Year: 1870

Probably no case since the famous trial OF Mrs.
Cunningham for the murder Of DIR. Burdell has 90.
casoned so great an excitement IN the public mind
q the trial Of Mcfarland.


A GREAT CROWD.


Ever since the day when the preliminary proceed.
iags were opened the Railways leading TO the court
room have been besieged by an immense crowd OF
persons anxious to gain admlttance, and the ofncers
attached TO ,le court nave had just as much as
they could do to keep the doors on their hinges so
great has been the pressure OF the w0uldbe specta
tors OF the trial. As general thing murder trial
always attracts that peculiar rran Of loungers who
never consider themselves happier than when they
able to be present in court when case gives pro.
mise OF whas Is commonly called 'splcy
Developments" but strange to say, this
set have all along during the present trial
been outnumbered by respectable people,
who are not often seen in court room, at
least as spectators. The cause OF thus phenomenon
the reader can conjecture to suit himself. Yester
day being the first day OF the actual trial the crowds
were. as matter OF course far greater than they
had been on any preceding day, but, thanks to the
good management OF the officers, there was crush
IN the court room, and once 1t had become well filed
no one not authorized was allowed adwittance.


now The fkfs6NER LOOKED.


Mcfarland when he entered the court room did
not look as well as usual the fatigue OF having had
20 Sit and listen to the battling OF the counsel for
jurors on the two previous days having evidently
been too much for him. He, however, appeared
cheerful and maintained the same air OF confidence
tnat has characterized his demeanor from the start
In this there was nothing OF the bravad0 whatever
He smply looked as though he felt he had not COM
mitted crime and that he knew perfectly well that
the efforts OF his counsel in his behalf would be
1iV nxvY vY,plvV nprf1
ton OF the clerks OF the Tribune ofice he ap.
pcared slightly nervous. and sat most Of the time
with his arm leaning on the desk before him and his
hand to his ear, as II anxious to catch every word
that fell from the lips OF the witnesses. In describ
ing the scene In the counting room the night Of
the shooting, when Richardson entered, one OF them
stated that his attention attracted 10 Mcfarland
by peculiar movement" of the prisoner behind
the desk which consisted OF his ''stooping his head
az If to hide himself from the view OF some person.
Mcfarland frowned at this and shook his head as
II to deny that anything OF the kind occurred. HIS
little boy, Percy, who sat by his side the livelong
day, as he has done from the start, did not, appa-
rentiy. understand what was going on, and amused
himself most Of the time In playfuly toying With
his fathers hair.


THE TRIBUNE WITNESSES.


All the witnesses examined gave their evidence In
Gear voice and without any hesitation, although
the hair-sptting answers they made to certain ques
tions put TO them by the counsel for the defence
looked very much as though they had been pretty
thoroughly drilled as TO the way they should acs
and what they should do when on the stand.
This however, Is only CONJECTURE. The good effect
OF Keeping all the other witnesses out Of the court
room while one was testfying was shown In the
statements made by two Of them as to
certain little details OF the tragedy, which, though
not important Of themselves, may prove Of advan-
tage to one side when the case Is argued in ies
entirety.


WHO WAS sHEi


Among those present within the area allotted to
the members OF The bar were two ladies', both OF
whom were dressed according to the latest dictates
OF fashion. Oae OF them wore veti, which she did
not remove during the whole time she was present.
and speculation was rife as to who she could be.
She seemed very mach interested tn the case, and
several times appeared to be quite affected by cer
tain portions OF che testimony.


A CURIOUS wohAN.


The other woman was well known resident Of
Washington. who made her name famous during
President Johnson's administration az q pardon
broker. On entering the court she sent word to
Mr. Mcfarland that she desired to see him. She
did not give her name 10 the officer whom she sent
ask HIM to come to the box where she seated,
and SO nc was not aware who she was until she
introduced herself. She shook hands with him, and
the prisoner, not manliessng any desire to carry
y conversation with the woman, who was stranger
TO him, went back to his seat almost Immediately.
What ON earth prompted her to desire to see and
talk with Mcfarland is o mystery; but 1t was sup.
posed that her motive was sheer curiosity, and Q
woman's at that, which made the intervlew rather
harmless.


BEEcHER AND FRoTHrNGHAM scALpELLED.


The severe handling that Beecher and Frothng.
ham got from the counsel for the defence for the
part they took In what ne termed the "basphemoas
ceremony at the Astor House, and his terribly
scatning denunciation OF the gang who had years
ago planted the vile seed from which, he said, had
sprung the deathoed marriage OF Richardson, ere.
ated an immense sensation among the audience,
and when the counsel took his seat m murmur OF ap-
PROBATION went up from the whole gathering, which
but for the promptness OF the court officers In nip.
ping it In the bud might have broken on, into de.
cidsd applause.


REVEREND LISTENER.


A whitehairea old minister was an attentive
listener 10 the denunciatioa OF the "blasphemy,,
and created no small amusement TO those In his I'M
mediate vicinity by the vigorous way In which he
brought down his cane on the floor and the energetic
way in which he nodded his head In appreciation
~ the counsel waxed warm on his subject OF the
deathred horror at the Astor House.


TIE "XSow NOTHING JuRyMAS.n


The scene In the court room when the star news
paper was denounced for the way 1t had reported
she trial and carcatured OF the jurors was quite
an exciting one. The spectators anticipated that the
journalist who had fallen under the displcasure Of
the counsel would be made to put IN an appearance
and confess his aims before the court, but when it
eecame evident that he would not be forthcoming
the interest in the scene tagged considerably. or
course the rep0rtcrs present were the most attentive
listeners the counsel had on the subject and when
he asserted that all Of them but the unfathful
had 20 far done their duty 'c0urteously and with