The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-27
concluded from Seventh Page.l
ACQUITTED.
AN ANDERSON JUSTICES DE.
CISION.
CORwIN DISCHARGED.

/
CoNsEoUENcEs-THE MONETARY AFFAIRS.
| From a Special Correspondent OF the Sentinel.
| ANDERSEN. IND, Jan. 23.-To begin in the
middle, John e. Corwin was acquitted to-
day, the Judge deciding that the slaughter
was justifable one. It is profitable, how
ever, to follow the proceedings which have
resulted in this surprising decision. To all
outward appearances, the trial was attended
by just as many people and witnessed with
just as absorbed attention as when the web
began to unravel itself last Tuesday. The
court had barely got settled to work when
General Harrison, who is always listened to
with curiosity and attention, said that he
wished to explain the testimony of Mr.
Halford, and that that gentleman should be
| recalled to the witness stand. The prosecu-
ton stating that they did not care to fur
4 ther examine Mr.. Halford they came
to the conclusion of proceeding with
| the arguments. Colonel Milt Robinson
1 opened for the prosecution and spoke at
some length on the general principle of the
killing and the duty of the justice in the
case. Mr.. Robinson's argument was direct.
careful and curt. He was followed by Jno.
"A. Harrison. for the defense, in an able
speech, after which the court adjourned to
meet az one o'clock in the afternoon, when
every one was expecting the tug of war
to begin, as General Ben Harrison was
to speak for the defense and Major
Gordon to follow for the state, the case then
to be laid before his honor, the justice, for
| decision. At one O'Clock the room was
densely packed with an anxious audience,
who filled the aisles and the stage behind
the justices seat. Corwin came in with his
counsel and took his seat near where they
sat. During short delay in waiting for
| the prosecution, he took from his pocket
| local paper and read il with apparent atten-
ton for few minutes. Just behind him
sat his brother from New York, and Mr.. l..
A. Fuller. of Cincinnati. Shortly afterwards
Mr.. Harry Corwin, another brother,
a. resident of Cincinnati. came in
and took seat near by. The
brothers are wonderfully alike in phys
ique, manner and bearing-all blondes, with
the same method of dress and personal
adornment. Mr.. John Z. and Harry Cor
win bear a closer resemblance than
does the other one to either of them. The
prisoner got up and walked about, speaking
to his friends and shaking hands with great
composure until the proceedings began,
when he returned to his seat, where he sat
with his arms folded, calmly surveying the
spectators. General HARRISON then COM
menced his argument for the defendant.
During the speech Quincy Makepeace,
brother-in-law of the prisoner, worked his
way through the crowd in an intoxicated
condition and took a seat on the floor of the
stage just behind his brother-in-law, who to
all appearance did not notice his arrival.
GENERAL HARRIsoN's PLEA.
General Harrison never made a more
brilliant plea. He grouped the facts in favor
of his client with matchless skill, and it was
hardly surprising that the weak brother on
the bench fully assented to the demand of
the great advocate. can give but skele-
ton of the line of argument. General Har-
rison said that they had now come to that
crisis of the investigation when they would
lay down their work, and his honor would
begin his. The general spoke at some length
on the testimony of those who were present
in the room at the time of the killing, and
portrayed how Colonel Stilwell had, after
hastily, and as some of the testimony
showed, roughly answered his wife when
she asked him if he would not buckle his
overshoes, and passed out OF the house ahead
of the gentlemen with whom he had been
talking, and went directly across the street,
where Mr.. Halford testified he saw him take
from his pants pocket revolver and place
it in side pocket of his overcoat, and that
he hastily turned the corner, went down by
Corwin's Office and looked through the WIN
dows to see if Corwin was there, and then
on seeing him, he entered, and with cooked
pistol in one hand addressed Corwin:
damn you, am done with YOU" And on
CorwiR's coming to the pay-out through
which Colonel Stilwell was pointing his re-
volver he moved around to the side pay-out,
so as to shoot him in vital part; and then
Corwin grasped him and clambered over the
counter, struggling with him. which plainly
showed that he had no intention of killing
him then, for if he had wanted to kill him he |
could have done so when Stilwell frse
came into his Office with a pistol |
pointed at him; but be kept trying to |
persuade Stilwell not to shoot, and on re- |
ceiving the ball from Col. Stilwell's revolver, |
be rapidly drew his own and, in quick sue |
cession, fired two shots into his head. If the |
friends of Col. Stilwell try to make him ap-
pear as an emPty-headed town bully, blag-
CART who went about the streets threatening
whom he may, the law protects John E.
Corwin in killing him when he did. But
say Thomas n. Stillwell was a determined |
man in regard to shooting Corwin. He had
repeatedly said that he would kill him, and
witnesses here, who were his friends, tell of
how they told him not to make such threats.
John Z. Corwin did not seek chance to kill
Thomas N. Stilwell, but would avoid him in
all places. His path from his house to his
place of business led by Thos. n. Stillwell's
house, but he made it a habit to cross the
street and not 60 by there, and for this Col.
Stilwell called him coward. Mr.. Ed. Hen
derson testified that Mr.. John. f. Corwin
used to be a customer of his, and that about
two years ago he and Col. Stilwell had a
quarrel in front of his store, and that he
knew the colonel came into his store every
day and in the evening, and for that reason
Corwin quit coming to his place of business,
does this show that John Z. Corwin wanted
to kill him. The general spoke for one hour
and forty minutes, and covered all the testi-
mony that had been brought up during the
When the general took his
seat, somewhat heated from his exertions.
the spectators began applauding him loudly,
when he turned facing them and telling
them to stop, as it was not right or custom
airy to do so.
MAJOR GORDON
Then took the floor, and said that his
honor must not expect him to make an elo-
quent address, as his friend the general had
said he would, but that he would only speak
of the circumstances of the case and leave
his honor to decide as to whether John E.
Corwin was to be committed or acquitted.
The major said that SO far as he personally
was concerned he pitied the prisoner