, 1865-11-01

mrs- Grinder Convicted or Murder In
ahr Ftr4t DeCrcc-Thc Question Of her
Sanity In the JuFy Room. ii,

| iEIC11 IQe fIIsoufRh GaEGtt9, tWth.1
Al nine O'Clock Saturday morning the Cour'
Of Oyer and Termiuer met according to nd
| lournment, to receive the verdict of the iQr3
Ia the case Of afrs. Martha Grinder, tried fol
the murder OF Mira, Mary Caroline Eatuthers
There was the usual large attendance, but tht
proportion Of ladies was not 20 great, as they
were excluded from Inside the bar, md were
crowded cut oi the lobby. Il is necessary fol
the courtroom to be clear between the pria
ouer's dock and the jury box, when . verdict
is being rendered, and the only way to Keep
the place open Was 10 prevent persona from
entering.
There were rumors eaoat TINT the jary had
not agreed, and considerable Indignation was
expressed In consequence. Others asserted
Friday evening, and that they would bo pre-
pared to render On the opening Of the court.
AZ twenty minutes past nine the prisoner
was brought In by Sheriff Stewart, and placeI
Ia the dock. She wore the same apparel that
she bad on during the trial, and hid her veil
drawn orcr her face 80 as to hide her features
almost entirely. She walked with Sow but
steady tread, and exhibited no sign Of weak
nesa or prosiration4 The jury soon after came
down from their room. and on taking their
seats fn the box, Judge S!erEett ordered the
prisoner to "stand up" She rose and re-.
maincd standing. The Clerk, Mr. Heron,
polled the ju..f aud put The asual question,
fGtutEt
how say you, Is the defendant guilty or not
guiltys'' The foreman OF the jury rose and
ansTered, " Guflty." Judge Stefrett remarked
that It would te necessary for them to ind dicate
the degree The foreman then answered.
equity Of murder of the drst degree.' The
clerk, and assented to by the jury.
Mrs Grinder still renafntd standing. when
Judge stcE1ett motioned her to sit down,
she received the verdict with the utmost in
alucsenee, and appeared as unmoyed and un-
concerned as though size were mere specta-
tor. She seemed perfectly passive, and the
only sign Of motion Or emotion was her toy
ing the Ginse Of her shawl between her
hngers. 1t was most remarkable exhibt-
ton OF woHauly fortitude, and proves that
she IS possessed Of an extraordinary spirft.
What wonder that such woman could Wit.
ness unlnofed the death ngonles Of her ylc.
tins: Che seems alike destitute OF fear, pity
Of 1enoTse, and stands unparalleled III the
After the Ferdic. had been rendered. the
Court ordered the passage way to the Sherftf's
oteer to be cleared, so that the prisoner might
be rcmanded- A great crowd had collectei IN
tne totupda, and 1t was with difficulty that
the passage way could be cleared 4 centle-
man VINO made rather q rough remark IN re-
and taken before Judge sterrett, On q charge
Of contempt.
When the excitement had subsidcd. the
prisoner Tas conducted to the Sheriff. office,
and from thence to her cell In the Iail, 4
hearing was then had Of the. contempt case,
bnt the Court being satisfied that there was |
40 intention on the part OF the gentleman to |
obstruct ths officers In tho discharge Of thcir |
dnfies, BE- was dismissed. Thus ended tha |
rial of Martha Grinder-the most remark-
able and exciting in the history Of thc |
county. -,
There Is considerable speculation as to what
.aused the jury in the Grinder case to hesI-
ate 60 long IN making up their verdict. Af1er
ley had received the charge from the Court.
u adjournment vas ordered for one hour. and
he conclusion was drawn TINT the Coart an
Elc1pated they Hould be read = to render f1lefr
erdict In thst time. The public eeneraliy ID.
!eFed that they would be Of one mind. aud
Int the first ballot would determine tie mat
e. E1Pcrience proves, however, that It is
eg dlmcatt matter to BET twelve men to de-
ide hastily In case Of life or death. There
grave responsibility resting upon Jurors,
! such cases. and it Is not strange that they
esltate and ponder, eren under circumstan-
cs Which 20 to convince the ontsIde world
hat there is no need for hesitation. On in
niry we learn that the ttsticking pofptn In
ae Present case, vas IN regard to The ques-
ssolntion not TO dirn}gc their discnssion, and
TINS J.. ras very proper action We hare no
lsposttion to pry into their secrets. We
ere, nevertheless, given to understand that
early half OF the jurJ entertained doubts as
me sanity Of the prisoner, and It took
'he tnne 10 bring about unanimity Of opin-
\ On this subject. The verdict has been
1dcrcd In accordance with the Inv md tie
ldence, and perhaps meets the appreciation
al who read the testimony In the case.
ad plea Of Insanity been put In the resnlt | ,
ight have been dlderent.