Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1854-12-28
5s-sHs
Trial u williAu AErison.


ii lsst week, for the murder Of Isaac Allison
and wife. The jury we're out three hours.
On the 6rst vote they stood ten in faver Of
murder in the first degree. After an inter-
change Of opinion they all became Of the
same mind
A little after six o clock the court r ON
was again opened to spectators, large
crowd Of whom were in waiting. Even the
seats reserved for the benefit Of the fair sex
soon filled with ladies. Inside the bar il
agreed upon. What il was, was not
known. bu, was easily guessed At. early
verdicts are always against the prisoner
was whispered in more thaR one ear, and
the general expectation was against tire
accused. A solemn anxiety Yves depicted
on every coun,enance, dread wish TO hear
the few words upon which the life Of a fell
low being depended. The jury came int"
Court, each and every one presenting that
demeanor due to their position. The Ut
most silence instantly prevailed.
With the Jury the prisoner was brought
into Court, and for the first time during his
trial, was placed on the prisoners beach.
He folded HE hands and turned his eyes to
the iury. We had fair view OF his coun-
tenance. 1t was sorrowful, deeply traced
With care, yet fixed. An occasional deep
drawn sigh, and a nervous twi,ching Of the
fingers, were the only signs Of emotion
Yet his appearances seemed pitiful. The
occasion NY have effected our vision, but
we no longer saw in him the bold young
man, facing the most conclusive evidence
against him and buoy ed by hope. Heseem-
ed to meet his fate!
The clerk asked the jury if they had a.
greed upon verdict. Utter silence pre-
vailed as the foreman arose and passed the
sealed verdict to the Court 1t was open
cd and read:
1--WE. the jury. find the defendant. Will
liam, Arrison, GUILTY OF MURDER In
THE FIRST DEGREE, as charged in the
Indictment"
When it was read there was move
among the spectators, as if disposed to APP
plaud. One man said rather loudly, "That
+ is rights' but the prompt cal Of the Depu-
'ty- Sheriff for order was instantly obeyed.-
The announcement made no CHI nge in the
prisoners countenance;s deep drawn sigh
was his only response. A young lady sit
ting by the side Of Judge Plinn burst into
tears, and even his Honor seemed much af
tected. DESTROYS OF sparing the prisoners
feelings as much as possible, Deputy Sher-
iff Higdon gave him seat behind The Sher-
ifs desk. where he was free from the gaze
of the spectators which was fixed upon him.
The jury was polled. and each juror, as
his name was called, responded to the YER
dict. They were then discharged by the
Court, who thanked them for their patience
throughout the long and tedious trial.
MoTioN roR A NEW TRlAL-Judge
Kew, on behalf of the defense, made a mo-
ton for 1 new trial, and asked an arrest OF
Judgment The Court ordered the motion
to be entered on the minutes. The motion
we presume. will be argued at an early day.
After this. the Court adjourned
| OSE FRIEND TO THE LAsT.-We have
mentioned that when the verde, was rem
dered, young lady burst intotears. Soon
after she seated herself beside the prisoner,
and engaged in close conversation with him
during which tears flowed freely down hsr
checks. We unders and tina, during his
residence here last summer, he paid his sd-
dresses to this young lady. She was sub
pBueQ w tiES ot0lC W tCstiiS uHaibst t.iC
prisoner but took the summons 40 much to
heart, that Mr.. Pruden, the Prosecuting
Attorney, agreed not TO call her as wit
ness. We are not aware what the prosecu-
ton expected to prove by her, but supposs
| twas nothing of great moment. She ha,
been in constant attendance during the tri
al, manifssting = great interest in the pro-
ceedings. She continuedin close conYer-
sation with the prisoner until he was taken
from the Courtroom.
RETURN TO JAIL.-The prisoner was es-
coried back to Jail about seven o'clock
He had LETT it only short time previous
with hope, but he returned a convicted
murderer. Instead Of conducting him to
his old quarters, Tailor Mclean took him to
what is known as tho Fatal or Murderer's
Room. 1t ia small apartment in the old
building, fronting on the main entrance, a
comfortable but we'll secured apartment.
tits called tho Murderer's Room, from the
fact. that persons convicted of murder in
the first degree have always been confined
in that apartment, and the Fatal Room
from the fact, that every inmate Of the
apartment, so convicted. with the exception
or Capt. James Summons, have suffered
the full penalty Of the law. 1t is the room
where Cowan, Hoover, Davis, Lecount, and
other murderers spent their lsst days. 1t
had been well clsansed AMI com tortably fur
nishcd by the Jailor, who anticipated the
verdict Of the jury.
The Cincinnati Times concludes its re-
port Oft the trial as follows
| Able counsel appeared on both sides.
The Prosecuting Attorney and his assist
ant, conducted the prosecution with marked
ability, and the arguments OF the opposing
counsel were mastery efforts. A half day
was pied in empannelling jury, and a
more honest one was never enpannelled in
this county -Four days and half were &C.
CAPPED in the examination of witnesses, and
four days in the argument. Every indui-