Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-09-15
TEEEGRAPHEC NEWS.
Special DISPATCHES TO TIE GAZETTE
The Niece Murder TrIssl.s-CoTvisSion
nf' ETEsss1pN

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The Niece murder Trial..-Convission
Of WEssleD.
OrrowA, CANADA, Sept. l4.-The Whalsn
case was resumed this morning at 9 o'clock.
The court room was deusely crowded. Sir
J Ohm a. Mcdonald occupied a seat on the
Bench. Hon John Hilliard Cameron coun-
sci for the defense, began his argument by al
ludipg to strong prejudice existing against
the prisoner.
He said the evidence in the cas-; consisted of
three kinds, viz: clrcumstantial, direct and
the admission of the prisoner. He pointed out
the danger Of reliance on the first, and quoted
numerous examples. He considered tie Cir
cumstantisl evidence brought forward In the
present case wholly unreliable; and showed
the improbabiity Of the direct evidence given
by Turner and Wade He examined the evil
dence Of Lacroix, and showed how improbable
it was, and how unlikely it was that he should
not have seen any one, or been seen when there
were number Of people abroad at every turn,
and he had considerable distance to 60 after
leaving the scene of the murder. He spoke OF
the admission sworn to by Cullen, and cited
authority to show that such admissions when
received arc received with the greatest caution.
Such words were easily misrepresened from
an imperfect hearing, FROM forgetfulncss, or
from malice. He strongly denounced the sys
tenn of espionage kept upon the prisoner, and
expressed his confidence in the fairness of the
jury La closing his speech he stated that
Wha!ea had avowcd his innocence to him
The speech which lasted over two hours was
very able one and produced great impress
sion
Mr.. Early, counsel for she Grown, expressed
his satisfaction at the remarks which had fallen
from Mr.. Cameron regarding the fairness OF the
trial He said the prisoner had been defended
by the best talent in the Province, and that the
speech for the defence was one Of the ablcst
ever delivered, and he cautioned the jury not
to be carried away by eloquence, but to judge
from the facts. He said that great prejudice
existed against crime and not against the prisoner
beyond his connection with the crime. The learn
ed counsel sketched the career OF Whalen, begin
| ming at Quebec, under the assumed name Of Sui
! Ivan; tracing him to Montreal. and showing how
he begged along the streets to the steps OF Mr..
MCGEE. He reviewed the evidence of various
witnesses; referred to the pistol fou9d Oh the
prisoner, and to the threat he had made against
Mr.. McGee's lifc He showsG the consistency
of Turner's evidence Itcontained the story OF
the same threats testified to By other witnesses.
He also referred to the evidence Of Wade that
these men met night after night to plot the
death Of MCGEE. The evidence and the actions
both showed conspiracy. The conspirators had
| not yet been reached; but the evidence before
| the Crown would tract, them to their dens. -
Mr. Early traced the prisoners whole conduct
on the night of the murder his rcstlessness
while Mr.. McGee eIoquently pleaded the cause
of his country and when the words 'atruck
below the belt" were used the prisoner shook
his hand passed it over his breast, where the
pistol was, and nodded to his confederate. LA
croix an unlettered Frsnchman had seen the
deed committed, and he must be the greatest
genius that ever lived to invent such a story.
After a recess the Judge charged the jury,
and the Court adjourned until tomorrow, to
hear the verdict
OTTowA, Sept l5.-Thc jury in the Whalen
case have rendered verdict OF guilty, and
Wkalen is thus convicted of the murder OF
D Arcy MCGEE.