Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, June 21, 1846
xml:
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, June 21, 1846
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:pxc
student editorTranscriber:spp:obm
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1846-06-21
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, June 21, 1846
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: Canandaigua, NY
transcription: pxc
revision: crb 2018-07-13
<>
Page
1
Sunday afternoon June 21st
My dear Sister,
I have just read your yesterdays
letter I was wondering why it did not come –
I have had a hurried week or I should have
written before relating the progress of Wyatt's
A jury was obtained Tuesday. Dr Brigham
was recalled by telegraph and the trial
proceeded — the remainder of the ^week^ has been
occupied in taking evidence which was brought
to a close yesterday, Drs Doane
McCall
to predict the result of the trial Dr. Brigham
could not convince himself of Wyatts insanity
and testified accordingly – though he qualified
his opinion by saying he had once before been
mistaken and might be in this case – his
testimony was very interesting but in this respect
it disappointed me and I fear will have
a bad influence upon the jury – Henry
agree with me precisely – there were some new
points discoursed for the defense – The physicians
who saw Gordon
some anatomical mistake in their testimony
which was exposed by Dr Doane and thought
to be important – I cannot view it in this light
[top Margin] Willie wishes me to answer your letter
to him immediately but I must write to Fred
Page
2
The jury are supposed to be unprejudiced except
two violent Loco's – but the trial never
ought to have taken place in this county. Judge
Whiting
prisoner than he was at the former trial –
It remains to be seen whether there are any men
among the jury who have sufficient firmness
to stem the tide of popular prejudice – Dr
Spencer
after a laboured and incomprehensible mass
of testimony arrived at the conclusion that
Wyatt was decidedly sane – it is doubted
by some whether he is in that condition
himself — I would it were over – This is the
fourth week of precious time which Henry
has devoted to the cause of humanity – I have
feared every day that he would sink under
this unparalleled exertion – Morgan
are both here today – Sam's wife
to return home – hopes he is not going to defend
Freeman
do so without violating his conscience – her
moral code must be widely different from
mine – I suppose there is very little doubt
of Freeman's acquittal – still there are
many who persist in saying he is not
insane –
Page
3
We have heard nothing from Mrs Maury
wrote. I wish might not again but I fear
she will be along – I have a letter from
Freddy
Dr Brigham has had many patients from College
and boarding school – Mrs Miller
and Polly McLaughlin
day this week – Polly has gone home again –
Thursday evening we had the Judge Attorney
General
Judge Hollister
Mr and Mrs Morgan
Drs to eat strawberries and ice cream – we
picked the strawberries made the cake lemonade
sandwiches &c all that day – were very
busy – besides I arranged 13 vases of flowers
our roses were very beautiful last week
Mrs Miller even admitted that the garden
reminded her of Ludlowville – Gov Throops
family were invited but none came on
account of the death of Mr Williams
Willie
have Augustus
I cannot write a very long letter because I
so much prefer to talk it all when you
come – Judge Judge Whiting says Frances
is a very nice girl – I have not said that
we all met at Dr Pitneys Tuesday evening
Page
4
Sunday afternoon June 21st
My dear Sister,
I have just read your yesterdays
letter I was wondering why it did not come –
I have had a hurried week or I should have
written before relating the progress of Wyatt's
Death: 1846-08-17
trialA jury was obtained Tuesday. Dr Brigham
Birth: 1798-12-26 Death: 1849-09-08
was recalled by telegraph and the trial
proceeded — the remainder of the ^week^ has been
occupied in taking evidence which was brought
to a close yesterday, Drs Doane
Birth: 1808-04-02 Death: 1852-01-27
Brigham andMcCall
Birth: 1787-01-25 Death: 1867-10-05
left us this morning — it is impossibleto predict the result of the trial Dr. Brigham
could not convince himself of Wyatts insanity
and testified accordingly – though he qualified
his opinion by saying he had once before been
mistaken and might be in this case – his
testimony was very interesting but in this respect
it disappointed me and I fear will have
a bad influence upon the jury – Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
does notagree with me precisely – there were some new
points discoursed for the defense – The physicians
who saw Gordon
Death: 1845-03-19
after the wound madesome anatomical mistake in their testimony
which was exposed by Dr Doane and thought
to be important – I cannot view it in this light
[top Margin] Willie wishes me to answer your letter
to him immediately but I must write to Fred
The jury are supposed to be unprejudiced except
two violent Loco's – but the trial never
ought to have taken place in this county. Judge
Whiting
Birth: 1790-01-16 Death: 1850-12-28
is much more decidedly against theprisoner than he was at the former trial –
It remains to be seen whether there are any men
among the jury who have sufficient firmness
to stem the tide of popular prejudice – Dr
Spencer
Unknown
who was a witness for the prosecutionafter a laboured and incomprehensible mass
of testimony arrived at the conclusion that
Wyatt was decidedly sane – it is doubted
by some whether he is in that condition
himself — I would it were over – This is the
fourth week of precious time which Henry
has devoted to the cause of humanity – I have
feared every day that he would sink under
this unparalleled exertion – Morgan
Birth: 1808-06-04 Death: 1877-04-03
and Blatchford
Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07
are both here today – Sam's wife
Birth: 1817-08-27 Death: 1901-06-12
is impatientto return home – hopes he is not going to defend
Freeman
Birth: 1824 Death: 1847-08-21
does not see how it is possible todo so without violating his conscience – her
moral code must be widely different from
mine – I suppose there is very little doubt
of Freeman's acquittal – still there are
many who persist in saying he is not
insane –
We have heard nothing from Mrs Maury
Birth: 1801-11-01 Death: 1849-09-21
since Iwrote. I wish might not again but I fear
she will be along – I have a letter from
Freddy
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
– I am afraid he is studying too hardDr Brigham has had many patients from College
and boarding school – Mrs Miller
Birth: 1780-09-18 Death: 1850-03-09
Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
and Polly McLaughlin
Unknown
took tea with me oneday this week – Polly has gone home again –
Thursday evening we had the Judge Attorney
General
Birth: 1810-02-10 Death: 1866-10-13
and
District Attorney
Birth: 1811 Death: 1863-11-29
, Dr SpencerJudge Hollister
Birth: 1782-09-26 Death: 1852-03-13
and Bradley
Birth: 1808-11-16 Death: 1882-08-25
Dr
Birth: 1786-11-18 Death: 1853-04-20
and Mrs Pitney
Birth: 1797-12-04 Death: 1862-05-06
Mr and Mrs Morgan
Birth: 1813-02-16 Death: 1893-10-14
Blatchford and our threeDrs to eat strawberries and ice cream – we
picked the strawberries made the cake lemonade
sandwiches &c all that day – were very
busy – besides I arranged 13 vases of flowers
our roses were very beautiful last week
Mrs Miller even admitted that the garden
reminded her of Ludlowville – Gov Throops
Birth: 1784-08-21 Death: 1874-11-01
family
Birth: 1793-04-12
Death: 1854-02-23
Birth: 1786-08-04
Death: 1871-01-05
account of the death of Mr Williams
Unknown
—Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
and Fanny
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
are well – you shallhave Augustus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
room if you prefer it – I cannot write a very long letter because I
so much prefer to talk it all when you
come – Judge Judge Whiting says Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
is a very nice girl – I have not said that
we all met at Dr Pitneys Tuesday evening