The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-02
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, lS6o'
Tho verdict.

PHILADELPHIA which secured so grea' d holo on
tba nublio interest. The bloody and unnatural
oy;ma of which the prisoner stood conVloteu'
.ha fortrns and somewhat Influential oonnec-
tiop by which he was backed, sno, aooVe all
tbs belief in the public mind that the
r,otent influence OF certain lawyers would,
tbroueh some device, secure his acquittal,
all caused painful anxiety to be felt
The fact that of late crime has been on the
increase. and the conviction that If punish
ment was not meted out to Twitchell lfe
would become insecure, rendered more
momentous the issue. Every device,
trick, or quibble of which the case was
sufoeptible was resorted to by the defense.
The prisoners counsel numbered among tAem
the two members of the bar who were, through
some foton of imagination, supposed 10 pos
sess the power to eluds justice In favor OF
their client. These gentlenen, who are sup
posed to be the only capable prosecutors IN
Philadelphia, were for the defense, and new
and untried District Attorney, uuacquaintea
from experience with the workings otthe Qaar-
ter Sessions, with two assistants, well known
as gentlemen and civil lawyers, but never seen
at the criminal bar, We're all the representa-
tives OF the Commonwealth The jury, after
having all the facts, and being nearly deaf
ened with the oratory OF the defense, took
lust thirty. five minutes to consult together,
and brough. in a verdict OF guilty OF murder
in the first degree"
To this verdict the great voice of public
sentiment has said "Amenw From all classes
has the expression OF the prisoners guilt
gone up. Every man seemed convinced that
he was the real criminal, yet few believed
chat he would be convicted. This anomalous
condition of affairs was due to the belief that
the old "ring" influence coul1 receive acqu't-
tai on any charge, provided sufficient fees
were given. The verdict has shattered that
idea, has broken it into pieces, and shows how
utterly powerless is any lawyer to com
bat earnest argument, honesty, and zsal on the
part of the Commonwealth othjer We
would look at the decision in two lights:
First, as to its justice in regard to T~itchel!
himself; secondly, in regard 10 its inAoence
on the public peace. So far as ths fairness OF
the trial was concerned, We have heard but
one voice, which commends 1t as the most
fair of any that ever took place in court.
The prisoner had every advantage. The
Court properly leaned in his favor 80 as tc
give him the benefit of doubt. Tne prose
cutting officer took no unfair advantage and
the charge of Judge Brewster was model
ability and nicely balanced equity. What
ever had been the impression previous to the
verdict, we think the people will confirm The
decision OF the jury. II must be remembered
that the outside public sea as er Parte tn
value of the evidence. We read it in tn
papers in that lifeless style 10 which 1t mus
appear on paper. A condensation OF what
said necessarily impairs the effect. But abov
all the presence Of the witness, his manner
air, oountenance, and general willingness o
unwillingness to testify, are lost to the reader
but are all watched by the jury. Twelve me
sworn TO deal Justly, and devoting all thei
time to the subject, and that alone, woul
generally arrive at the truth. Bat when 1t
remembered that II one out of the twelve ia
TO be convinced, the prisoner would be saVec
tbe chances of his escape as against his col
viotion are at fearful odds. But the publ
opinion in the present case has all leaned
favor of a conviction. People read the ev
dence for themselves, weighed 1T, and the We
diot of popular Judgment was guilty" II
ingenuity displayed by Furman Sheppard, ESQ
assisted as he was most ably by Henry
Hapert, ESQ and Richard Ludlow, Esq, W
of a kind to surprise even those who felt me
sanguine of his talents. They have by the
management Of the case shown themselV