The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-10


Treasury watch; Policeman Walker
and others. Prior 10 the enquiry, Dr.
J. c. Riley, Deputy Coroner, had per-
formed an autopsy. He also TESTIFIED
After due investigation, the jury re-
turned a verdict as follows: we, the
| jury, find that Adoniram J. Burroughs
came to his death while passing through
the hall Of the Treasury Department or
| January 30, 1866, by ball ball fired from
! pistol in the hands of woman. said
! TO be named Mary Harris, aid ball taking
! effect in the region of the fifth rib of the
| deceased"
Fate appeared TO darken about the wo-
man, but she was not without friends
/ Interested in her behalf were Mrs. Alb
hey, OF New York city. prominent in lit.
erary and social circles; the Misses Dew
I'm, residing at Chicago, who came to
Washington, and many others The trial
was set for July 3, 1865. The publicity
given the tragedy, and the prominence of
those involved, excited unusual interest,
and brought to the assistance OF Mary
Harris the best legal talent. There ap-
peared as counsel in her defence, the late
joseph II. radlcy, of this city; Hon. Dan
lei W. Voorhees,. deceased. former United
states Senator from Indiana; Judge
James Hughes, of Indiana; Judge Mason,
OF Iowa, and William y. Fendall, of the
trict Attorney L. c. Darlington. deceased,
and Assistant District Attorney Nathan
lei Wilson, represented the Government.
The first day of the trial, July 8, 1865,
found the defence unprepared to proceed,
because OF the lack OF certain dispositions,
winch had been previously taken at Bur-
IlngtoD, Iowa, the former home of the ac-
cused. The defendant was present in
court, and seated about her were Mrs ABB
n hnpT owl.
Cornelius Wendell 4 jury was impan-
eled and sworn, and at the motion of the
defence, the case was continued until We'd
nesday morning, July ).
large attendance marked the second
day Of the trial. but still tie defence was
not ready to proceed, owing to the failure
OF the dispositions TO arrive from Burling-
ION. The court granted a further post
ponement until Friday. when Il was agreed
the trial should be taken up.
The fact that the case should begin in
earnest served 10 pack the courtroom on
the third day of the trial. The defend
ant. neatly attired in black silk, wearing a
coat and black bonnet, entered the room.
accompanied as usual by Mrs. Abbey and
the Misses DeyHn. She had previously
been arraigned and took a seat beside her
chief counsel Mr.. Bradley. After the
usual preliminaries District Attorney Car
jury. He outlined the case from the
standpoint of the Government, giving the
Jury an insight into the terms of the in
dictment. besides recalling the salient
features of the killing of Burroughs. Il
stand here TO plead the cause Of woman"
he said. woman. who, more than man, is
interested in the preservation of peace
and order. and in the enforcement of the
law Obedience to law is the safeguard
of US all. We must punish the guilty in
order to protect the innocent"
When Mr.. Darlington concluded. a brief
recess was taken at the ms -ance Of the de-
fence. after which MIR. Bradley made his
opening address to the jury. The chief
counsel far the defence reviewed the life
OF the defendant. from the time she met
Burroughs in Burlington until the day of
the tragedy at the Treasury. Mr.. Bradley
toldG CT the associations of Burroughs and
Mary Harris; of their correspondence, and
personal relations. The attorney referred
10 ''paroxismal insanity from moral
causes as the line of defence, and told
of his personal observation OF the defend
ant since the tragedy. At the close of his
remarks. the examination OF witnesses was
begun.
Coroner Woodward was the first wit
ness. and was followed by Alfred Everett,
Treasury clerk. who accompanied Bur-
roughs on the day OF his death. Everett
went over the tragedy In detail, giving the
position OF burroughs and his slayer; of
himself, the number OF shots fired, and
finally undergoing cross-examination by
Mr.. Bradley. Witness said he could not
swear positively TO the identity Of the per-
son who fired the shots. but Mr.. Bradley
remarked: ''N the court please. We think
it proper to say We do not dispute the fact
that this is the party" referring 10 the
defendant.
Waterman Charles A. Sengstack was
next sworn. and was followed by william
Schelley. doorkeeper al the main entrance
of the Treasury building. Both gave I'M
important testimony. Edwin G. Handy,
Captain of the Watch at the Treasury.
next took the stand and testified TO the
arrest Of Mary Harris after Burroughs
was shot: also that the defendant gave
him a pistol. from which two shots had
been discharged, Witness stated that
Mary Harris was much excited at the
time. Shortly after witness left the stand
the court adjourned for the day.
Hon. Hugh McCulloch, then Comptrol-
Ter of the Currency. was a witness on the
fourth day OF the trial. He said he saw
Mary Harris shortly after the tragedy.
and questioned her Prior thereto witness
had not known the defendant. Mr.. Nc
Culloch said defendant was much ex-
cited, but gave little evidence of i'm
portance. William w. Danenhower. then
living at Twelfth and G Streets north
west; Mrs. Eunice Phelps, and Mrs. Mary
Jane Winters all gave minor evidence
and the court adjourned early In the af-
ternoon for the day
And so the trial went on, each day
bringing fresh evidence connected more or
less minuteiy with the Treasury tragedy
On the sixth day the crowd in the court
room which had been steadily incraasfna
grew to immense proportions, and stand
ing room was at premium. Louise Dew
lin, owner of a millinery store in Chicago.
was the chief witness. She stated she te
came acquainted with Mary Harris in
Chicago in April, 1863. The defendant
was employed by witness as a clerk, and
lived at the home of Miss Devlin until
she came to Washington. long series
of questions were put to the witness, re-
specting her relations with Mary Harris.
and her knowledge Of Burroughs and lis
movements in Chicago and elsewhere. All
queries were answered readily, and sew
eral letters, said to have been written by
Burroughs, and seen by witness were ex-
hibited in court. Jane Devlin, sister of
the witness, was next sworn and put
through a severe examination by counsel
on both sides. as to the conduct OF the
defendant and her relations with Bur
roughs.
The Misses Deylin were called by ,ae
defence, as was Mr.. Bradley, chief com-
sci, who took the stand on the seventh
dag of the trial. Mr.. Bradley gave his
observations Of the defendant especially
her mental condition. and read
from notes taken at various times prior 10
the trial and while the defendant was still
in jail. Mr.. Bradley was cross examined
by Mr. Darlington at length, after which
Doh L .aFNI n 1T. grrI