The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-09-04
the oUPT0M TRIAL.
TIE oRxAr TRIAL ENDED At LAST.


commenced this morning. Hon. d. T.
Linegar made the opening argument, and
that he made powerful speech against
the prisoner is admitted on all sides.
His method Of handling the
case was peculiar to Lincgar. Mr.. Line.
gar is o sympathetic sort Of man and
his feelings are always with the prisoner.
But he overcame that in this case. While,
during his entire speech, he never once
spoke an unkind word of Gupton, his
structures upon the crime committed by
him and the eulogy passed upon the muir
dercd man, had telling effect upon the
prisoner.
II. B. Hardy, for the defense, followed
Linegar, and made an excellent argu-
ment.
J.F. Mccartney commenced the clos
ing argument for the defense at o'clock
this afternoon, but had not concluded
when court adjourned, He will finish in
the morning, when Judge Allen will
make the closing argument.
When Gupton was put on the stand.
yesterday, he testified that he went into
Eschbach's shop to get shave. When
he went in, Eschbach was In the rear OF
the shop wiping his hands with towel.
Gupton went to one of the chairs, when
Eschbach turned to him and said: "What
do you WANT" Gupton told him he
wanted to be shaved. Eschbach said:
Go out Of here" and came towards
him. Gupton did not move, and Esch.
bach took hold Of him and commenced
TO push him, and in pushing him, Cup
ton fell, when Eschbach kicked him two
or three times In the side. Eschbach then
left him and went towards the rear of
the shop, as Gupton says he thought, to
get some kind Of weapon. Gupton got
up and started for the door, and just as
he reached the door Eschbach caught up
with him. As GuptOn opened the door
Eschbach kicked and at the same time
pushed him Out on TO the sidewalk with
such force as to throw him (Gupton) to
the sidewalk. When he got up he saw
Eschbach standing in the door and he
(Eschbach) made a motion as If to come
at him. 1t was then that he drew his re-
volver and fired three shots, with what
result is well known to the readers OF the
BULLETIN.
The above is substantially Gupton's
evidence, though not exactly his lam
guage.
One thing is certain: the witnesses for
the prosecution did not "pan OUT as
strong case against the prisoner Al
every one believed they would. What
effect Aliens speech may have on the
jury can't tell, but II the case was to &c
to the jury As II now stands, and they
were to return verdict of mot guilty -
1t would not be surprising to any one.
That hanging is "played out" In this case,
Is certain. Public opinion has undergone
wonderful change within the last day or
two, aud Gupton is beginning to be re.
garded as not so bad a man after all.
The general impression now Is tina,
GuptOn will get from two to five years IL
the penitentiary. LEN.
CoNCLCsIoN-THE VERDICT.
VIENNA, Ills, Sept. 3, 1875.
There Is no use In making a. shOr
story long. 1t is all over now, and Cup
ton knows his doom.
Judge Allen made the closing argu
nent in the case this afternoon. At foul
O'Clock the case was given to the jury
At seven II was announced that the jury
had agreed, and court at once assembled
to hear the verdict. The prisoner wal
brought into the court, and all the coun.
sci being present. and:the judge asking
the foreman of the jury whether the jury
had agreed upon verdict, the answer
was YES" The clerk then read the yer
diets as follows:
1--WE, the jury, find the defendant
guilty Of manslaughter, and fix his pun.
ishment at tour years In the peniten.
tiary."
This verdict was not unexpected. 1t
has been evide0t since the first day OF
the trial that public sentiment was Drift
Ing to the prisoners tavor, and grew
stronger and stronger In his favor every
day, until tonight, when 1t is almost i'm
possible to find man who Is not In favor
Of the absolute acquittal of the prisoner,
or giving him more than five years In the
penitentiary at the farthest.
What has wrought this change In the
mind OF the people is a mystery to
me, unless 1t has been the appearance
and demeanor Of the prisoner during
the trial. Gupton has certainly conducted
himself in manner TO command the
sympathy Of all who have attended the
trial. But 1t is over Gupton will 60 to
Joliet for four years, and by good be-
havior, will get OF with three years and
two months, which Is certainly but slight
punishment for taking the life of a hu.
man being. The jury have said it, and
1t must be so.
cannot close without saying word
70. the young attorneys who conducted
the defense In this case-Messrs. Harker,
Hardy. Mccartney and Cameron. Each
and every one of them labored from first
to last with zeal worthy such as only
men of their metal and determination