The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-12-27

NlNETY-NINE YEA RS.
An Affecting Scene in a Missouri Court of
Justice.
From the sedalla Bazoo.)

The trial of John and William Viii.
liams, two brothers, for murder in the first
degree, was concluded in tie criminal
Court yesterday morning. This case was
brought here for trial on a change OF
venue from Miller county. They were
charged with killing, on the 2Sth of last
March, a man named L. Corbin, who was
shot through the head by pistol in the
hands of John Williams, the younger
brother.
The case went to the jury on Friday
night, at eight o'clock. At ten o'clock the
jury were allowed to separate and return
to their homes. Yesterday morning they
re.assembled and about eleven o'clock
agreed upon verdict of murder in the
second degree, as follows:
1--WE, the jury, find the defendant, John
Williams, guilty in manner and form as
charged in the within indictment for
murder in the second degree, and assess
his punishment as imprisonment in the
penitentiary for the period Of ninety nine
years."
1--WE, the jury, find the defendant, VIM.
Williams, guilty IN manner and form as
charged in the within indictment for
murder in the second degree, and assess
his punishment at imprisonment in the
penitentiarY for the period Of ten years."
There were present the father, two sis-
ters, q niece and female relative of the
boys. When Deputy Clerk Stewart arose
to read the indictment the most intense
eagerness was depicted upon the Counte-
nances of the females, but the fathers
face wore look of despair, as if he had
forebodings of the fate that was in store
for his sons The spectators, with whom
thgroom was crowded, manifested deep
interest," while the accused seemed the
most indifferent of all. AS the Clerk
reached that portionof the verdict which
assessed the punishment of John Will
liams at ninety.nine years, the sisters
and niece broke into loud demonstrations
of grief. They begged the clerk to stop,
and the niece exclaimed, "Oh, what will
become Of poor old grandmother"
."Oh, those hard hearted jurors How
could they be so cruel?" walled sister.
The poor, old heart broken father was
less demonstrative, but the tears which
streamed down bis furrowed cheeks
showed how deep was the anguish that
filled his heart. The clerk was visibly
affected, but proceeded with his disagree
able duty as best he could, while the by
ISLANDERS also exhibited the emotion
which the scene was naturally calculated
to call forth.
The girls-for they were all young
threw their arms around the prisoners
necks, kissing them again and again,
making the building resound with their
cries, lamentations, and exclamations,
such as:
"Oh, Lord, what shall become of me-"
"0h, Johnl Johnl Oh, brother For
you to go to that horrid placep
1t was sad scene, and the grief and
emotion exhibited by the relatives finally
brought tears to the eyes of the prisoners
themselves,
When the sentence of ninety-ni
years imprisonment was announced for
John Williams, his brother heartlessly
remarked, "Well, John will lose his
teeth by that timep Then, suddenly
changing, he exclaimed: "It's a id
shame p' and his eyes Indignantly fash
ed with fury.
When the sheriff ordered the prisoners
to be removed to Jail, the girls clung to |
them with despair, and renewed their
cries and entreaties, ggoing with them
through the streets, which echoed with |
their cries.
The jury in the case have simply done
their duty--a disagreeable one, it is true,
but one nevertheless they owed to them
selves, their Office and society. Human |
life is too sacred to be taken with impu-
nifty, and the guilty should receive the
punishment their crimes demand.