The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-08
81. c. MURRAY, 669,"
A Full History of His Case.

AFull History Of His Case.
In the DAILY ARGUS of January 6, and
the WEEKLY of last week was published a
letter signed -. G. Murray, &c., in
which the writer complained that he was
in our states prison paying the penalty for
a crime which he never committed.
The letter was handed to States Attorney
Parmenter, and that gentleman in COM
pany with an ARGUS reporter called at
the circuit clerks Office and examined the
the court records relative to Murray's case
From the records it was learned that on
August %, 1871, Murray stole horse.
valued at 1925, from Vincent Wilson. and
mare. valued at 800, from Lewis Will
son, both of Rural township, in this county,
and took them to pasture in LaSalle
Parties who knew Murray saw the horses
in his possession, and from their testimony
he was indicted by the next grand jury,
His trial came off at the September term
of our circuit court, Judge Peasants on
the bench. On the first charge, that Of
stealing the horse from Vincent Wilson,
he was tried before the following jury:
Alfred Williams, foreman, Stewart Hoon,
Y. 4, McClendon, S. B. Hendron, iona
than Parks, Arthur Burial, John Kennedy,
Robt Coyne, Frank S. Wells, George
Wilkes, Squire Jones, and P, Nunan, The
jury brought in the following verdict:
I'VE, the jury find the defendant guilty in the
manner and form as charged in the Indictment, and
| fix his term OF imprisonment at four years in the
| penitentiary"
The case was prosecuted by A. r. Mock,
ESQ.,, then states attorney, and Sweeney
& jackson, the latter firm being employed
by the Richland Grove Detective Associa-
ton. E. E. Parmenter, the present states
attorney, defended Murray
The case was fought hard by the defense
but the evidence was conclusive and the
jury had plain case, The defense at
tempted to prove an alb, but through
the blundering testimony of witness
from Davenport, what little testimony
there was in favor Of the defense was
ruined. Murray, however, did not deny
having had the horses but said he had
been hired by another man to take them
to LaSalle.
On the second charge-that of stealing
the mare from Lewis Wilson, he was tried
before the following jury, found guilty aud
sentenced to five years in the penitentiary
/ VIM. B. Petit, foreman, VIM. Z. Shaw
Isaac Webster, j. N, Mcdonald, NJ, T
johnson, Geo. Foster, g. j. Jones, Chris
p Haberloh, J. q. butcher, III, W. Bufum
Geo. W. Wather, and D. Nj, Reynolds.
The testimony and defense in this cast
o was the same as in the other one, and hi
attorney advised him to plead guilty ant
throw himself on the mercy of the court
Murray replied, mo, by Cd, [ won
plead guilty, and the jury can send me VI
, for life if they want to- don't care
, d-n." Mr., Parmenter then refused t.
+ defend Murray (having been appointed by
the court believing the evidence too stronl
. against the prisoner to hope for acquittal
The court then appointed Chas. Robinson
J, Esq. to defend Murray, and he did so witt
the above result.
The letter from Heyberger to Sherit
e Payne, mentioned in Murray's letter t
e this paper, was not connected with til
t. case in any manner, at least, so Mr.. Pal
s menter informed the reporter If
is could have helped the prisoner it woul
D. haye been used, Even if Heyberger di
steal horse he could not now be punish
ed for the offence, for in Gross's Statutes
l. Division ", Z 3, Criminal Jurisprudence
the law says:
* 8. For OTHER FELoNTEs. ALL indictments 4
-, other feloDies Except murder, arson or forger
5 must be found within three years next after Il
40 commission OF the crime,
is This would clear Heyburger, as he hi
n not been out of the state since the Grin
,4 was committed (having been in the per
b. tentiary) and no indictment has bee
i found against him.
.. There is very little doubt but win
n Murray stole the horses for which he W
- sent to prison, as two witnesses testift
that they saw him lying in the grass ne
Mr.. Wilson's house, and the horses we
II afterwards found in his possession. Mu
ray is club footed man and easily reco
n nized.
Il Murray wrote to his sister, Mrs II
comb, short time ago, asking her to q
him pardoned, and as he is said to be
sharp. shrewd fellow, the letter to th
ry paper may be dodge to create sympatf
a in his behalf, and induce people to sign
n petition for his pardon.
Sc States Attorney Parmenter will, no.
& ever, write to him, and if he can pro-
re what he asserts in his letter, that gent
lie man will assist him if he can,
of The results of the correspondence W
he be given to the readers of THE ARGUS.
ok ----
ey The Bible and the School,
* At the session last Wednesday of t