The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-27
d conyict the defendant was ABUNDANT

10 convict the defendant was abundant
without that of L. E. Stratton. He admit
ted that he considered the evidence o.
Stratton highly improbable, and thought
that it did not produce the conviction or
the partof the jury. lie said this theory was
supported by three of the jurors who mad,
affldavits to the effect that the evidence
outside of Stratton was sufficient for con
yiction.
The second reason was that Court vii
not generally grant new trial for the pur
pose of impeaching a witness. He said
there were always two sides even in such a
question, and while number might swear
they would not believe man under oath,
others would testify that they would SO be-
lieve him.
The Court thought that there was suffi-
cient evidence to sustain the verdict, and
thought that the verdict was the result OF
careful. dispsssionste consideration Of
all the facts on the part of the jury.
In concluding his remarks Judge Smith
said that he was willing to testify his ap.
proval of the conduct of the prisoners
counsel, Messrs O'Afara and Hass, in de.
Tending him. They had given him the
benefit of their talents. and had made the
most Of the law in his favor
He then stated that the motion for new
trial would be overruled.
THB SENTENCE.
The Court turned to the prisoner, who
had watched the proceedings with the
closest interest, and said, Prisoner are
you ready for your sentence2"
The counsel for the prisoner hurriedly
whispered to him to stand up, and he obey
ed in rather an awkward manner. His face
was perfectly white as he stood up to re-
ceive his death sentence.
The Court continued addressing his re-
marks to the prisoner, Have you anything
to say Why the sentence of this Court should
not be passed upon your"
For a second the prisoner failed to re-
ply The silence during the brief interval
was intense, everybody within the court
room craned their necks to secure good
view of the condemned man, and all were
eager to catch the words he was about to
utter
The prisoner in a husky voice said in
reply to the Courts question. Yes, | am
an innocent man. If I take the rope
take it as an innocent man. If you hang
me; after I am gone, you will find out who
the murderer was" He stopped for breath,
and made two or three steps in the direc
ton of the table at which were seated Mr..
Parmenter and Mr.. Jackson, attorneys fer
the prosecution. He said
''Mr. jackson says murder will out and
after am dead you will find out who did
the murder. You will find out that I am
an innocent man That is all / have to
say"
The court then sentenced the prisoner
in the following language:
You have had fair trial; you have
bean ably represented by your counsel, and
you have been convicted by 8 jury. 1t
only remains for the court to pass sentence,
which is that you be taken to the county
jail, there to be kept in solitary confne
ment until the 24th of March, on which
day. between the hours Of and S o'clock
in the afternoon, within the jail or on the
jail Enclosure, by the sheriff to be hanged
BY the neck until you are dead. And may
God have mercy upon your soul"
The solemnity of the scene was duly APP
1reciated by the vast crowd of people in
attendance. The sound of the counsePs
roice had hardly died away, when He'll
wagon, who was standing, said:
Much obliged; you will hang an inno-
cent man"
AS soon as this occurred the crowd,
thinking that the session was concluded,
made an effort to leave the court room.
They were promptly brought to their seats
~ the sheriff, who informed them that
court had not adjourned. The counsel for
he defense obtained sixty days in which
o file bill of exceptions, after which the
court adjourned.