The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-12-28
THE RICHARDSON MURDER
Judge FTGaSGS Charge to The Jury.
7AG Verdict --MalSIalghtGr.

W, A. Lynch closed the argument for the state
last Saturday afternoon, and Judge Frease dellV.
cred to the jury very just and well worded
charge, and they were sent out at about o'clock,
About9 o'clock Sunday morning the ringing of
the Court House DELL announced thatthe jury had
arrived at decision, and upon the sitting OF the
court and the assembling of number of people.
the jury through the foreman, returned a sealed
verdict of anslaughter in the third degree, with
recommendation to the mercy of the court. -
When the prisoner was brought In and the yertit /
was read to her, she exhibited much emotion. ev.
identity not having anticipated anything but a
verdict of acquttal. II is understood that her at.
torntys VIII probably argue motion for new
trial. but court does not resume until next Tues.
day The penalty for this degree is from one to
ten years inclusive.
This case, In all Its bearings, is one Of the most
remarkable on record, and had it taken place in
the courts OF any Of the large cities. It's details
would have been sent out to all the civilized
world, 1t is we believe the only case on record
where the ablest chemical and mcroscopic an.
thorities of the country, or In the world for that
matter, have been brought In to decide case of
life or death by an examination and anallzation
of the blood. When professional scientists, whose
names and fame in such branches are known to
all Europe and America, are brought In as experts
and witnesses to prove which is the blood from one
person and which from another. 1t is case that
stands without parallel, and no wonder It caus
ed so much interest as to fill the court room and
gallery daily so fall that even standing room was
hard to find
The arguments in the case occupied the week,
N m
Mr.. Lynch's Saturday afternoon, alter which
Judge Frease delivered his charge to the jury
The charge will be found in this paper and 1t will
be seen, as usual with Judge Freases course on
the Bench, was judiciouSly and carefully given.
r S. Sh eldS prosecuting attorney FIR the State,
opened for the state, and included his argument
at noon on Tuesday occupying about hours in
all. Mr.. Shields referred largely to law authori.
ties, and to cases similar in character.
Col. s. Meyer followed on behalf of the accused.
occupying Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday
forenoon. His argument was worthy of the Colo.
nels well known legal ability He closely pxom
ined and reviewed portions of the testimony, and
also referred to the law applicable to the case.
John McSweeney followed Mr.. Meyer on the
same side, commencing at . p. m. Wednesday and
consuming the afternoon, continuing Thursday
all day and Friday forenoon. making two days or
some 16 hours of speaking in all. We need not
say that Mr. McSweeney's argument was worthy
ofhisgreat fame as one of the most eminent law.
yers of the country. His effort was full and com.
pete in reviewing the testimony, in explaining
the law, in rhetoric and eloquence For rclearness
and pointedness of expression Mr.. McSweeney Is
always remarkable and in this instance he was
eminently successful
During the entire trial our large court room,
one of the finest and most spacious in The State,
was crowded, and for the last few days of the
trial was jam, all standing space being occupie d
by male and female.
W. A, Lynch, Esq, closed the case on behalf of
the State in a full and most able review of the law
and the testimony, answering the arguments of
the defence, He began Friday afternoon and con.
cluded Saturday afternoon about 4 p m. Mr..
Lynch argues cOnciSely closely and pointedly,
and in this case he fully sustained his high repu.
tatiOn a. lawyer
The following is the charge of Judge Frease
Gentlemen Of the Ju1y;
The indictment in this case, upon
which the prisoner has been placed upon
trial, charges in substance that on the
10th day Of January, 1876, at the County
of Stark, and State of Ohio the prisoner
purposely and of deliberate and premedi-
tated malice, did kill and murder one Ed
ward Richardson, by shooting him in
the head, to-wit: on the left temple of
the said Edward Richardson, with a lead
en- bullet, shot by means of gunpowder
from pistol then and there held in the
right hand of the prisoner, she then and
there, and thereby purposely and of de-
liberate and premeditated malice, giving
to the said Edward Richardson, one NOR
tai wound, in his left temple, of the width
of one-quarter of an inch and of the depth
Of three inches, of which mortal wound
the said Edward Richardson then and
there instantly died, and that this was
done contrary to the forms of the Statute
in such case made and provided, and
against the peace and dignity of the State
of Ohio.
To this indictment, the prisoner having
been duly arraigned, plead not guilty.
By the humane policy of our law, every
person accused of crime is presumed to
be innocent in the absence of full proof
of guilt, and therefore, before you can
find the prisoner guilty, you must be sat
isfed of her guilt by the testimony in the
case, beyond the existence of reasona-
BILE doubt.
To enable you to intelligently consider
this case, will first call your attention
to the various provisions of the Statute,
defining and Furnishing the different
grades of the crime of unlawfully taking
human life.
By these provisions, all criminal homi-
eide, or unlawful taking of human life, is
divided into three classes, to-wit Muir
der in the first degree; Murder in the
second degree, and Manslaughter. These
three classes of punishable homicide, are
defined by an act of the General Assem-
bly, of this State, passed March l, 1885,
The first Section of this Act, provides
that if any person shall purposely and of
deliberate and premeditated malice, or
in the preparation, or attempt to perpe-
trate any rape, arson, robbery, or bur-
glary, or by administering poison, or
causing the same to be done, kill another
every such person shall be deemed gull
ty of murder in the first degree, and on
conviction thereof, shall suffer death.
The second section provides that if any
person shall purposely and maliciously,
but without generalization and dellbera-
ton, kill another, every such person
shall be deemed guilty of murder in the
second degree, and on conviction thereof,
shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary,
and kept at hard labor during life. iHt|
The third section provides that if any
person shallunlawfully kill another, with,
out malice, either upon sudden quarrel
Or unintentionally while the slayer is in
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