Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-07-23


and manifest than II was At any day previous when
witnesses we're to be examined and barTisteB to
plead. Ats O'Clock the Court met the prisoners
were 10 the dock and Judge MoClue proceeded
almost Immediately to deliver bis charge. II was
necessarily very lengthy, occupying in its delivery
some three hOan. II was straightforward, grave,
explicit The Judge proceeded to sum up the
gist Of the evidence, to present it calmly in
the light Of truth, to strpit Of all circumstances
which might tend in any way to warp the judg-
ment, and left il as if il stood the sole event
in the world 10 the eyes Of the Jury. There has
been expressed from time to time among observ-
es at the trial that Stewart seemed to stand in a
different position from bis associates at the bar
Of the Court In reference TO hin the Judge Fe-
marked that be was bound to show where he
had spent the time between his leaving bis bed
on the night Of the murder snd that on which he
was seen 10 the morning. 10 that interval, be bad
been seen in suspicious circumstances in company
with the man Fife. There were also the concur
rent circumstances Of blood being found upon his
clothes, Of the fact Of bis knowledge where the
money taken was secreled and some Others which
were enumerated and which the jury we're instrue-
ted 10 weigh carefully in making up their YER
dict
The charge concluded, the Judge suggested
that the jury fix an hour to which the court
would adjourn and the foreman having named
i've o'c!coS that honr was fixed and the jury re-
tired in charge Of constables.
THE VERDICT.
At five o'clock, the Court again convened
accompanied by an immense crowd Of witnesses.
al the room was throngel By an anxious aud
excited crowd: inside the bar was also filed with
gentlemen Of the bar and other officers Of the
Court. reporters and Others. The prisoners were
placed in the dock. Stewart looked pale aud
worn, the fatigue Of the trial and the sweltering
weather having had their effect upon him. Fife
looked somewhat anxious but still kept the mus
cles Of his face under bis own control. Charlotte
Jones appeared to us the least moved Of the three
as she sat beside Fife, tanning herself.
The Jury, worn aud weary from such trial as
has never occurred before in this county, came in
aud took their seats aud after the usual prelimina-
ry forms, we're asked if they had agreed upon their
verdict TIE answer was in the Affirmative
Guilty or not Guilty? GUILTY OF MURDER IN
THE F FRsT DEGREE.
We acknowledge that the announcement had
greater effect upon US than it appeared to have up
on the prisoners, for although there could have
been scarcely doubt for several days what the
verdict would be if given in accordance with the
law and the evidence--of which there was no
doubt it would bet is fearful thing to be un.
der the solemn and awful necessity of giving forth
a verdict like the above. Not a muscle Of the
prisoners novel as far, as we could observe at the
rendering of the verdict, and at the bidding
of thejudgo the three on being remanded, walk
ed forth again to their cells whence in due time
they will be taken to hear tho sentence of the
law.
When they had retired, Judge McClue in
few pertinent and appropriate remarks thanked
the jury for their patient attention, expressed tie
hope in the discharge Of their painful duty they
had received no permanent injury and dismissed
them from seats that must have become extreme.
ly trying and painful for them to keep so long.
At the rendition of the verdict there was no
murmur of applause or dsapprobation.
sort of murmur, not above Whisper ran
through the crowd. The verdict, however, we
ire satisfied, met the public expectation. That
public in this case is neither blood thirsty ror
,indictve, but it sees the mercy of the Common
wealth in bringing to justice only after painful
borough trial, three unfortunate creatures (the
.ord have mercy on them) who pat out of life
nd shut forever from the light of Heaven two in
ocent grey-haired old people without moments
,aning; sapped the fountains Of their lives and
ent them before their Creator even from the
eep of midnight. Justice 10 the guilty of such
crime is mercy to society and not entirely ven
eance, for blood thus split once can never be ts-
en- up. The trial thus ends, and tue people rest
rom their painful excitement of the occasion.
Moron IN ARREST OF JUDGMENT-Mr. How.
I'd, counsel for Fife and Jones, made a motion
| Court yesterday in arrest of Judgment. Mr.
Toward reasons which are filed are several, and
robaby the motion will come up for argument
few days. We shall give attention to j,
hen it comes up. The Chronicle of yesterday
fternoon says: nr
"Mr. Howard's reasons which are filed, are
ght in number, but the learned gentleman pla-
IS his chief reliance on the second, which holds
lat the Court was in error in taking Joint yer.
let against all the prisoners, and that it should {
ave taken a separate verdict for ALL" |
cICNIFIcANT FACTS