The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-13
NINETY-NINE YEARS,
Long Term-A Scene in Missouri Court Of
Justice.


The trial of John and VIM. Williams.
two brothers, for murder in the first u e.
gree, was concluded in the Criminal
Coult yesterday morning. This case
was brought here for trial on a change
of venue from Miller County. Tnev
were charged with killing, on the rs h
Of March last, a man named l.. C0rbln,
who was shot through tine head by u
pistol in the hands Of John Williams, The
younger brother.
The ease went to the jury on Friday
night at s O'Clock. AT 10 O'Clock the
l. jury were allowed to separate and re-
turn to their homes. Yesterday morn
| ing they reassemDled, and alb Ut ii
O'Clock agreed upon verdict of murder
in the second degree as follows:
Nv e, the jury, lind the defendant, John
W illiams, gully in manner and form as
charged in the within indictment tor
murder in the second degree, and assess
| his punishment as Imprisonment Il the
PenllenLiary for the period of ninety
nine years"
ave, the jury, find the defendant,
William Williams, guilty in manner and
form as charged III the within indict-
ment for murder in the second degree,
and assess his punishment at imprison-
ment in the Penltenliary for the period
of ten years"
| There was present the father, two sis.
| ters, u niece and q female relative of the
boys. When Deputy Clerk Stewart
arose to read the Indictment the most in-
tense eagerness was deplctl d upon the
countenauces of the females, but the
fatner's tace wore look Of despair, as Ii
ne had forebodings OF the fate that was
in store for his sons. The spectators,
with whom The room was crowded MANI
tested deep interest, while the accused
lseemed the most Indifferent OF all. As
| the clerk reached that portion of the Yer-
dict which assesses The punishment OF
! John W illiams at ninety -nine years, the
sisters and niece broke into loud eXcla-
nations OF anguish, accompanied with
violent demonstrations Of grie. They
begged the clerk to stop, and tue niece
exclaimed, "Ol, what Will become OF
poor old granumotherW
| "Oh, those haru-nearted jurOrsl How
| could they be 50 cTuelV' walled u Sis.
ter.
The poor old heart. broken father was
less uemonStratiVe, but the tears which
streamed down his furrowed cheeks
showed how deep was the anguish that
filled his heart. The Clerk was YIsibly
affected, but proceeded with his dlsa.
greeabie duty as best he could, while
Lle bystanders also exhibited the emo
| ton which the scene was naturally cal
culated TO call forth.
| The glrls-for they were all young
| threw their arms around the prisoners
neoks, kissing them again and again,
making the building resound with their
cries, lamentations and eXclamatiOns,
| such as:
'On, Lordl what shall become OF me -
"Oh, john! John! Oh, brother! For
you to 20 to that horrId place!"
"JuSt think OF il! For nlnety-nine
years! On, can not stand i'll"
:. IL was sad scene, and the grief and
emotion exhibited by the relatives final
ly brought the tears to the eyes Of the
prisoners themselves.
Wnen the sentence of ninety-nine
years Imprisonment was announced for
Jonn Williams, his brother heartlessly
remarked, "Well john will lose his
teeth by that time!' Then, suddenly
changing, he exclaimed, "Lps damned
snameV aud his eyes indignantly
flashed with fury.
When the Sheriff ordered the prison
ers TO be removed 10 jail the girls clung
to them with despair, and renewed t4ell
cries and entreatles, going with then
through the streets, which echoed VIII
their cries.
The jury in the case have simply done
their duty-a disagreeabIe one, it Is
true, but one nevertheless they owed to
themselves, their Utfioe and society. Hu.
man HE ls too sacred 10 be taken with
impunity, and the guilty should recUl We
The punishment their CRIME demanus,-
st. Louis Republican.