The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1868-06-25
The Donaldson Murder rrIaL

The trial Of fellow being for crime, the
highest and most henous in the eyes Of the
law, is not a common occurrence ia this, or
in most other communities, aud when. in the
commingling Of events, man is indicted fcr
such an onense there is a natural curiosity
In the breast Of every one TO see the man
hear all that witnesses have to say against Or
for him, and discuss his guilt.
When the trial vi Hiram A. Donaldson
came up FOR hearing bc6nre the Cour, OF
Common Pleas in this county, by change ei
venue from Wood, upon the charge ot mur-
der in the first degree, much ct the interest
We nave described, was excited, aud the
court house was crowd d with 10th Hdie.
aud gentlemsn from the Aestuning oi thr
trial to the final impress We scene when thr
Jury returned to their seats ia the box with
their verdict.
Added to the great crime Of murder was
the additional interest arising from the fact
that the person killed was the prisoner own
sJn-the one too, whom, by his own confess
ion, he loved better than all the rest. Every
lawyer was in his seat, aud every student
/ at las len his books to witness the trial in
detail, Tor eminent counsel were retained on
both sides, the one trio tojcalously watch the
| interests of the State, the other intcu, upon
securing the ocquittal Of their client
Ou Thursday the testimony closed on both
sides, aud as we gave, last week, the main
facts relied upon by both parties, We pass by
the prohx stories Of witnesses. Six argu-
meuts were delivered by the counsel in the
case, Judge Ranuey closing for the defense
and ]. X. Hord, for the prosecution, when
after legal instructions from the court, the
twelve mtn who had the life OF the accused
in their hands, retired for deliberation.
The prisoner and his brothers remained IL
the court room. None can tell, bat all cat
conjecture their feelings at this time. He I
a man Of about hfty years of age over med
ium size, light hair with chin whiskers in.
clining to red, and shaded with patches o
grey hair. Now that he is free from th,
clutches Of the law, we hope his hsppiues
thereat will neutrilize any luminosity toward
us that may be excited, when we say tha
his eyes were against him. They glsteue,
unpleasantly, and their furtive and undecil
ed glances, judged ty a common rule, gay
his face a rather vicious aspect.
At about seven o'clock, on Friday evening
the court house bell rang-an iptimatio
that the jury had agreed upon a verdict
and the people on the street at once rushe
to the court room. In an incredible shor
space Of time il was full The counsel cam
in aad took their places, and the Judge walk
to the bench. As the jury came in and seat
ed themselves, many questioning glance
sought to fathom the verdict before it wa
spoken The question Of the Judge was ;
Gentlemen, have you agreed upon yer
diet ?"
" We have"
F" How say yOui is the deieudan. Guilty
or Not Guilty r.
Mot Guilty.
As the two words that gave this man, rs
were new lease OF lie, fell from The lips q
the foreman. there followed clapp'ng Il
ntnd.' aud loud applause, showing that lh
sympathy Of the crowd was with the def nd
cut. .a4
Donaldson Sas much affected apparently
and could not ar,,Sc from his seat to receiv
the congratulations 'i his counsel aud h
was assisted out Of the ,'ourt house by hi
friends, followed by the thro ~.