Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-08
DOOMED TO DEATH.

for Murder-AnAble Prosecution and an
Able Defense.
The trial of Silas Frank Beebe, for the
murder of George Landphere, came to an
end late Saturday afternoon, the end being
a conviction of the prisoner, Beebe, for the
crime Of murder. The penalty is death and
at ten o'clock on the morning Of Saturday,
the 18th inst, the court will pass judgment
upon the convicted man.
A motion for q new trial has been en-
tered BY the counsel for the prisoner. but
the general opinion is that no new trial will
be granted. The evidence against Beebe
has been conclusive. and the jury could not
render any other verdict than the one pre-
sented BY them. There is a general opinion
that Williams aud Cammack we're impli-
Gated in the homicide, but as they were 70,
on trial for the %offense, the jury had nothing
to do with this suspicion and could only
find for or againat Beebe. The only way
to reach the other parties is through in.
dictment and trial of their cases,
and any citizen has the
privilege Of instituting such proceedings.
There is yet a mystery hanging about the
case, which the trial has not cleared up and
this mystery leads to the current belief that
more than one man participated in the deed
of blood or that others than Beebe were
accessory thereto.
The trial consumed two weeks, and dur
ing its progress was ably conducted by the
counsel on each side. Every source OF
evidence was consulted and all available
testimony was employed in behalf Of and
against the accused and he was given every
opportunity to establish his innocence,
When the jury finally retired there were
eight men who were so firmly convinced Of
his guilt that they cast their ballots on that
side of the question before the jurors had
exchanged views. Of the other four three
voted for acquittal and one voted blank.
The next ballot showed eleven for convic.
ton and n for acquittal and after one OF
two points hsd been discussed the twelfth
juror agreed with his fellows, and an unani.
NOUS verdict Of guilty was the result.
The prosecuting attorney, Judge Camp.
bell conducted the case with great ability
and his argument in the summing up, has
brought him numerous congratulations. 1,
was clear and logical and doubtless had
great effect upon the jury. All the salien,
points in the defense were attacked with
vixor, and in the end Judge Campbell war
conceded to b the master of the situation
General Dewey and w. H. Munro
for the defense, have nc
reason to feel that the best human efEorts
were not put forth by them in behalf o,
their client. They fought the case step by
step, taking advantage of every point which
could turn in their favor and in the end
presented an able argument in defence Of
the prisoner, which ELECTED the sympathy
of all who listened to it. There is a salts
faction in knowing that the case has been
ably and fairly litigated and that Bebee
goes to his terrible doom with the full con.
c~urrence Of the evidence. The prisone,
meets the result with a stoicism which is in
conformity with his bearing during the trial
He still asserts his innocence and the gull
of Williams and Cammack and bears up
with more than human fortitude under the
result.