The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-01-13
J. Trial OF william ArrisOn.


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The following are the closing scenes in
the trial of William Arrison, held in Gin
cinnati last week, for the murder of Isaac
Allison and wife. The jury were out three
hours. On the first vote stood ten in favor
of murder in the first degree After an
interchange Of opinion they all became of
the same mind:
A little after six o'clock the court room was
again opened to spectators, large crowd Of
whom were in waiting. Inside the bar it was
known that verdict had been agreed upon. A
solemn anxiety was depicted on every cOunte
nance, dread wish to hear the few words up
on which the life of a fellow being depended.
With the jury the prisoner was brought into
court and for the first time during his trial,
was placed on the prisoners bench.
The clerk asked the jury if they had agreed
upon verdict. Utter silence prevailed as the
foreman arose and passed the sealed verdict to
the court. 1t was opened and read:
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 applaud. One
man said rather loudly, "That is right!' but
the prompt call of the deputy sheriff for order
was instantly obeyed. The announcement made
no change in the prisoners countenance:
deep drawn sigh was his only response. n
young lady sitting by the side of Judge Finn
burst into tears, and even his Honor seemed
much affected. DESTROYS of sparing the pris-
Oners feelings as much as possible, Deputy
Sheriff uigdOn gave him seat behind the
Shcrif's desk, where he was free from the gaze
of the spectators which were fixed upon him.
The jury was pOllcd, and each juror, as his
name was called, responded to the verdict.
They were then discharged by the Court who
thanked them for their patience throughout
the long and tedious trial
Judge Key on behalf of the defense, made
motion for new trial, and asked an arrest
of Judgment The Court ordered the motion
to be entered Oh the minutes The motion we
presume will be urged at an early day. After
this the Court adjourned.
We have mentioned that when the verdict
was rendered, young lady burst into tears
soon after she seated herself beside the pri-
soner, and engaged in close converse ton wit.
him, during which tears flowed freely down
her cheeks. We understand that during his
residence here last summer, he paid his ad-
ed by the State to testify against the prisoner
but took the summons so much to heart, that
Mr. Pruden, the Prosecuting Attorney, agreed
not to call her as a witness. We are not
aware what the prosecution expected to prove
by her, but suppose it was nothing of great
moment. She has been in constant attendance
during the trial, manfesting great interest in
the proceedings. She continued in close con-
yersatiOn with the prisoner until he was taken
from the Court room.
The prisoner was escorted back to jail about
seven o'clock. He had left 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 the fatal or murderer's
ROOM 1t is small apartment in the old
building, fronting on the main entrance, a
comfortable but well secured apartment. 1t
called the murdcrer'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 of Capt. James Summons, have
suffered the full penalty OF the law 1t is the
room where Cowan, Hoover, Davis, Lecount,
and other murders spent their last days. 1t
had been cleansed, and comfortably furnished
by the Tailor, who anticipated the verdict OF
the jury.
The Cincinnati Tunes concludes its report
of the trial as follows:
Able counsel appeared on both sides. The
Prosecuting Attorney and his assistant, con-
Quoted the prosecution with marked ability,
and the arguments of the opposing counsel
were mastery efforts. A half day was occu-
MED empannelling jury, and more honest
pne Was never empannelled in this county
-Four DAYS and half were occupied in the ex-
animation Of witnesses, and four days in the
argument Every indulgence was allowed the
defense, and the prisoners counsel all declared
that he had fair and impartial trial.
go sOsE .l-l4Al0.s