did not seem comprehend that she was being
consigned to death. After the verdict had been
rendered and she had tlken her seat she tried
several times TO put her foot on chair In front
Of her.
Or. T.. c. Mann this morning gave a hard Dlow
t. the defence lie examined Mrs Halliday yes
terdav noon and again this morning. He testi-
fed that while in the courtroom she had "N-
hibited the appearance of person suffering
from demontia when he entered her cell. how
ever. her whole dcmcanor changed She sud
denly showed an extraordinary degree Of inteili-
cence and objected To being examined She
answered al his questions as fast as he could ask
them. and always in an irrelevant manner r
something which a real lunatc would not DO.
DR. Mann thought that there was ~ insanity
about her. ana that her actions in the last yci'
could easily be performed by sane person VINO
was a pretty good actor.
Mr.. CARPENTER i'm summing mp for the defence
drew a picture ~ Mrs Hallidays visit - New
burg and cndcavorcd t. sh fl" th2' II was "AH'
without any objec. or desire for rcvens". lie
c,ut.rlcI that a. she ch,s, her victims a hap
hazard and without any known design. she was
clearly insane Her failure 90 destroy IN" bloody
CARPET and rope when she c'ulu have = d'nr 50
easily. and thereby avoided the possibility - be
ing asked about Them was also clear cNld' "'
her INSANITY. II Dr. Mann's testimony was - h'
believed. the prisoner was one ~ the most con
summatc actresses that the world ever produced.
Di,trict-Attorney IInl summed mp for the
prosecution. The prisoner. while IN" District
Attorney was speaking seemed disturbed. Her
face took on slight flush and h"r actions be
came slightly more nervous She did no, how
ever look up Mr Hil reminded the jury that
in September Mrs Halliday had appeared per
fcctly sane until she was told u Tn" discovery
Of the bodies I'm the barn. whcreupon she sud
denly became apparently mad lie referred -
her droppiug the revolver. cartridges. watch ana
rings I'm the vault and said ii showed apprecia-
ti,n ~ her danger and desire 10 scrrete IN"
evidence Il her guilt, This was a condition
which. according t. expert testimony. was not
common 10 insane people.
Justice Edwards in his charg" - tn" jury OK
nlainel the different degrees .: h'micll" ana IN"
law relating % insane criminals. II" SAID II WAS
flr them o. decide whether th" hand "h'h h''l
th. vy.,u,u with which Sarah McQEillan WAS
shot was actuate! 10y a sound mind or hy ono be-
ref, ~ all responsibility. II was necessary ior
the prosecution - prove her san" AT thr tIn'
of the commission ~ The murder
Counsel FOR the defence asked the Justice to
charge the fury - the effect that the failure =
the prisoner to testify In her own behalf shouh
M, be terrnittcI % operate against her IN any
degree and that tho testimony ~ her physician
could not be- admitted IN evidence. This Wa
done and the Jury retired. returning after having
la4n out three hours ana ten minutes. with q
verdict - guilty 81 murder IN me first degree