Saturday, June 30, 2018

Rev. Alexander Gibson (1790-1863) Westmeath, Mullingar, Ireland Part 1



Mary Cooper holding a copy of the booklet, A History of Mullingar Presbyterian Church by John W. Lockington. Printed by Topic Newspapers, 2013.
Rev. Alexander Gibson is my 3rd great grandfather, whom I first found in the marriage record of his daughter, Elizabeth Gibson, to Austin Cooper on 14 Jun 1851. His profession is listed as a Presbyterian minister.


Irish Civil Records. Marriage Registration of Austin Cooper & Elizabeth Gibson, 14 June 1851, Church of Mullingar, County Westmeath. Married by Thomas Woodward. 1851, Quarter 1,  Vol. 8, page 269, No. 78. Microfilm #101,329. Family History Library, Salt Lake City: accessed 12 November 2008.
My next source to investigate was the book (which I found at my local Family History Center, San Diego, CA) A History of Congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, 1610-1982. Belfast: Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland. 1982. (Including a book of corrections)

Rev. Gibson was the first minister of the Presbyterian Church of Mullingar, Westmeath, Ireland (licensed in  Letterkenny) & ordained on 19 Mar 1823. He died on 12 June 1862. The book also mentions that Rev. Gibson was suspended on 8 Feb 1858 and resigned. What is this?!  I really have to find out more about this suspension. But, I now need to work on the clues mentioned here.  

I set up a Research Plan to discover the education and career of this Presbyterian minister of Mullingar. I order several microfilms (2011) and wait patiently. Others I find at my local Family History Center. 


These clues include: 

1) Gibson attends the University of Glasgow from 1813 -1817 graduating with a Masters. Again his suspension is mentioned.1


2) In 1833, I find Rev. Gibson mentioned in the Tithe Applotment Books in Mullingar. In 1832, the Irish Tithe Composition Act was passed to collect tithes to be paid to the State Church, the Church of Ireland.2

3) I also look at those "unknown" documents of Richard Griffith’s Valuations of Ireland. I find Rev. A. Gibson mentioned in records dated 1840-1854, including the Field, House & Tenure Books.3


4) By 1858, I find Rev. Gibson listed as a dweller on Main St. with two dwelling houses, a yard, offices & a garden from the Irish Encumbered Estate Rentals. These records cover the years from 1850-1885 listing the value of lands after the famine from the previous decade. The landowners lost income from the death and emigration of their tenants causing many to foreclose their properties. This was a result of an act passed in 1849, that established the Encumbered Estates Court. These records are very detailed including hand-drawn maps and tenant lists. 4



Rentals of encumbered Irish estates, pre-1860. Westmeath, Vol. 78. Microfilm #258,848. Family History Library: Salt Lake City. Accessed 24 Mar 2011.

Rev. Alexander Gibson is listed on Lot 2 in Space 21, which I have circled on Main Street, a block around the corner from the  Presbyterian Meetinghouse, called "Scots Church" on the map, which is space 26, also circled in red. 
In the above Griffin's Valuations House and Field books from 1846 and 1853, the property observations state "ho[use] & offices well built & furnished & in good repair, yard & garden with [a] back gateway. Not a good situation for a shop [drapery] business."3 

Currently, Harbour St. becomes Castle St. and Main St. is now called Pearse St. in this area.

I investigate the current Presbyterian Church of Mullingar. I find the church on Facebook and comment on the page. The minister in 2011, Stephen Lockington, responded by inviting me to attend services. I responded by stating my interest was in the church history and asked what he knew about it.  I also found out that the church property was up for sale as the present congregation was too large for the historic building with a tiny cemetery. 

A booklet about the church history was later published to raise monies for a new property. I ordered several copies. I was excited to see one whole chapter (7 pages) about Rev. Gibson. It gave detailed coverage of Gibson’s 35 years at Mullingar. 

The book mentions some new information about Rev. Gibson for me. He is the eldest son of John Gibson born around 1790, near Raphoe, Co. Donegal.  He was licensed by the Presbytery of Letterkenny in 1820. He helped with the establishment of several local Presbytery congregations in Athlone and Tully. By 1842, complaints were brought to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, about the ‘peculiar circumstances of Mullingar.’  A special visit with the report was made. The church ministered to 40 families,  with three baptisms and seven marriages. There were Sunday schools that met in the church, a local home and one in the local barracks. Gibson was chaplain to the local jail where he visited twice a week and preached on Sundays. (I also read about his jail visits in local newspapers.) Not mentioned in this report, Gibson also ran a school for further secondary education as also seen in newspaper ads at this time period.  What were the complaints of part of the congregation towards Gibson? “He did not visit the congregation, made and circulated lies to the injury of respectable people and performed irregular marriages for which he took payment.” (He performed marriages to couples who were not Presbyterian.) Another major incident was that the Pulpit Bible was mutilated and pages scattered on the floor. This led to their conclusion that the Presbytery Church of Mullingar was under ‘unfavorable if not a distressful state of religious feeling both in minister and people.’ He was admonished; ordered to apologize, visit his members to read and pray and to abstain from irregular marriages. By the time of the Great Famine, Gibson was involved along with other religious leaders to care for those who suffered greatly. The Midland Great Western Railway line came to Mullingar from Dublin in states starting in 1846. This provided work for many during the Famine. It was finished nine years later. Again, in 1857, the Athlone congregation had complaints about the Mullingar congregation not taking a missions collection with them. It was brought to the Presbytery Synod of Dublin. The conclusion stated that  ”the congregation was in a weak position with no prospect of improvement while Gibson remained its minister.” Gibson In the following months continued to disobey his leaderships‘ requests (marriage on the Lord’s Day, ignore several summonses from the Presbytery, interfering with the settlement of a new minister). Thus, his suspension from office of ministry “for deceit and false statements, for violating an agreed arrangement, contumacy, and obstructing the call of a minister” occurred on 8 Feb. 1858.5

So here I have a “black sheep” in my family tree. I was disappointed that no family members were included. Who was the mother of Elizabeth Gibson? Did Elizabeth have any siblings? How did the church politics affect Rev. Gibson’s family?


1. Addison, W. Innes. A Roll of the Graduates of the University of Glasgow from 31st December 1727 to 31st December 1897: with short biographical notes. Glasgow, Scotland: J. MacLehose, 1898. Microfilm #994098. Family History Library: Salt Lake City. Accessed 13 Jul 2013.
2. "Ireland Tithe Applotment Books, 1814-1855," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VX5D-W8H: 11 March 2018), Gibson,; citing Mullingar, Mullingar, Westmeath, Ireland; Public Record Office, Dublin; FHL microfilm 256,671.
3. "Ireland, Valuation Office Books, 1831-1856." Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org: 5 December 2016. From “Griffith's Valuation 1847-1864.” Database and images. Accessed 29 June 2018.
4. Rentals of encumbered Irish estates, pre-1860. Westmeath, Vol. 78. Microfilm #258,848. Family History Library: Salt Lake City. Accessed 24 Mar 2011.


5. Lockington, John W. A History of Mullingar Presbyterian Church. Topic Newspapers: 2013.


Friday, June 15, 2018

John William “Billy” Oswald (1860-1932) Part 8


       Billy was sentenced on July 12. He was returned to Devils Lake on the train with his older brother, Sheriff Wayness & Judge McConnell. A new trial was declined. The judge took the opportunity to talk face to face with Billy about his “manslaughter in first degree.” This has highly affected his family….his parents, his brother, & his uncle... along with the community.

        The words of the judge to Oswald, "You are a young man. I was raised in a state where it is prescribed in the constitution that punishment for certain crimes shall be administered with a view to the reformation of the criminal. There are crimes, however, where there is no hope. In murder and in treason there is no safety to society. Your case may be said to come within this category. Although there is no doubt as to your guilt, yet the verdict of the jury was manslaughter in the first degree, and I am to assume that the verdict is right. Under the law the minimum of punishment for manslaughter in the first degree is four years imprisonment, while the maximum is for life. It remains entirely with the court, and in your case I am seriously perplexed in deciding upon the limit of time. I have thought that you deserve the highest and most severe penalty. Again, I have been told that you were a peaceable citizen when out of liquor. However all this may be, your old parents are brokenhearted, and you alone are to blame. They only words your aged father ever said to me were, “Don’t be too hard on my poor boy,” It was all he could say, and the words are full of meaning to a thoughtful mind. Your mother appeared but once in this courtroom during the trial - when the arguments were made, and there is a sore lesson for you in her bearing on that occasion. Your uncle called upon me in your behalf recently and said that you had conducted yourself properly prior to coming to Dakota, and that they still have hope of reclaiming you to moral paths and walks or rectitude. Your brother has told me that in your boyhood days your demeanor was the reverse of the life you seem to have led the two or three years prior to the commission of this crime; and all this has had a deep impression upon my mind. On the other hand, here is society. The law must be obeyed, and its majesty and dignity must be protected. While I feel a deep sympathy for you and a deeper sympathy for your family, there is but one duty for me to perform. Until now I have not had an opportunity, and will not have it again, to express my opinion of the line of defense sought to be dragged into your case. For this of course you are not to blame, and it is not to be considered in passing sentence. I refer to the theory that McWeeney’s death was the result of heart-burst, and regard the whole of that part of the defense as a fraudulent proceeding. I was heartily disgusted with it at the time, but was not then in a position to say so. It was a bold thing to say, and attempt to prove, that McWeeney died from the effects of heart-burst. You killed McWeeney; that is all there is to it. The heart-burst theory cost the county heavily, and that makes it a double wrong. But as I have said, I do not propose to be influenced by this part of the defense; it is the merest balderdash. Considering all the circumstances, I have concluded that twelve years imprisonment would not be out of keeping with the crime you have committed and the verdict returned by the jury. I therefore sentence you to twelve years confinement in the penitentiary at Bismarck from today noon."1

The newspaper reporter observed Oswald as he was given his sentence. "Oswald stood with bowed head during the delivering of Judge McConnell’s remarks, and when the sentence was pronounced he raised his head sufficient to make a slight bow of thanks to the court. He betrayed no outward feeling throughout the entire proceeding, and when he had reached the depot in company with the sheriff and his deputy his face had lighted up and he frequently smiled as he nodded to acquaintances he passed on the way. Quite a number of friends gathered about him on the platform and he was the recipient of something of an ovation up to the ringing of the locomotive bell. He boarded the smoker, followed by his brother, Sheriff Wagness and Deputy Flumerfelt, the train sped out for the east, and Oswald’s back was turned upon the scene of his “rough pleasantries.” Let us hope that he may emerge from his confinement a better man and a wiser."2

Three years later on 31 Oct. 1889, Oswald was pardoned of his crime by Gov. Arthur Calvin Mallette (1842-1896). 

Governor Arthur Calvin Melette of Dakota Territory and North Dakota. Wikipedia.Public Domain.
Jamestown weekly alert. (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]), 03 Dec. 1891. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042405/1891-12-03/ed-1/seq-4/> page 4, column 3.

Billy Oswald seriously applies the judge's advice & completely turns his life around by settling in a small community in Cascade Co., Montana. He meets Jane "Jennie" M. Cooper & they are married, two years later on 19 November 1891.

1 Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]), 17 July 1886. Chronicling America: Historic       American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88076514/1886-07-17/ed-1/seq-1/>
2 Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]), 17 July 1886. Chronicling America: Historic     American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88076514/1886-07-17/ed-1/seq-1/>

John William “Billy” Oswald (1860-1932) Part 7






Billy Oswald is on trial for the “murder” of Patrick McWeeney. Both the prosecution & defense have given their closing arguments. What will be the jury’s decision?

The Devils Lake Inter-Ocean newspaper continues this story on page 4, column 5. (All of page 1 covers the trial.)

CLOSING THE CASE.

       Col. Werner closed the case for the prosecution. Counsel was glad the case was near an end. The reputation and peace of the community are at stake in this case, and this is to be considered before the welfare of Bill Oswald. It was a duty to proceed with this case. Counsel did not propose to go into theory; he would give facts. The case had been tried upon facts. Council here hinted at some secrets in the case which counsel on the other side would dare not bring to light, and continuing said that when killing is proven the intent follows. Counsel then went into the history of the case. Oswald was in a peaceable community with a huge hunting knife and a murderous revolver.  His friends tried to take them away because they knew he had murder in his heart. Cowan had jerked him on the floor, and this had riled him. The revenge within him is seen in the shot fired within a foot of Davie’s head. His friends then tried to take away his gun; he then announced that he would “ turn himself loose.” Counsel would willingly try this case upon the testimony of the defendant alone. Was surprised that Mr. Erwin did not make a better witness of his client. The prisoner did not even swear he was in great bodily danger. When the body of McWeeney fell in the corner Oswald did not express a word of regret.  He asked for another gun, but Boeing knowing his disposition refused to give him one. He then asked Taylor for a gun. His next act was to fly to that den of iniquity south of the track where he rearmed himself. He expected the swift justice characteristic of a new country. If he is turned loose upon the community there will be many others die in his hands if his future life is to be judged by his past. On the question of premeditation counsel said there could be no doubt on that score. It is not self-defense for a man to thrash another in the face with a pistol and if the assaulted party resent the injury and insult with his fist he is shot down. Regarding the wound, counsel said if the jury didn’t believe that the ball passed through McWeeney’s heart it would be because they had made up their minds to believe otherwise and he would not attempt to change that opinion. It was no less a disgrace if a community of civilized people were to shield a man who had used an epithet for which he (counsel) or the jury would have shot him down.  Talk of me as you please, but keep your foul tongues off my wife or mother. Counsel then referred to the characteristic of the Irish to use their fists instead of weapons in resenting an insult. McWeeney was unarmed while Oswald was a “walking arsenal” ready to shoot down any man who declined to take his vile epitets. Nor was Oswald too drunk to be irresponsible. His remembrance of the affray was remarkably clear. Counsel stated that the body was taken up at the instance and by the permission of Mrs. McWeeney. It was done to clear up the mystery that the defense had attempted to throw about the case. First the defense had endeavored to show that the ball passed into the breast and out the back. This exhumation showed both balls were in the body, and that one has passed through the heart; death was instantaneous. Heart disease made no hold in the heart such as was found in McWeeney’s heart. It was impossible to theorize upon the course of pistol balls, and the introduction of medical testimony for the purpose of setting up a theory only showed the weakness of the defense and proved the heinous character of the crime. The best of physicians had long since decided that the course of a pistol ball was exceedingly uncertain. A bullet went whizzing and spinning through the air and its course depended entirely upon the angle at which it entered the target and the resistance of the target itself. Medical men had never solved the problem and they never would.  

THE CHARGE.

Col. Warner closed his argument at 11:30, whereupon Judge McConnell charged the jury, occupying just an hour. The charge was a very strong one, fully reciting and explaining the law relative to murder and manslaughter, the jury and audience listening with intense interest. At the close of the charge the jury bailiffs were sworn and the twelve men “freighted with so precious a thing as a human life” retired. The judge informed them that he would remain up during the night to receive any communication they might make.

MANSLAUGHTER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

After being out for thirty hours the jury came into court at 6 o’clock yesterday morning with a verdict of manslaughter in the first degree. The jury was then discharged.
At 9 o’clock court reconvened. Mr. Erwin gave notice in arrest of judgment and motion for a new trial, and asked time to prepare the proposed case and for the territory to make its amendments. Counsel moved to make the day of the return July 12 at 5 p.m.
District Attorney Morgan replied that the request seemed reasonable and he would make no objection.
Judge McConnell spoke briefly of the amount of business that had been pressed into so short a space of time. He said there being nothing between possibly a life sentence and a possible error in the proceedings, it was right that the prisoner should have time to present his case to the supreme court. He said if the motion for a new trial was denied --which in all probability it would be--sentence would then (July 12 at 5 p.m.) be pronounced. The court then adjourned until that date.

REMOVED TO GRAND FORKS.

By consent of counsel, Oswald will be taken to Grand Forks this morning. The reason for this is that our jail facilities are limited, and the lock upon the cells is of such a character that in case of fire there might be danger to the prisoner before the bolts could be drawn. There are other sufficient reasons which influenced all parties concerned to make the change. The prisoner, his father and mother and Mr. Erwin go east this morning.


Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]), 08 May 1886. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88076514/1886-05-08/ed-1/seq-4/>









Saturday, June 9, 2018

John William “Billy” Oswald (1860-1932) Part 6



Billy Oswald was on trial for the murder of Patrick McWeeney. The Devils Lake Inter-Ocean newspaper covered in detail the defense for Oswald with questioning the physicians involved with the case including Billy sitting on the stand for his own defense. 



TUESDAY’S PROCEEDINGS.

When court convened on Tuesday morning, Mr. Erwin made a motion that the body of McWeeney be exhumed and that a commission of doctors be appointed to examine the heart and lungs. Col. Warner said that perhaps in fairness to the other side they should state that the body had already been exhumed and that such an examination had already been made. Mr. Erwin after a brief silence, announced that the defense would resist with all its force this ex parte exhumation on the part of the prosecution, made without authority and under the cover of night.
         Dr. W. T. O’Donnell was re-called for examination by the defense. He described the pericardium and tricuspid valve; the weight varies from eight to fourteen pounds. Fatty degeneration has frequently been found the cause of a sudden death, especially in old age.
Col. Warner stated that he did not wish to make any captious objections; but he thought this testimony had gone far enough. He did not think such testimony would enlighten the jury. It only tended to befog their minds.
The witness continuing said he had studied this case very thoroughly since the post mortem. Has tried upon every supposition and in every way in his power to get that bullet into the heart, but could not; he don’t believe it ever went in there at all. Would not swear it made that opening in the heart or not; that could only be determined by submitting the heart to a microscope.
        Mr. Erwin.-- Could the physical exertion of McWeeney striking that blow have been the exciting or approximate cause of his death? 
Witness-- It could. 
Mr. Erwin. --What was the approximate cause of his death?
Witness-- He died from hemorrhage of the heart. It was caused by the opening or rent. 
Mr. Erwin.-- It could have been made by the physical exertion of McWeeney striking the blow? 
Witness-- It could have been brought about by the exciting and physical exertion of striking a blow. 
Mr. Erwin.-- Dr., a man shot in the heart, as a rule, falls on his face, does he not? Witness-- Yes. 
Col. Warner on cross-examination produced a druggist’s glass for measuring liquids, a foot rule and a bullet. The object of this cross-examination was for the purpose of impeaching the testimony of witnesses as to the bullet having passed into the ventricle and not having passed out. The witness said he had been at this opinion for about a month. At the time of the autopsy we were of the opinion that the immediate cause of death was hemorrhage; that that hemorrhage was caused by a gun shot wound and that the ball entered the chest. He had a changed his opinion about a month ago, but did not state it to other doctors, although they live here; except to Dr. Ellis.  If the angles were accounted for a witness would think it probable that the ball entered the heart. The postmortem examination was held on the evening of January 1, 1886, about dusk. Dr. Ruger and Dr. Ellis performed the operation and witness made the observation and minutes. Was partly governed by the remarks of all made at that time. Did not feel the heart or lungs when they were examined. As soon as we came to a conclusion as to the cause of death we stopped. Since then I have change my opinion.

         Wm. M. Swanson-- Is a physician and surgeon. The usual medical examination was gone through with, and one or two lengthy hypothetical questions have been put. The hypothetical questions have been answered by the witness independent of any personal case he knows; and directly upon the supposition therein stated.
        Wm. J. McIntire was now called by the defense and sworn. Is a farmer; was here in town on the night of December 31, 1885; Saw McWeeney in Boeing & Doyle’s saloon about 10 minutes before the shooting; as witness stepped into the saloon Oswald was there; witness took a cigar and walked into the back room; went back into front room to light a cigar, and saw McWeeney come in; saw McWeeney strike Oswald a blow and knock him down; he followed up the blow; it was all done very quick; Oswald fired at McWeenie; witness said to Oswald, “Billy, you ought not to have done that if you could have helped it”; he said, “McWeeney had no business to strike me”; Oswald appeared to be drunk and appeared to be having a jolly good time. Several questions were asked by Mr. Erwin which were ruled out by the court. The witness was not cross-examined by the prosecution. 
       John Taylor called by the defense. Was in the saloon a number of times during the evening; was there about 10 minutes before the shooting. Defense offered to show that witness was thrown over the bar about 15 minutes before the shooting. Not allowed by court. The witness saw Cowan jerk Oswald down by the collar and then take him up to the bar to drink; they were laughing and carrying on and having a good time; went hunting with Oswald a short time ago, and took a hunting knife along.
       Cross-examination by Col. Warner.-- Have been acquainted with defendant for more than a year; we were in partnership; witness was playing faro in the back room.
       Ed Hackett, Jr., called by the defense.  Defense offered to prove that at Johnson’s saloon in this city ten days before the homicide, McWeeney asked this  witness if Oswald had got home, and upon being informed that he had not, that McWeeney told witness that he was going to “do him up.“
        At this point the defense offered to show that McWeeney and another killed a man at Grand Harbor two years ago. Objected to and objection sustained.

       William Doll called and sworn by defense. Was taking in the sights of town on New Year’s Eve. Defense offers to show the entire town was celebrating New Year’s Eve. Objected to and sustained. Saw Oswald and McWeeney in Johnson’s saloon before the shooting; they seem to be friendly; there were several there; and we all drank together. 
       Cross-examination by Mr. McGee-- Were Frank Haney and Chas. Walsh there?
       Answer-- They might have been.  
       Richard Fanning called by the defense. Saw defendant and Oswald in Johnson’s saloon; Doll, Dignan, Johnson and myself were there; saw Oswald and McWeeney there; should judge it was between eight and nine o’clock.
       John F. McGee called and sworn by the defense. The heart and lungs remained in the body till the body was exhumed; never told Dick Maybe the heart and lungs were preserved. 
       John William Oswald, the defendant called on his own behalf. Is about 25 years old and has lived at Devils Lake about four years; knew McWeeney about three years; was at the Benham House for supper; went to Lynch and Gorman’s after supper and drank, and was in Johnson’s saloon after that; and then went to Boeing and Doyle’s; we stayed there and drank;  remembers Cowan  pulled him down to the floor; saw McWeeney come in, and went up to him and said to him “You big Irish s-- of a b---- come and have a drink with me;” had hold of his arm and went up to the bar; he said “don’t call me that; call me anything, but don’t call me that;” waived the pistol before his face (witness indicated the waiving motion) but did not strike; witness was not angry at McWeeney at that time; don’t remember whether he had his revolver in his hand or not memory is indistinct as to all that occurred: when I waived my revolver in McWeeney’s face, he stepped back and hauled off and hit me and knocked me down;  could not tell what it was that struck me; he knocked me quite aways; the blow was a surprise to me; it stunned me; as soon as he knocked me down he came right for me: I thought I was in danger; that is the way it looked to me. In the first place I did not expect any blow from him;  we had been friends; had no distinct idea of what took place from that time; was not angry at Pat before or after he knocked me down; thought I was struck with something else; was wild after the shooting, and did not know from what side I was going to get it; did not know who would give it to me, and I endeavored to get a gun to defend myself; I never formed a determination, in hot blood, or cool blood, to take McWeeney’s life or to kill him; weighed about 180 pounds when I went into prison; McWeeney was a muscular man; once in a while I use the term that I am going to “turn myself loose; “ by which I mean I am going to get drunk; it had no reference to harming anyone: had not drank anything for 17 or 18 days before that; recollect having out a hunting knife which I borrowed from McTaggart; he asked me to return it; I put it in my pocket that morning, but did not seen him during the day; did not expect to have a collision with McWeeney or anyone else; if the pistol came in contact with McWeeney’s face was by accident; if I had intended to strike him I would have done differently.
       Cross-examination by Col. Warner. Was acquainted with the use of firearms and knew the fact of firing them at a person.
       Question-Did you ever shoot anyone else? Objected to, objection sustained. 

This closed all the testimony except 
that of the physicians.

            Dr. H. M. Wheeler was called and sworn on the part of the defense. Is a physician and surgeon and lives in Grand Forks; was called to attend Patrick McWeeney in the county jail at Grand Forks; treated him for intermittent fever; he was fleshy then, but was considerable emaciated when he left the jail. Witness then described and explained various causes of heart trouble. When men left a heavyweight it dams back the blood and causes a pressure on the walls of the heart; if the lungs were distended with air a ball would enter the right ventricle nearer the right margin than the left, a little below the nipple. It is impossible for a ball to enter the chest wall as indicated, perpendicular to the surface, and enter the heart.
        Cross-examination by Mr. McGee. Witness views are based entirely upon the correctness of the statements going to make up the hypothetical question.
         Dr. A. J. Smith called by prosecution. Graduated at college of physicians and surgeons at Baltimore Md.; knew McWeeney by sight; was present last night and the postmortem examination held on the remains. This testimony objected to by the defense on the ground that it is immaterial and irrelevant and ex parte and made by stealth and fraud perpetrated under cover of the night; that the remains were taken up without the presence of an officer. Objection overruled. Witness stated they found a wound in the gluteal region of the back; it was a wound of entrance; we traced it and found a leaden ball; traced it with a catheter; found a wound on the left hip; found wound on the breast; the heart has been cut open and we found a gunshot wound in the heart; we traced the ball which passed into the chest; traced it and found it in the back at the right of the spinal column, a little above the point of entrance in front.
       Cross-examination by Mr. Erwin. Dr. Krueger, Dr. Ellis and Dr. Camp were present at the last postmortem examination; also Messrs, Morgan, Hearst and BeU witness did not disinter the body; the coffin was open, but the body was in it; body was not much decomposed but in a pretty good state of preservation; it did not smell very bad;  the body was sewed up; the heart and lungs were in the thoracic cavity; they were not in the normal position, but were there; felt the ball in the back by feeling for it, and then cut down to it; we traced it from the thoracic cavity.

Adjourned to Wednesday morning.

MORE EXPERT TESTIMONY.



         Court met at 8:30 a. m., on Wednesday morning, and the cross-examination of Dr. A. J. Smith was continued by Mr. Erwin. The heart and lungs were removed from the thoracic cavity; we examined the inner portion carefully; found nothing and then turned the body over; we inserted the probe in the wound from behind, followed the course of the wound and found a ball in the back about two and a half inches to the right of the spinal column. Witness was requested by District Attorney Morgan to meet about 10 o’clock; The request was made about an hour before hand. The heart and lungs were not put back into the body; I have seen them in the possession of Dr. Ellis.
       M. C. Camp was called by the prosecution and sworn. Is a physician and surgeon; has been practicing about thirteen years; saw McWeeney’s remains at his former residence the night before last. Drs. Ruger, Ellis and Smith and Messrs. Bill, Hearst and one or two others were present. The thoracic cavity was opened by Dr. Ellis and witness. We found a wound on the back in the gluteal region; followed it up and found a leaden bullet; we found a superficial wound on the left itium; found a wound in the anterior wall of the thorax; traced it and found a ball in the back about four to six inches higher than the opening of the wound in the front; found a rib fractured; a rib at the back was fractured; this wound was a mortal wound. 

       Mr. Erwin here offered a propound the same questions to the witness in regard to the secrecy and stealth of the last postmortem examination. Overruled. 
       W. J. Hurst re-called by the prosecution. Is the undertaker who took charge of the remains of McWeeney he assisted in their disinterment; found the outside box, the coffin and remains as he had buried them in January; was requested to exhume the body by John J. Bell.
       Dr. O. C. Ellis was re-called by the prosecution. Was present at the first and last postmortem examination on the body of McWeeney; the remains were apparently in the same condition the night before last as when the first postmortem was held; found a wound in the right gluteal region; followed  it up with the probe and found a bullet near the inside of the hip; found a superficial wound on the left hip; examined the wound on the anterior wall of the thorax; followed it up and found a bullet in the back, imbedded in a muscle; in passing into the posterior wall of the thorax It fractured or splintered a rib: the ball from the chest wound went through the tissue, the heart, the right ventricle the pulmonary artery and into the back between the seventh and eighth dorsal vertebra;  that the ball entered in front just below the sixth rib, as testified to in the direct examination, as a mistake; Dr. Ruger and myself did the cutting and made the examination, and Dr. O’Donnell made the notes; from the examination first name we could not on account of darkness and poor facilities see a rupture in the pulmonary artery; dipped out two or three pints of blood at the first examination; went the first time at the invitation of Dr. O’Donnell who used the witness’ instruments; in witness’ opinion the wound in the chest was fatal.
       Cross-examination by Mr. Erwin--The heart and lungs were not put back in the body the night before last.
       Re-direct examination--Cannot tell how the mistake occurred as to the location of entrance of wound and chest; McWeeney’s heart was healthy.
       Dr. H. H. Ruger was called by prosecution. Assisted at the postmortem on McWeeney the night before last; Dr. Ellis and witness sewed up the remains after the first examination; there was no indication of the remains having been tampered with; witness shown a bullet and asked if it is the bullet found in the gluteal region, and says it is; this was a wound of entrance; when the examination was commenced we cut the stitches and checked out the heart and lungs; we cleared out the cavity and searched for the ball; it was found in the back; the remains were turned over and an examination made from the exterior of the back; the ball entered in front between the fifth and sixth ribs, entered the heart and went out through the pulmonary artery into the back; after the pericardium was opened, at the first examination, the blood flowed out; the heart was healthy and without disease; It was red; there was a rib in the back fractured; the wound where the bullet passed in front was necessarily fatal.

        Cross-examination by Mr. Irwin--The wound in the back was about three inches higher than in front where the ball entered. The evidence heretofore given as to entrance of the ball and the chest was based on the correctness of the notes taken at the examination.

The prosecution then announced that it rested their case.

       W. W. Wishart, the justice before whom the preliminary examination took place, was called and testified that the printed copy of the evidence taken at that examination was compared with the original shorthand notes. The printed copy was then accepted as correct by both sides.
       Mr. Erwin here read from the preliminary testimony of various witnesses and compared it with the evidence of the same witnesses at the trial, counsel on both sides going through and making the points of inconsistency. Mr. Erwin’s object was to build up a basis upon which his theory of self-defense should rest. 
       Dr. Wheeler recalled by the defense. Mr. Erwin here stripped himself to the belt for the purpose of showing marks previously made upon his body by the witness to illustrate the course of the ball. According to the diagram upon Mr. Erwin’s breast the witness stated that a ball fired at an angle of 40° upward and backward would miss the heart.
       Dr. Swanson recalled by the defense, and testified that a ball fired at a very short range upward and passing just below the fifth rib would hit the heart.
       Dr. O’Donnell recalled. He testified that a ball entering as described would simply graze the heart. No such wound could be made as indicated by the testimony if fired as described. Witness stated that he was stronger in the belief than ever that the ball never entered McWeeey’s heart.

Both sides then rested their case.

        At the close of the case the prosecution moved the court to take the case from the jury except as to the grade of crime, whether it be murder or manslaughter in the first degree. Some discussion arose as to the time at which this motion should be taken up, and it was finally decided that the jury withdraw and that the attorneys enter immediately upon the discussion of it. The attorneys brought in their law books and Mr. McGee commenced the argument of the motion. The position taken by the prosecution is that the evidence tends to show that there is nothing in it to justify the shooting. It was the defendant’s own unlawful at which brought on the attack from McWeeney. The first assault was made by Oswald. Attention was then called to the definition of the word “assault” and the definition of the word “willfully.”
        The prosecution then referred to a case (Stoffer vs. The State, 15, Ohio Stat., 47) which holds that while the party who first commences the malicious assault continues in the combat and does not put into exercise the duty of withdrawing from the place, although he may be so fiercely pressed that he cannot retreat or is thrown upon the ground, or driven to the wall, he cannot justify taking the life of his adversary, however necessary it way be to save his own, and must be deemed to have brought upon himself the necessity of killing his fellowman. Reference was then made to the Gay case reported in the Dakota reports in which it was held that it is proper to instruct the jury that evidence which only tends to reduce the grade of the offense is not to be considered by them as tending to excuse or justify the killing; and that there being no evidence tending to excuse or justify the killing, it is not error to instruct the jury that “if you regard the oaths you have taken, your verdict must be murder or manslaughter.”
         Mr. Erwin then addressed the court and said that homicide in this territory was either justifiable or excusable. There is no excusable homicide in this case. In the Gay case cited by the prosecution justifiable homicide did not enter into it. Mr. Erwin contended that if there was a feather’s weight of evidence from a witness or from the defendant himself going to show that there was the least justification it should be left with the jury.
       The court here stated that he was satisfied that under the definition given by our statute that there was no excusable homicide in this case. The question is whether the committing of a misdemeanor takes from him the right to plead justifiable homicide. The defendant stated that if he hit McWeeney in the face, it was done by accident and in fun. Can the court take notice of such fun as that mentioned by the defendant when he says it was all done in fun? Suppose McWeeney had shot Oswald and killed him, would that be homicide?
       Mr. Erwin claimed that he was not bound to take the testimony alone of the defendant. It is the disputed facts, and not the persons who dispute them. In a criminal case where there is one scintilla of evidence tending to prove a fact, the defendant is entitled to a trial by jury of his peers. It would be a great error for the court to take this case from the jury. The facts in the Stoffer case were not the same as in this. In the Stoffer case the defendant met the deceased on the street and attacked him and then intended to kill him, but he changed his mind and retreated. He was pursued by the deceased and he then turned and killed him. The defendant pleaded justifiable homicide and the court sat down upon him as it should.
        At the conclusion of the argument the court ordered the jury to be brought in; and stated that counsel should proceed with the arguments, and that if he decided to do so he would take the same from the jury at the proper time.
Mr. McGee then commenced the first of the closing arguments to the jury. He said he had come now to the last duty he had to perform in this case. He characterized  it as a most brutal murder; recited the story of it in a general way; and commented freely upon the testimony. Said the witness Dr. O’Donnell had been of the same opinion as Drs. Ellis and Ruger, who were his associates in the first autopsy, until about a month ago, when he suddenly changed his mind as to the primary cause of death, that is that the bullet did not penetrate the heart, but passed under it towards the back and down into the right gluteal region and passed out at the wound at the back. He charged that Dr. O’Donnell has been bought by the defense and is to receive $25 per day of the defendant’s money. He claimed that an example should be made of the defendant, not because it was Oswald, but because the law should be upheld and such a crime should be punished. 
        Mr. McGee was followed by Judge J. F. O’Brien who contend that the jury was not here for the purpose of making an example, but of deciding whether or not the defendant was guilty of the charge set forth in the indictment. The jury must consider only the evidence before them and decide whether or not the defendant was justified in his act. He claimed that the defendant was simply celebrating the day, which was the occasion of an old settlers’ reunion; and that it was not a very unusual thing for the citizens to celebrate in this way. He stated that his theory of the affair was that the first cause of the trouble arose from the response made by McWeeney; and that it was false pride on Patrick McWeeney’s part. You will have to decide whether death resulted from the pistol shot, or whether it was not from disease.
       Mr. Irwin then made the closing argument on the part of the defense. He commenced by thanking the court for the way in which courtesy had been extended. He invoked heaven to guide him in placing before the jury the facts and facilities for the purpose of doing justice to his client, and not for the purpose of the fogging the minds of the jurors. The law presumes a man to be innocent until he’s proven guilty; and it is a duty of the prosecution to prove exactly and in every particular each obligation mentioned in the indictment. It is the man well acquainted with the science of medicine we entrust our sick wives and children. I give you my word of honor as a gentleman that before I came into this case I did not know what the ascending and descending vena cava were. Tell me why the Almighty God could not have burst the wall of the heart of Patrick McWeeney. The prosecution told you that the ball which entered the chest went in perpendicularly; they have not changed that. With jingled, heeled-bound laughter and boyish enthusiasm described to you a pistol held in a hand at an angle of forty-five degrees. If that ball had penetrated the heart the blood would have spurted out of McWeeney’s mouth; but we dare not touch open it in the hearing of the prosecution, else Daniel Blue would have come in and sworn that it did. But Daniel Blue’s mouth is now closed. Mr. Erwin charged that at one time Daniel Blue would tell one story, and at another time another story; and then dig in the night time for new facts. The evidence shows that death was a result of hemorrhage, caused by a bursting of the walls which was not caused by a pistol shot. The other branch of this defense was willingly placed at the disposition of the jury’s manhood and reason. In some instances a man is justified in taking life, and I will give you an example of it. If I draw my pistol from my pocket and say “Elliot I am going to shoot you,” and I point the pistol at you and snap it, but before it goes off you apprehend that I am going to shoot you and you quickly take my life, what will be the result? If you believed you were in great bodily danger, as you must have been, you would have been justified in killing me. A saloon is no place for man to go with their characters buttoned up under their coats. It is where men meet men. It is where they go to exchange courtesy and drink and have a good time. If you knew Patsy McWeeney you know that he knew what a pistol was. He took advantage of the first offer to have a fight with a man with a pistol in his hand. Your community can gain nothing by stringing up a survivor of an affair of this kind. We have resorted to no means to delay an investigation of this matter, and gentlemen of the jury, we have no fear of being disappointed. The people of the community have no fear of disappointment. We want your manly consideration of this matter. I pray you defend the institutions of your country. Thanking the jury on behalf of the defendant for their attention to the entire presentation of the case by the prosecution and defense, and commending them to the learned counsel who would follow him. He closed.

Devils Lake Inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]), 8 May 1886. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. page 1. columns 4-6.