Norwich bulletin., 1914-12-03
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF DANIEL MAcFARLAND

A tragedy almost entirely forgotten today, but which at the time created an unusual amount of excitement throughout the United States, was the killing of Albert D. Richardson, a war correspondent long attached to the New York Tribune, in the office Of that newspaper. by Daniel MacFar- land, 9 lawyer, on the evening of Nov. 25, 1869. At one time the two men were close friends, but Mcfarland believed that Richardson bore entirely | too friendly a relationship with Mrs. l MacEarland, and they became estrang- ed, and the result was murder.
 Shortly after 6 o'clock, MacF'ar- l land who had the 'entree" to the of 1 fee of The Tribune, was standing office talking to a clerk, when Rich 1 ardson entered. The latter had not l been 10 minutes in the office when Mcfarland approached him, and with out saying a word, fired the fatal shot. l The wounded man, without saying a
 word. walked to the editorial rooms, and there collapsed and was conveyed 1 to the Astor House. Mcfarland was
 arrested.
 ] In statement made the day after the shooting he said that he had lived harrnoniously and happily with l his wife for nine years, until she formed the acquaintance of Richard
 son and from that moment his hap | pineSs was destroyed Mrs. MacFar- land left her husband on Feb. 21, 1867 ] and obtained a divorce in Illinois. He pleaded with her not to take the ster for their children's sake. but she was 1 infatuated with Richardson, who con- tributed to her support for the two years following. She took the two children with her and the husband his son through a habeas corpus pro- Iceeding,
 When Richardson's condition became
 critical on Nov. 30 he expressed tho dedre to marry Mrs. Mcfarland anC E6ev. Henry Ward Beecher, the emil lnent minister, performed the ceremony He died at 5 o'clock in the morning O.
 Dec. 2, and was buried the following
 day. Among those who attended thu funeral were Hon. Whftelaw Reid
 Edmund Clarence Stedman, Horac'
 Greeley, editor of The Tribune. ant
 other distinguished men.
 Besides his ability as neWspape
 writer, Richardson had written anC published a number of volumes, most
 ly experiences in camp and field dur : marriage of Richardson and Mrs
 Mcfarland the dying mans pastor T Rev. O. B. Frothington, assisted, an' his offering up of the prayer, contain ing these lines, was severely criti cized: May he take her image wit
 
 3 and vindicating his honor, carry hin
 about with her through all the pill
 grimage that is yet before her, t 3 strengthen her courage
 , MT. Beecher was also severely criti : cized by the newspapers for perform ing the marriage ceremony under tn circumstances. An inquest was hel . immediately after the death of Rich ardson, and MacFarland was indicte for murder. His trial did not occu AT- E-ITz 4 1-ank
 iQuired until the Eth before jury wa
 secured. The. trial was continued UT = til May 10 Those who gave test y nnony were employees of the TribuI e office who had witnessed the shootin
 including Daniel Frohman, now tf
 Iweu-known theatrical manager, b' a then the advertising clerk of the new = paper. All that was necessary was Y establish the shooting and death { 7i Mir. Richardson and the prosecutic
 rested their side of the case to hes
 that of the defense.
 h The defense was that at the. tin .- he had committed the murder Ma Ia Farland was temporarily inSaI a through worry over family affair
 letters were introduced written
 Richardson to show the intimacy tn
 existed between the murdered Tns
 l and Mrs. MacFarland. but sent. 'hov @ ever, after she had obtained a divorc n as well as a number from Mrs Ca g houn, a woman more or less faVorap
 inclined to the free love" theory, ar
 a most intimate friend of Mrs. Ma ;e F,arland. Specialists gave testimor i+ as to the mental condition of the mu - derer.
 p Aside from the sensational test q nlony presented, the opposing coune
 were so vicious in their deportmel
 that it was with difficulty that thu s were kept from exchanging blows. IS The recorder charged the jury { W the morning Of May 10. and after thu r had de1jbe<xated three hours ths
 brought in a verdict of mot guilty
 To add to the sensation of the cas the following day Mrs. Richards so published the story of her life in 1T % Tribune in which she accused Ma m F'arland of deceit in their marriage, xe drunkenness. brutality and negle'
 and mentioned in detail many inc
 dents in proof of her allegations, l. how he had frequently struck her. al z in his fury, would seize and bre: s' anything within reach. The verdi D. was generally approved, although K was many years before this murd
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