cer's, I mai at ttwir huase on tho Wed tie.
day spoken of, breakteast 1 went in
to Mr. M's. bingletuu had nut returned at
the time 1 ii cut in, 1 went home again,
before lung some of them cause after me,
I went in again, when 1 K ent in Single
ton's mother had hold of him un the stairs,
he was going up stairs, he told nue lie was
going to kill his sister,/ taught hold of Will
myself, and called liar assistance, one o 0
two gentlemen Caine and through our force
we gut him down, Mrs. Mercer asked me
in the kitchen as she was going to speak
to Singleton, 1 went in with her, in a few
minutes he made a second attempt to go,
up, I again caught hold of him, he said he'
would kill her, that she had ruined and
disgraced the family, I kept hold if him,
there were many gentlemen present, they ,
assisted and we got him into the parlour ,
again, he cried and went on very much'
about the disgrace brought on his father
and mother, lie went in the trout parlour,
and the gentlemen followed him, he ex
pressed himself much about killing his sis
ter, we all kept around him to prevent his
going up, nuthing peculiar about his face
ut that time, the gentlemen got him a lit
tle pacified, and I went home, they wish
ed to send for William Band to come
down, 1 went myself fur him, he is a neph
ew of Mr...bercer's, thought he could do
something with Singleton, when 1 went
again Mr. Baird, Singleton, and Mrs.
Quinn were in the back room, I took my
seat alongside of Singleton, two gentles
mu had been sent after Heberton, to pac
ify Singleton they said they would bring
lam dead or alive, Mr. Baird went out of
the room, every once in a while he was
impatient to see Heberton, he wanted to \
go, I said no, they'll bring him, and I have)
a cowskin,and then you can give it to him,,
tie made no answer then, some time after
lie turned his face upon me, and when /'
saw it, /was frightened at his looks, his
features were entirely changed to me, his
face was streaked with red and white
stripes, his eyes looked as they would
come out of his head, he look 4 wild, 1
was alarmed, 1 was so afraid of him, 1
was going into the kitchen; Mrs. Quinn
said don't be afraid, for we have taken
his weapons from him, we talked to keep
him quiet until a gentleman came to take
him away, I have seen two insane persons,
Seen them often, they are friends of mine,
I never saw them look so wild as Singles
ton did, they are decidedly insane, his
eyes had the saute expression as one of
them, a young lady she is who went crazy,
I told him about the cowskin to pacify
him, and because 1 would have liked to
have seen Singleton cowskin lieberton.
Cross examined—My husband, Win.
Shankland, is a sea captain—no person
lives in my house but my own lentils—
Miss Holland lives with ins, she is "my
Sister.
The Rev, Azariah Pryor, sworn —lam ,
a minister of the gospel, belong to the ,
Protestant Episcopal Church, Sarah went ,
to school to me, her character was uni•
formly good, in every particular, she com
menced school in the fall of 1841 and left ,
in the fall of 1842, she was in a class of
her own age, and was during that time
under my immediate care as a scholar—
] knew Singleton, met him frequently,
always recognized and spoke to me, 1
found him an tittelligcot rut, th, / met him
tin Friday, the 10th, the ;lay of this occur
rence, ou two occasions, the first time was
about 9 in the morning, 1 stopped with a
view of speaking to him, stopped at Front
and Queen street, / had heard of the fam
ily difficulty, he Caine up, saw me, stood
a moment with his eves oh the ground,
suddenly turned and went the way lie
came, the second time was in the after•
noon, about 2 o'clock, in Catherine above
Third street, I looked at him, to catch his
eye, /wished to speak with him, but he
passed right by tile, without speaking,
which he never had done before, /observed
a peculiar wildness in his appearance, and
thatihe was remarkably hut t ied in his move-
Inents;l observed immediately to nit wits,
un in return home, that he had a wild and
frantic appearance, Sarah's mind is not
strong, her unileratanding is rather weak,
she was so modest and retiring a child,
that Mrs Pryor and myself used to set he r
up as an example to others for good con
duct, her disposition is confiding, it is a
family trait, I think.
Cross examined•—l reside at No. 520
south Front street, have a church in
Southwark, rector of a newly formed
chard), the church of the Messiah.
William M. Baird, sworn-1 was at
Mr. Mercer's on the Bth of February,
Mrs. bhankland sent in to say office for
toe to go down to Mercer's, I went and
found him in an agitated state, he took me
Into the yard with him, he detailed to me
the dishonor of his sister, her having told
him herself, asked my advice as to what
was best to be done, in this conversation
he cursed arid swore all the time, I advis
ed him to wait until his father and brother
in-law returned from the Alderman's
Office, where the hearing was, then he
would known how to act, we went back
into the house, Singleton threw himself
upon a chair, passed his hands into his
hair, would jump up, walk about, utter
some curse or orther, seat himself again,
his father and brother-in-l a w returned,
and announced that the law would not
take hold of lieberton, at this juncture he
became hectic, perfectly furious, raved
about the room, insisted upon going out,
intercepted by myself and several others,
made repeated efforts to get out, his con.,
dition was such that I advised the tuth er ,
to have him taken care of—several gentle
then volunteered to take charge of him•
they and he left the house, he used hurt id
oaths to his father and brother-in-law, to
tar self, to all, tt ties out his habit.
Cross examined-1 reside at No. 11) -
I.iitie. street, No. 46 south Wharves ii my
place ot business, am a commission trier
chant ; in the vard my advice was, when
hie lather and brother-in law returned,
then, to put on his manliness, and act as
the case showed i 1 know the Reverend
Mr. Lo ughridge, 1 saw him in the house;
by being perfectly furious, 1 mean that
Singleton cursed his father, Mr. Quinn,
;'and all that opposed him, by incoherent, 1
; mean short, abrupt, beoken, - unmeaning
expressions—his father implored him to bel
quiet, and Singleton told him to " go to
I 11-II ;" the father and brother-in-law an
nounced that they had proposed marriage
I to Heberton, and he had rejected it in the
, must uncourteous manner, Singletotris a
relation of mine, have known him since
childhood.
Adam Johnston, sworn--I live at 467 lie got upon the front, and they started ;
Race street, 1 know Sarah Mercer, 1 it is a part of toy duty to watch people,
became acquainted with her by her atten- that was one rrikholl why I did watch him,
ding the Church and the Sabbath School and another, was there were stolen goods
'of which I was superintendent ; she was about, because of the trunks being there.
very modest, chaste, mild, as much so as !do not believe he was a reasonable man,
any female I ever knew, confiding and or had the use of reason at that time.—
unsuspicious. (t itness gives meetly reasons based upon
Cross examined—Sarah ceased atten- Mr. Mercer's actions as reported above.)
ding Sunday School when we sold the Cross examined-4 have ev ry reason
church at sth and Gaskill street, which to believe this is the man, lie louks paler
broke up our school lot about a year, she that is the titan (alter close sere tiny—M r.
was better behaved than any young lady Mercer standing) I have seen persims
I ever knew of her age, she attended the wild in liquor, but I stood close to him, wl
church since we have built it at 12th and that lie was clear, I observed hint well,
Lombard street, never heard a word smelt his breath, no taint ef liquor, ac•
against her, have always heard she was a tiuns entirely different from Omar caused ,
very innocent girl: by drunkenness, I have never stated that
Charles Paynter, sworn—l reside at I believed Ida actions were caused by in
-ll,' German street, 1 saw Singleton at his toxication, l have never said that he was
lather's house on the Wednesday spoken either crazy or drunk; I wetit to Captain
of, in the morning, lie was greatly agitated, Bennett and told him at the watch house,
I think he had a pistol in each hand, came brought him on the ground ; then Mr.
lup to me, and said II eberton hail ruined Mercer was gone.
his sister, 1 asked him how lie knew, said Jacob Bennett, sworn—l am one of the
she told him so ; he wanted very badly all Captains of the City Watch; I saw Sin•
the time to get out ut the front door, say
gletnii Mercer about 11 o'clock on the
ing lie would shoot any man that dive to night before the occurrence in an Oys,',,e
stop
lien,
I said you can Shout ine if you Cellar under the Adelphi Builtlin;,„,rms
below Walnut ; I went in:o 't . ne cella' in
like, but you can't go out tit the duo in .
• the condition you are ; I got uric consequence of informs,
'tm hum watch
from his hand and got him into the pal tor,
Mercer was slain.
man Davis ;
ti t acif yment 10 ,
twin, lie
g being ientlemen n such a state
to of at a table ; I
',traced at him a moment; he ;
exciteo offired
*" got op '.ethe act of folding a letter in a
i
and bring Ilebertun—nu body with lion
hurried minuet; lie came toward, me and
just then but Mr. Lougbiitlge and 1, lie 'said you WAS with me last night at the
appeared anxious to get out saying that ca rd
of Sixth and Chesnut street ; I re-1
they knew very well liebertun would not lojea "no, you are mistaken ;" he intitte •
come; Mr. Cougbridge tried to teasonidiately turned mind, called far a wafer
with him, (corroborated Mr. Lougbridge's and nose paper;
at lite same, time Neville
testimony.) A' l .l°L" . "edb bt you shall be paid for all 1 have ;" sat
AFTZIIIIOON SINSION. 'down again ; commenced "writing ; looked
' On the openingol the Mist, Mr. Browne lat me again ; got up and came towards
submitted tile next question which it was me; repeated you was with me last night
proposed to ask the witness ; and for the at Sixth and Chestnut street ; a gentle
convenience of all concerned. the same man elongeitle of me who knew hint in
was committed to writing. It is as follows: traduced me to him ; told him my-name
" From the condutt and actions of the and office ; lie then went back to the ta
;defendant which you have stated, and ble ; he set down, and again repeated iliat
lwhat you observed at that time, do you which he twice before said to me ; the
not think that the prisoner had nut the gentleman again told hint who 1 was; lie
use of his reason 1" then asked nie to retire to a distant part of
The question (tithe admissability of this die cellar with him ; atd conuuence,l t.'ll
- was argued at length. The ing me of the disgrace of his sister, the
debate was opened by Thames P. Curti. narration appeared very painful to hint
ter, EN., on the part of the State. Ile and I told hits I was acquainted v ith the
was replied to by William N. Jeffers, Esq. facts ; he placed both hands upon my
fur the defence. Abraham Browning, shoulders and said his sister, his father,
Esq., followed on the same bide. The his mother, were all crazy, my family is
lion. George P. Mullieon, on the part of i ruined ; I atn the only one left to redress
the State, clued the argument. their wrongs; that lleberton hail dune
Judge Elmer delivered the opinion of this thing; a prosecution tel been brought
the court, deciding that die question against IMO and he %vas attempting to es
should be put. cape, his trunks are now on the epposite
The defence then called, side of the street at a barber's shop; his
Charles Punter, resumed-4 do not manner became very wild; his counien•
think that he had the perfect use of his ance was hagg,a,il; there was something
reason at the time I have spoken of. about him 1 cannot at all describe; I left
Cross examineti--/ was with Singleton him and went to the gentleman toe o had
the Wednesday morning from six o'clock introduced him to me; said to hint the
until his father and brothersinslaw came man is nut in his senses, you must try and
Irwin the Alderman's office; the first I saw get him home ; the young man with him
of a pistol was when he came down stairs said they hail been trying to get lien home
with two in his hands--1 took it from him; all day ; that lie had nut been hone since
then I thought he had not the use of his the tnurniug previous; 1 s .id if per wish
reason, filth erred it from the fact of his to get him home, I can sow. do that for
actions being so different from usual, you ;he said no, don't make use of ,nv
strange, wild, and violent towards ire; violence; if you du lie will hlitiot us ; * I
his teeth clenched, he frowned, showed then asked is he armed ; if so, 1 will arrest
great passion; I stopped him and lie told him at any rate; the answer was, I doe'.
me he would shoot any man that preven- know that he is; I then said 1 would try
ted hem from going out of the door; (de- and persuade him to go thence; / did sit;
tails conduct oldie prisoner as in chief, ;) he said no, he would never go home till he
he would become pacified:for the space of knew where eberton had guile to, that
five minutes or SO and then be violent his home was destroyed ;he said he knew
again; during these short periods when he couldn't go without Ibis trunks and he,
he was pacified I am of the opinion he was deter brined to watch them, about that
was nut ui the possession aright reason. time a black man cattle down ; there was.
I think so because of his jumping up sod- some laths stir, and the tonversation was
denly without cause, I was then satisfied stopped; 1 aghin asked him to gn home;
of it and I now think he had not the use told him 1 would take his place, anti
of his reason. watch the trunks, if they attempted 10
Julin 0. Davis, sworn-1 live back of take the trunka away I would intonsi,
44 Spruce street, lam one of the Night lie said he lived tut) far oft', I cnulit
mitt: io-
Police of city, 1 saw the young man fortu him in time, I found it was vain to
at the bar at the S. %V. corner of Filth and attempt to get him to et, humor, si e tiette n a
Walnut, it was about 20 minutes of ten had been sett' ithuut lliotidgmel's. and 7
nn the Thursdav night before the occur- said go there, that is nearer, anti I can
rence; I saw three or four cab drivers send you the information, 1 think it
close by the door of my box, the young man was about that time I.e culled me again
was standing at the corner, and there was apart, and again told me his story,l again
a black man with some trunks on his bar- told Into to go to Bloinlgood's, fake a
row j think ; Mr. Mercer came over to night's rest, and he would feel bitter in
me and asked me if 1 was on duty, I told the morning —after a good 'teal of persua
him I was, he said /elmd want you di- sion, he said If you will pledge Ise your
rectly, he appeared to be very wild, so word end 11.,n0r as a gentleman (bait you
that I looked at hen rend thought there will not permit those trunks to leate that
was boinething, wrong-:omit hint, his eves barber's shop, I will go to Bloodguotla ;
were very wild and flying. wtoretteck tiro t gave him that pledge; that relieved him
lion, he ran *town Filth sneer, teen return very much, and lie said in a livelitt inane
ne.l and asked me if I had ink and paper, nee than he Lad shown before, 4 '
I told him Iliad not, 1 then went with him boys, let's take a drink; " l di
to allot her corner, from the N. %V, to the tiro king, and told he h;.11 better nu
S. IV. corner , after we got there, he Paid himself ; he in•ieteil upon it t his
I want you to go to Capt. somebody and again became violent and wild ; I
get $25, tell him to *end it to somebody, the best way to• calm lino was to
some names he mentioned, I don't remelt'. him in his request, he invited two
ber tathernatne, neither name was Mercer, and the four of us went up to the
he said the person whose name he first bottle of ale was drawn for Mr. M
mentioned lived in Pine somewhere near he put the glees of ale to his lips;
end tti cc!, 1 told him I lush out atletid ,due n the glans of ale-‘ittiout tan
to that, as it was of A private nature; 1
said I would attend to a else of theft\ or
any thing like it, he said it Was suck a
case, he was then very wild, his eyes nil.
ling, flying in every dirletion, he sa id
there was a man running away wit his,
sister, those words woe uttered w
very; he viewed the street in every direc
tion, his head and eyes turning ways;
then he said there's some of my acquaint
ance, and away he started from me,
looked after him, and could see no person
else ; 1 saw a man and woman at the
northwest corner, going up the street ;
~ Mercer halted among the cab men, he then
!returned down, and passed rather below
Walnut street, in Filth ; lie then ran
lback and called fur a cab mall, and order
:;ed the cab man to drive to the Walnut
!street House as fast as ever he could, and
and said let us eat some oysters; 1 told
him I would nut; he insisted ; said lie had.
no: eaten any thing since this tiftYrning be
fore; three fried oystere were put on a
plate for him, w hich be c*t up in several
pieces; without touching either the oys•
ters ur the ale, he Wok me apart to tell me
the store of his wrongs ; I again told him
about Bloodgootra ; Ire scented to have
forgotten nay pledge ; I repeated it ; he
I said, if I would watch the trunks, and riot
let them go*, it hoat giving the information,
he would pay use any antouot ; he said
I'm not of age myself, but I'll pledge my
word to you it shall be complied with;
I told hit. 110 pay would be required ; to
go to Bloodgood's, get a night's rest, and
leave the trunks to me ; after a good deal
of persuasion, by the aid of his friends, and
alter exacting a pledge of me repeatedly,
I got him into a cub and down to Blood
' good's ; I saw no more of him till I saw
I him here yesterday ; I was several times
near enough to take his breath ; not the
slightest appearance of liquor about him.
Cross Examined—Davis the watchman,
came and told me that there was a young
man in sth at. behaving in such a strange
manner that he did not know what to
make ol it ; (detailed his conversation
with Davis) I was in bed at my station
house when Davis came for roe.
Pollowing this, arose a discussion in re
gard to the vdoussion uncertain tertimony,
which lasted until the Court adjourned.
[The reporter has en.' eavored to omit
every remark that would be oll'ensive in
this day's proceedings, as he did in tin ,
reports which appeared in the proceedings
of the days previous. Ile re',', s rets that
owing to the lateness of th , ,. Kour which
he teturned to the city oe;:fharsdav night,
with notes of the cage; lie was so much
hurried as to sull'et portion of the testi•
ffi t y rar t?; cores
his scrutiny, and appear
toills own intention, and especi
agiTinst the positive injunction of the
Editor, touching the details of the pro•
c fi o u n
ceedings.]
From the U. S. Gazette of the :,rd April.
Capt. Bennett—cross examination re
sumed—One of the gentlemen in the eel
lar with us was ;Mr. Hector Tindiol, 1
think; Mr. Mercer did not say what he
was going to do With Mr. Hebermo ; lie
said a suit had been commenced for Se.
duction, Ileberton wished to get out of the
way, and he was determined to know
where he went to; 1 have stated the sub;
stance of ill Davis told toe; after I got
Merur off to liiiiidgood's Davis said the
young man was not right; I don't know
which of the gentlemen it was, perhaps•
both, that said in the oyster cellar titer'
Ler would shoot if I used violence, in the
its stet. cellar; /did not arrest Into on sus
picion of being armed because he was in
toe hands of hi, friends; I dim: know of
tov knowledge that 3lr. M. went to
Binoiltiood's; the two gentlemen got hint
unto the cab and got in them-rives and
they were driven away.
Alex. knclonlenk, sworn--/ saw Sin
gleton,Mercer On the Friday of the occur
rence; I saw him on the North West
corner of Shipper' and Fourth st,eet, it
was between 3 and 4 in the afternoon;
observed his manner some time before /
came up to him—/ saw him stop and walk
Imchwatils and forwards, lie appeared
greatly excited before I came up to him—
/approached him and shook hands with
him —I was going to address him upon the
state of his family, to hear how his father
and 'outlier were—his trimmer being so
singular, his face and eyes so different.
from what they kid been, his eyes rolling
like a crazy man, that I was at a loss to
know how to address him—one side of his
face was blanched, the other side flushed,
/did not know what to say—/ felt agita
, ted myself—/ tried to lead him into some
tiillingconsersatiun, in hopes of some one
, passing that svould t-11 the family in order
that lie might be taken home—no person
came along that /knew, there were few in
the streets—/ knew he InAl some busi
ness relative to a bon of mine—/ thought
to fix his attention by speaking to hint—/
found the answers he made wilt wild and
strange; he spoke of men that he knew
nothing of--/ was still anxious to get him
taken care of ; he went a few steps with
me, he turned abruptly from me, 1 left,
him there, 1 went to the market to see if /
could see some one to take care of
when I got to the corner again flint nil him,
gone, I saw no more of him that day, his,
whole personal appearanCe was very re
kable, I had know him from his loran
ry I believe he had not the use of his
leitSon.
Cross examined—l think he was look
tog for some person: have known and
visited the family ; ou business; I was.
master of a vessel; last of the brig II arri
et last voyage I made was to Jantacia;,
I have seen crazy men; I thought of a
promise he had made to get my son a sit
uation ; he said he would get it without,
any doubt; I said my son wculd go back
to his old situation; he said he knew all
those parties, and my son could not geld
that situation; I then observed to tint
Mercer you must be out of your head or
mad ; he said I can fix tinhat situation fUr,
you and Inns; he spoke of no other men;
I know he did not know them because
they were out of his line of business alto
gether ; I have repeatedly seen Mr. Sin- .
gleton Mercer ; l sailed in his father's
vessel ; I belive he had not the use of his
reason from his appearance and cativo',
sation.
' come
dined
drink
found
)otoor'
there
ar ; A
rcer ;
.; i
%ll:
Henry Kelly, affirmed- live in Union
greet, No. 2 , Southwark ; am a ship car•
petite'. ; I know Singleton ; was at the
liotr,•e on ‘Vetluestlay the 13111 at about ten
o'clock; ( , :orrobora tea pre% hats itnessea
to tv .
tt:t nrto .11
derman Mitchel's office ; when I atrived
at the office the lather of Mr. Singletoo
Mercer was there and lawyer Hanna too;
alter waiting a few tooniehts Mr. Vandyke
;and Mr. lleberton came in ; I don't know,
(that they came in together;. Quinn,
the brother-in-law was there too; 1 went
back to the house ; Mr. 'Thomas Mercer
; and Mr. Quinn went back with me; (again
corroborates previous witnesses as to Mr.
Singletori Mercer's conduct,) I left the
:house about 12 o'clock ; he was in the
'condition 1 have described when I left;
do nut believe he lied the use of his reason.
Cross examined--I went first to the
'house about ten o'clock; he was more wild
at 12 than he had been at 10 o'clock ; the
nly time he left the room while 1 was
there was when he went for the pistols;
this took place during my first visit ; the
statement made to him on the return from
the office 1 don't know; I understood Alr.
Minna was at the office as the counsel a!,
Mr. Mercer; 1 understood Mr. Varalyke
was there us the counsel of Mr. llebertoh;
1 did not hear what was said; the pat ties
were taken into a back room ; i did not
hear Mr. Vandyke ask for an investigation
on the part of Mr. netierton; I Saw Mr.
fleherton leave the vile,.
Eliza Jane Quinn, sworn—l am the sis
ter of Singleton I%;tereer; My. Bastido was
at my house to:, the i7th of Becember ; my
brother ha?, a small party of gentlemen
there; i, was his birth-day ; Sarah was
there ; she was in the trout parlor, Mr.
13,0.t010 was in the back parlor; the fold
ing doors were partly open, but the ladies
were not in the room with the gentlemen ;
I have seen Mr. Ileberton, he and Mr.
Bastido might very easily be mistaken for
( each other; I was at the house on the
%Vednesday spoken of; Singleton was in
la very distracted state; when I went in,
lie pot his arms round my neck and burst
into tears, his head on my shoulder; after
a few moments lie began to rave ; pushed
me away ; said if I did not leave the room,,
he'd kick me me out; I had said nothing, l
given him no cause; lie became so very v to-,
lent that I got the gentlemen to take care
of him; mone one said they had better get
Mr. Cozens the police officer; Singleton
asked me to send for my husband ; I sent,
but in . .) , hUshand had guise up town; he!
came in smite titbit alter, and without him
saying anything, Singleton ordered him
out of the house; his features - were 'coin
pletely changed ; he behaved in a very ,
rude manner alter my Wher returned
from the t squire's' office ; I tell the room
shortly alto that ; (corrii'mrates previous
witnesses as to Singleton Percet's other
behaviour,) I do not believe he Was sane ;
' I have seen insane persons ; have seen
two insane persons; one was a near and
' dear relative; I attended her until she,
' died ; it was my husband's mdther. she
' died insane; his eyes had a much wilder
, appearance than either: .
erdss examined-1 was at the house
from it little alter 9 o'clock that morning
until about 12; he %yrs particularly violent
after return [rum Alderman's office ; 1 saw
Mr. Ileberton but once. at my rather%
house: on the Monday evening my sister
was mistin* _
Daniel C. Cat man, sworn—l reside in
Camden, /saw Singleton Mercer on Fri•
day, the 10th, from ab•tut half pas; six to
seven o'clock; when 1 first seen him at
the inquest, and was in the room with him
until tilT o'clock next morning; for the
first two or three hours in the evening, lie
sat sideways on a chair, with his arm on
the back, :did his head resting on his aim ;
did not appear to recognize any one, or
be aware of the presence of any one; was
in that position until about 10 o'clock ;
while in that position lie hallowed out,
" Rachel you wench, why don't you bring
me some water!" repeated it a second
time, did nut appear to know where he
was; about 12 or 1 lie asked fm• sotnething
to eat, at the same time saying lie bud
eaten nothing but a plate of oysters fur
thirty-six 111111rti—nothing, was brought him
then, they hail ail gone to bed.--two of us
went into the kitchen, we found some
bread, cold potatoes, and cold pork--we
took it to him, he ate but very little—l re
marked that--he then asked fur the septa
which had been taken from
Vandyke gave him a segar—he smoked,
and was calmer after sinuking--it appear
ed to sooth hits—l don't think lie had the
use of his reason-1 watched him particu
larly--did tied appear to be conscious of
seri - rig the corpie"—tuwardsi 2 o'clock, - 1
as k e d him if be wantt any thing, he said
no, a little water—he iaid he hail not slept
for three days, except maybe a little on a
step or cellar dour—u ,ter was furnished,
he drank copiously-1 irge draught—the
next morning he appeased touch excited;
he wrote a memorandum for me to tirin g
him segars trout Philadelphia, and could
scarcely hold a peti or write--I asked him
where his sister was, if (lie was at home,
he said nu, in the Insane 4 . y turn.
Cross examined —M r. Vandyke was in
the room, lie appeared U 11141116 to do ever y.
thing that Singleton Mercer wanted ; I
have never said that 1 did not believe that
Mercer was insane, not expressed such
an idea in other words he smoked more
than one segar that night.
Franklia Lippincott, M. 1). affirmed—.
1 know Singleton Mercer, have seen him
since the 10th of February ; um a doom
of medicine f 1 was in the habit ut meeting
Idol three evenings in the week about lour
years or so ago; have seen Inin daily in
prison ; conversed with him ; have seen,
mune persons at the Philadelphia llospi•
tat, by attendance there ; 1 attended one
year; 1 walked the Illispital tlifee years
previous to that ; (difleience between
walking" unit "attending" a hospital
explained,) 1 have noticed him in every
way daily ; from my observation, 1 do nut
Van'. test-
dike in flie prison ; I have attended ail
trial, listened to the testimony ; the wit
nesses detailed many symptoms of
insanity ; I had nu particular'lnotive for
; visiting him; 1 thought he requ i red c uss . ) .
Ilatiun; it was my impresstun that he would
never, recover his intellect, unless he re
ceived consolation.
Cross examined-1 arrived at the con
clusion /have expressed on any fir s t vi s it
doubted his sanity then; subsequent in
tercourse confirmed my doubts of his sau•
ity ; when I first visited him, I found hire
laboring under great excitement, mini
footed by a flushed countenance, restless
ness of manner, wildness of the eye, inco
herent conversation, and constipation;
I believe / have stated all the facts upon
o hich 1 have based any opinion; I made
no inquiries of the prisonei himself as to
his physical condition on the occasion ut
t tl first Inter% iew with him ; I inquired a
number of times subsequently ; he cum,
plaiiied a number of times of his head ;
think once mai the next day ; any second ,
visit—complained of a pain in the head ;
in the intercourse I had with him some
years back /tearer' nothing about his con
stitution; mental derangement may be
caused, but I believe it to be a disease of
the mind, and not of the body---that I be
lieve to be the opinion of eminent medical
men ; is conveyed to the nand through the
channel of physical sensation—sensation
physically reaches the mind through the
nerves•-•such conveyance would disturb
. the healthy condition of the nerves to
some extent.—the nerves would then be
; in an unnatural state, (distinction drawn
between the " unhealthy" and " unnatu
• ral" conditions of the frame, at great
length ; in my walk through the hospital
; I had many cases of insanity to deal with;
I have never, 1 think, met with a case of
insanity in which there wes nut some ab
normal condition of the brain; I should
I require to tell this condition the existence
ul a strange idea or a delusion, or any al.
teration in the natural function or func•
ions of the brain ; the evidence to estab
lish the latter arc the symptoms I have be.
fore given; (repeated as above i) it is by
comparing the symptoms in a state of
health with those of disease that we resell
ill conclusions; I cannot say that on my
first visit Mr. Mercer manifested any
strange idea ur delusion ; his brain is nut
now in a perfecily healthy condition; I
shied think he was now very scscurrteus
Unit the least; I decline answering the
quesilliii Whether lie is now perfectly Mile
nut; I have been his ptei'essional at
tendant since lie has been here ; 1 have
not consulted any other medical man on
Mr. Mercer's case I my treatment on :hr,
first day was principally of it moral char
acter; endeavored to console him; admin•
istered acathartic ; have kept no daily me.
inuranda. Adjourned.
ArTzßxooll sEssION
Dr. Lippincott —cross eaatninat ion re.
,uaned-1 think this morning 1 acid delu•
:too was an invariable attendant of insert.
ity ; 1 did not mean to; sometimes it is
present, not ulwa3s, in cases of insanity;
have conversed since tt e. adjournment
with no person on this subject; Lieutenant
9rinsti ong, U. S. N., told me I had said
I did nut mean to say sti. the patient's
natural character compared with that of s
Iperson supposed to be insane, then to ob
serve the !mints upon which he deviates.
the roost predominant idea in the mind of
die prisoner was his sister's disgrace, 1
mean not deviation in physical but in
',venial character, lie is a man of high ner•
vous temperament, when I am called up
on to visit a patient, 1 inquire into his
whole history, / did upon this occasion, in
as delicate a manner as / possibly could,
on the first visit I was with him about one
flour, 1 give my opinion ass medical man
—I have bad no interview with Mr. Drown
during the adjournment.
Isaac C. Field dfilmed—Nly store is
No. 11 south Front street, Philadelphia—
more than too squares Irons Carson &
Newbold's where he was a clerk--we had
deulings with them-1 saw him un Friday
after noun the 10th a lew minutes before 5
o'clock—he came into the Walnut street
terry house-1 had known Singleton Met , '
cer two ur three years—he came in from
the door neat the wharf, and walked to.
wards me, without noticing any one—and
much to my surprise, he said how are you.
Mr. Adams—in rather a loud tone—lns
face appeared reddened—more than I ev
er saw before--lie looked me directly is
the face with an earliest gaze—passed di.
rectly into the adjoining ruom—aud I hays
never seen him till I saw him here—l told
my clerk the neat morning of this occur
rence. Adjourned.
MILLEDISDI AND Moamorfism.•-•/a the
Nauvuo "Times and Seasons," of March
ht, Joe Smith, the Mormon imposter, ad
dresses a cotnmunication to the editor,
which closes as follows: "'Therefore, hear
this, 0, Earth! the Lord will not come tu'
veien over the righteous in this world in
1643, nor until everything for the bride.
groom is ready."
FAMILY PoisoNzo.---The whole family
of Mr. Morehead,tesiding near the Yazoo
Pass, Mississippi, were lately poisoned by
eating peaches dried on a painted board.
One of the slaughters was to have been
married on the very day that she died.
Ilanxernusie.—MlS. Bal'lldSlide of
Meadville, Pa.. died on the 16th inst., ut
this disease. She had been bitten by a
dog about seven weeks before. Pout utb•
er persons were bitten at the same time.
EARTitquAKE.--.11)h the 25th ult.,
C-500 dead bodies had b‘:eti . dug out of the
ruinu at livadalurr, Ltd `..`,:': 4 1 ~o uttEd
t 1;,;