Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-10-24
THE EDWARDS TRIAL.
A Verdict of MansIaughter.

Recommt HdatIon to the Mercy OF the Court
Al garments OF Counsel In the Cnse-Tke
Charge Of Judge uumphreys.
The case Of Heseklah Edwards, charged with
the murder Of Robert Humburd, was resumed
this morning.
The argument for tho defence was begun by
Mr.. L. A. Williams, who argued that Hum.
burd had destroyed the honor and peace Of Ed.
wards home, and deserved death.
Den. Henklo called the attention OF the Jury
to the Sickles case and other numerous pre-.
cedents where the husband had killed the
scducer Of his wife and been held blameless for
It. lie read from many cases, and quoted tho
sentiment Of an English Judge, who aid: III
your verdict Is not according TO law, Il will be
beautiful In the sight Of God and man.
Mt Harrington said that he would not have
argued the case had Il not boon for the bold stand
taken by tho counsel on the other side. lie had
never before heard an advocate urge Jury to
overstep the law. There was no man who 40.
copts the Slckles trial as law. He abhorod the
seducer rs much a. any one; he could SOC how
young, Inexperienced woman could bo seduood,
bot he did not believe In the seduction Of mar.
ried women. He did not believe that mon should
he Killed. for intercourse with married women.
They ND no evidence that HumBurd had SO.
duccd THIS woman. He thought that thoro was
no necessity to argue the pOlut Of seltdefonce,
and he bfiehy called the attention Of the Jury to
their oathS auA their duties,
further charge nS i1Ty mai before thew can
acquit the person thy must DO satisfed al The
time there was an hbuAl impending necessity
had reasonable ground tSSaIss such apprsbep.
sion. lie felt II his duty also TO refer to the
higher law Idea. They W6ro 10 and only tho
facts, for society would not be tafo when Jurors
step outside the facts. He calI,I attention 10
their Oaths, and remarked that III, higbeF law
was not the law Of the land. There Il some OK.
cHsS where ,SC party 'SIIsgd pure Ng3 AID
victim Of a despOller Of virtue and habpInsss
No Judge In such case would rule the sttlct
letter Of the law. The jurors were to taEe the
facts and circumstances rs brought beOre them
in each case. II was their province 10 md tho
facts, and the duty OF the Judge TO Instruct them
As to tho law. The Jury could retirO and bring
In n verdict on the iacN and circumstances a.
they found them; the higher crime having been
abandoned, Il they found the accused guilty II
should be guilty OF manslaughter.
THE JURY OUT
Soon after O'Clock the jury won't To their
room, and the crowd waited en- nidsts for some
time In expectation Of verdict.
THR COURT AID INTERIM.
The newspaper men passed the time "WaItInR
for the veTdic.' in remlnlsoencos OF tho olden
Jurles before drawing from the box came into
vogue. One Of them ayerred that 10 tho good
portlco Of the Oily Hall, which looks into the
windows OF the Jury room, and upon a loud
cough being given as signal ono Of the Jurors
was sure to appear At the window. Eight
fingers up-then four fingers NJ" and straight.
way the Newspapers aud the public know the
Jury stood eight for conviction and four for &C.
ran reporter, with sigh at tho deReneracy OF
these latter days.
IL TIA VERDICT
At $50 O'Clock Judge Humphreys resumed
his seat There was buzE and n whisper,
"The Jury have agreed" And this idea was
confirmed by the fact that the Jury came in aud
took seats In the usual manner as when dslly.
erlng a verdict.
DIsAPPotNTMRHT.
Judge Humphreys. Gentlemen Of tho Jury,
have you agreed upon verdlct9
The Foreman. We have not,
BY consent Of the counsel for the defence and
OF the District attorney you will DO permitted 10
90 to the usual place and got your dinner. You
will then return to your room to deliberate, and
II you agree upon a verdict notify the marshal,
who will notify me, and We will BIO in attendance
for the purpose Of receiving the verdict.
The court then took recess, and the lnfOTma-
tlOn which passed current was that there was q
permanent disagreement and that Ed war d 8
would have 10 be tried anew.
GUILTY OF MANsLAUaHTRR.
Amer the Jury had dlnod they returned to
their room IN the City Wall, and at 1880 O'Clock
returned TO the courtroom, having agreed upon
verdict. Judge Humphreys, MI. Harrington
and MIR. Camp, the assistant clerk anu tho pFls.
Oner were sent for, and about o'clock, all being
present, the foreman Of the Jury, 10 response 70
the usual question Of the clerk, replied that they
had found the prisoner guilty OF inAnslau X tel,
and recommended him to the mercy OF the court.
Gen. Hinkle then gave notice OF his Intention
to enter q motion for q new trial; alter which
the court adjourned.