curious republic of gondour-第9节
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occasional confinements。 Her father is able to testify to this。 There
was always an element of unsoundness about the prisoner's generosities
that is very suggestive at this time and before this court。
7。 Two years ago the prisoner came fearlessly up behind Richardson in
the dark； and shot him in the leg。 The prisoner's brave and protracted
defiance of an adversity that for years had left him little to depend
upon for support but a wife who sometimes earned scarcely anything for
weeks at a time； is evidence that he would have appeared in front of
Richardson and shot him in the stomach if he had not been insane at the
time of the shooting。
8。 Fourteen months ago the prisoner told Archibald Smith that he was
going to kill Richardson。 This is insanity。
9。 Twelve months ago he told Marshall P。 Jones that he was going to kill
Richardson。 Insanity。
10。 Nine months ago he was lurking about Richardson's home in New
Jersey； and said he was going to kill Richardson。 Insanity。
11。 Seven months ago he showed a pistol to Seth Brown and said that that
was for Richardson。 He said Brown testified that at that time it seemed
plain that something was the matter with McFarland； for he crossed the
street diagonally nine times in fifty yards； apparently without any
settled reason for doing so； and finally fell in the gutter and went to
sleep。 He remarked at the time that McFarland acted strangebelieved he
was insane。 Upon hearing Brown's evidence； John W。 Galen； M。D。； affirmed
at once that McFarland was insane。
12。 Five months ago； McFarland showed his customary pistol； in his
customary way； to his bed…fellow； Charles A。 Dana； and told him he was
going to kill Richardson the first time an opportunity offered。 Evidence
of insanity。
13。 Five months and two weeks ago McFarland asked John Morgan the time
of day； and turned and walked rapidly away without waiting for an answer。
Almost indubitable evidence of insanity。 And
14。 It is remarkable that exactly one week after this circumstance； the
prisoner； Daniel McFarland； confronted Albert D。 Richardson suddenly and
without warning； and shot him dead。 This is manifest insanity。
Everything we know of the prisoner goes to show that if he had been sane
at the time； he would have shot his victim from behind。
15。 There is an absolutely overwhelming mass of testimony to show that
an hour before the shooting； McFarland was ANXIOUS AND UNEASY； and that
five minutes after it he was EXCITED。 Thus the accumulating conjectures
and evidences of insanity culminate in this sublime and unimpeachable
proof of it。 Therefore
Your Honor and GentlemenWe the jury pronounce the said Daniel McFarland
INNOCENT OF MURDER； BUT CALAMITOUSLY INSANE。
The scene that ensued almost defies description。 Hats； handkerchiefs and
bonnets were frantically waved above the massed heads in the courtroom；
and three tremendous cheers and a tiger told where the sympathies of the
court and people were。 Then a hundred pursed lips were advanced to kiss
the liberated prisoner； and many a hand thrust out to give him a
congratulatory shakebut presto！ with a maniac's own quickness and a
maniac's own fury the lunatic assassin of Richardson fell upon his
friends with teeth and nails； boots and office furniture； and the amazing
rapidity with which he broke heads and limbs； and rent and sundered
bodies； till nearly a hundred citizens were reduced to mere quivering
heaps of fleshy odds and ends and crimson rags； was like nothing in this
world but the exultant frenzy of a plunging； tearing； roaring devil of a
steam machine when it snatches a human being and spins him and whirls him
till he shreds away to nothingness like a 〃Four o'clock〃 before the
breath of a child。
The destruction was awful。 It is said that within the space of eight
minutes McFarland killed and crippled some six score persons and tore
down a large portion of the City Hall building； carrying away and casting
into Broadway six or seven marble columns fifty…four feet long and
weighing nearly two tons each。 But he was finally captured and sent in
chains to the lunatic asylum for life。
（By late telegrams it appears that this is a mistake。Editor Express。）
But the really curious part of this whole matter is yet to be told。 And
that is； that McFarland's most intimate friends believe that the very
next time that it ever occurred to him that the insanity plea was not a
mere politic pretense； was when the verdict came in。 They think that the
startling thought burst upon him then； that if twelve good and true men；
able to comprehend all the baseness of perjury； proclaimed under oath
that he was a lunatic； there was no gainsaying such evidence and that he
UNQUESTIONABLY WAS INSANE！
Possibly that was really the way of it。 It is dreadful to think that
maybe the most awful calamity that can befall a man； namely； loss of
reason； was precipitated upon this poor prisoner's head by a jury that
could have hanged him instead； and so done him a mercy and his country a
service。
POSTSCRIPT…LATER
May 11I do not expect anybody to believe so astounding a thing； and yet
it is the solemn truth that instead of instantly sending the dangerous
lunatic to the insane asylum （which I naturally supposed they would do；
and so I prematurely said they had） the court has actually SET HIM AT
LIBERTY。 Comment is unnecessary。 M。 T。
THE EUROPEAN WARS ＇From the Buffalo Express； July 25； 1870。＇
First Day
THE EUROPEAN WAR！！！
NO BATTLE YET！！！
HOSTILITIES IMMINENT！！！
TREMENDOUS EXCITEMENT。
AUSTRIA ARMING！
BERLIN； Tuesday。
No battle has been fought yet。 But hostilities may burst forth any week。
There is tremendous excitement here over news from the front that two
companies of French soldiers are assembling there。
It is rumoured that Austria is armingwhat with； is not known。
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
Second Day
THE EUROPEAN WAR
NO BATTLE YET！
FIGHTING IMMINENT。
AWFUL EXCITEMENT。
RUSSIA SIDES WITH PRUSSIA！
ENGLAND NEUTRAL！！
AUSTRIA NOT ARMING。
BERLIN； Wednesday。
No battle has been fought yet。 However； all thoughtful men feel that the
land may be drenched with blood before the Summer is over。
There is an awful excitement here over the rumour that two companies of
Prussian troops have concentrated on the border。 German confidence
remains unshaken！！
There is news to the effect that Russia espouses the cause of Prussia and
will bring 4；000；000 men to the field。
England proclaims strict neutrality。
The report that Austria is arming needs confirmation。
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
Third Day
THE EUROPEAN WAR
NO BATTLE YET！
BLOODSHED IMMINENT！！
ENORMOUS EXCITEMENT！！
INVASION OF PRUSSIA！！
INVASION OF FRANCE！！
RUSSIA SIDES WITH FRANCE。
ENGLAND STILL NEUTRAL！
FIRING HEARD！
THE EMPEROR TO TAKE COMMAND。
PARIS； Thursday。
No battle has been fought yet。 But Field Marshal McMahon telegraphs thus
to the Emperor：
〃If the Frinch army survoives until Christmas there'll be throuble。
Forninst this fact it would be sagacious if the divil wint the rounds of
his establishment to prepare for the occasion； and tuk the precaution to
warrum up the Prussian depairtment a bit agin the day。
MIKE。〃
There is an enormous state of excitement here over news from the front to
the effect that yesterday France and Prussia were simultaneously invaded
by the two bodies of troops which lately assembled on the border。 Both
armies conducted their invasions secretly and are now hunting around for
each other on opposite sides of the border。
Russia espouses the cause of France。 She will bring 200；000 men to the
field。
England continues to remain neutral。
Firing was heard yesterday in the direction of Blucherberg； and for a
while the excitement was intense。 However the people reflected that the
country in that direction is uninhabitable； and impassable by anything
but birds； they became quiet again。
The Emperor sends his troops to the field with immense enthusiasm。 He
will lead them in person； when they return。
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
Fourth Day
THE EUROPEAN WAR！
NO BATTLE YET！！
