Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-13
From the Dayton (OhioD Empire, August 4
Sentence of Dick the Murderer.

The summing up of this case having been
concluded by the counsel on both Sides at about
5 o'clock on Saturday evening, the court ad-
journed until 6 o'clock, at which time it was
again opened, when Judge Hart delivered to
the Jury lengthy and carefully prepared
charge, reviewing all the material points in the
testimony on both sides, and giving clear and
satisfactory Interpretation of the law as appli-
cable to the important case in hand. At "a
o'clock the Jury retired to their chamber, and
after an absence of about four hours, it was an
nounced that they had agreed upon their yer,
diet. On coming into Court, they handed in a
written verdict to the Judge, who read it as fol-
lows :--"We, the Jury, find Francis Dick guilty
of the murder of James Young in the first de-
gree, as he is charged in the Indictment"
The Jury was then polled, and each one for
himself gave his assent to the verdict as read
by the court. The counsel for the prisoner here
stated their intention to move for new trial.
The court then adjourned until o'clock on
Monday morning, ut which time the Judge
stated he would hear the argument of counsel
for new trial.
The court opened at o'clock this morning,
when the counsel for the prisoner stated the
grounds on which they moved for new trial:
First, that the verdict was contrary to law and
the evidence. Second, that one of the Jurors
had been permitted to leave the court, during
the trial, in charge of constable, to visit his
father, who was thought to be dying. After
hearing the counsel, the court overruled the
motion for new trial. Francis Dick, the
prisoner at the bar, was then asked by Judge
Hart if he had anything to say why sentence
of death should not be passed upon him. He
replied in substance as follows:
II believe that l have had fair trial, but
the jury did not do me justice, and believe
that it would have been better for me if the
trial had been moved to another county.
have nothing more to say" He afterwards
stated that the little girl did not testify right !;
that she said first that ] had coat on my arm
when | went into the stable and afterwards
that she did not know what it was that Mr..
Richards was under the influence of liquor
that he had two drinks when he came TO court,
and afterwards went out and got another, and
his evidence should not be received; and if
such testimony was received, he had nothing
TO say, for it would be no use.
He again stated that the ruling of the court
had been universally against him; that he un.
derstood the law was that he should have the
benefit of every doubt, and that he didn't. No
body knew whether he committed the murder
or not; the jury guessed at it; the blood might
have been put on the coat and boots; / never
saw it before; can't see how it could have got
in the wrinkle Of the boot without somebody
put it there; anybody of common sense can see
that; have nothing more to say don't think
there is any use; don't think it would make
any difference"
Judge Hart then pronounced the sentence
of the court, which is: That FRANCIS Dick, the
prisoner at the bar, be taken to the Jail of the
county, and there safely kept until the second
Friday in September next, and on that day, be-
tween the hours Of 10 o'clock, A. M. and
o'clock, p. NJ, be hung by his neck until he is
dead. The court then adjourned, and the
prisoner, in charge Of the Sheriff, was returned
to his cell in the county jail. Dick himself
during the proceedings Of the court, did not ex-
hibit the least emotion, but appeared to remain
unmoved by the solemn and impressive circum-
stances which surrounded him. The court
room, both on Saturday evening and this morn.
ing, was densely crowded, but the best order
was preserved during the proceedings. When
they we're ended the people quietly dispersed.