The New-York City-Hall Recorder Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1817 Excerpt: ...I never knew of any difficulty between the prisoner and the deceased. Catharine M'Gee did not, the evening before the death of Mrs. Blake, mention to me about the blood on her hand. I did not hear any conversation between the prisoner and his wife that evening. Mrs. M'Gee and deceased were as intimate as sisters. John Bedient, again called. I examined the clothes and bed to try to find the instrument which occasioned the wound. I found none. I am now convinced that the wound was on the left breast of the deceased. Doctors Stevens and Walker again called.--Such a wound would be apt to produce almost instantaneous death. The person might have groaned: but how far sleep or drunkenness might have prevented this, we cannot determine. Dr. Benjamin R. Robson, sworn.--It is my opinion, founded on actual observation, that a wound in that part of the heart would have occasioned instantaneous death without a groan. It must have been a violent thrust; and if it went through the rib, it must have been fractured. Dr. Matthew Cunningham sworn.--I saw the wound and believe it could have been inflicted with this knife, and that it would have caused instant death. I thought the cartilages of the ribs were divided. I examined the bed to find the instrument, but found none. Nicholas C. Everett sworn.--I was the foreman of the Coroner's inquest that sat on the body. The prisoner was indifferent, said he knew nothing about the murder, and gave no satisfaction whatsoever. I have understood, by common report, that the prisoner and the deceased lived unhappily together. No person on the jury thought that Mrs. M'Gee discovered fear--no suspicion fell on her. I have known her for a considerable time, and have heard The reason on which this opinion is founded, was not whown on the tri...