The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-08-22
END OF THE CRAWFORD TRIAL.
rwenty-ons Years in the Pemit.ntiary.

Years in the Pemitentiary.
EDITOR NEWS: The last scene in
the great Crawford murder case
closed on Monday morning, at 81
o'clock. On Friday afternoon the
court declared the evidence closed,
aud discharged the witnesses. He
then delivered to the jury his charge,
which was distinguished for its
clearness and completeness. Impair
tial to both State and defendant, it
embraced every point which could
legally be submitted on the part of
the prisoner. Mr.. Kellar, County
Attorney of Marion county, first
addressed the jury on behalf of the
prosecution. His speech was not
marked by any display of oratory,
but was a close analysis of the tes-
tipony, and review of the facts in |
the case. He closed Saturday
morning about O'Clock, when Mr..
Frank Doster, of Marion Center,
counsel for defendant, went to the
Jury. His argument was calm and
evinced q maturity of thought rare
Iy found in one so young. The evil
dence was skillfully turned by him
to the interest of the defendant, and
vet with q show of fairness and
honesty throughout. He spoke
about an hour and half, and left
the main effort on behalf of the ac-
cused to be made by Mr.. Case, of
Topeka, who followed him in a
speech of six hours and half The
court room was by this time well
filed with citizens, and a number of
ladies had gathered in the gallery.
Some disappointment was felt at
Mr.. Cases argument. The impor-
lance of the issues involved-life or
desth-and the reputation of the
counsel had awakened high expec.
tations. and many were present ex-
pecting to be thrilled by impassiOned
sloquence. The address was able,
and an exhaustive summary of the
evidence, but there seemed to lack
that earnestness, and sympathy
: which the occasion demanded. The
wife of the prisoner sat by his side,
wearing in her face deep traces of
the sorrow she endured, and at her
right their little daughter, of sweet
countenance and lady-like demean-
or, apparently unconscious of the
doom that threatened her father.
Mr.. Case seemed to think that his
cause was sufficiently strong with
out an appeal to those sympathies
which are so often called in play In
, criminal trials. He said that the
hour was pregnant with glorious
opportunity for an appeal of this
: kind, but that he forebore the temp
tation, relying simply on the law
and the evidence for acqnittal.
, Court adjourned till p. IN. At
, its converting the court room was
crowded, and the gallery filled with
ladies and gentlemen. Mr.. Martin
/ began his argument under happy
: auspices. His exordium was an adj
r mOnition to the jury explaining their
duty, and warning them against
yielding to frivolous and foolish
doubts. After three and a hall
hours argument, be closed with
: peroration of singular tenderness
and beauty. While asserting his
belief of the defendants guilt OF
murder in the first degree-he told
I the jury in order that the greatest
mercy might be mingled with JUS
! tice, that he would bring i'll YER
dict OF guilty in the second degree.
The jury then retired to consider
of their verdict. In few minutes
2 they returned to'hear again the in
! strucLions of the court in regard to
: murder in the second degree. This
> indicated what would be the result,
> and at a quarter past II the verdict
was returned and amid breathless
silence, read by the clerk;
"We the jury in the above enti-
. tied cause do find the defendant
guilty of mlrder in the second de-
I gree" o. j. BOWMAN, Foreman
The Jury was then discharged and
! court adjourned till 6 o'clock Mon.
: day morning, at which time SEN
T tence was pronounced. The defend
!. ant being asked to show legal reason
why sentence should not be impos-
ed, and trembling with violent ex-
element, asserted his innocence,
: and declared that he Yves convicted
by perjured witnesses. He spoke g
t half hour, and still standing the
court pronounced his punishment
twenty-one years confinement and
hard labor in the penitentiary of the
: State OF Kansas,
This was the climax to orr GRIM
inal record-one sentenced for fog
gerry, one for assault with intent to
commit rape, and ons for murde:.
. The last two cases are severe com.
mentary on the liquor traffic, as il
: cannot be doubted that they were the
: legitimate fruits of Intoxicating
drinks. On Tuesday night the
sheriff conducted these parties TO
the penItentiary. An effort will be
made by counsel for Nugent or
/, Crawford to secure reVerssl OF
! their trials. Respectfully,
! j. p. PINKERTON.
DEBTS OF THE SOUTHERN STATES.