Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-01-07
The Knowlton Rebel Georse) Trial Ends
in Verdict Of Manslaughter, Followed
by Fight in the Court Room.

entirely unlocked for (bv the audience
day evening. About seven o'clock the
jury, which had retired at three o'clock,
announced to the halifts that it had
agreed upon verdict in the case of the
United states against II. NJ. Knowlton,
charged with the murder of David
Rauck. The Judge, the various conr.
officers and the attorneys were notified
and lay the time court had rcconvencd
the court room was comfortably filled
with spectators.
Knowlton was brought up from the
jail anil placed within the bar OF the
court, Mrs. knowlton taking her custom
AIRY seat beside him. The jury came in
at 7:30 O'Clock and took their seats and
the foreman announced that the verdict
was ready. There was momentary
buzz which subsidized as the foreman
read the verdict from slip Of paper,
I'VE find the defendant guilty Of maE-
slaughter" For moment silence al
most painful pervaded the court room,
broken only by the sob. and moans of
Mrs Knuwlton, who leaned over the
arm of her chair and gave way to the
agony of her grief.
Then knowiton rose suddenly from
his seat, advanced step or two towards
Judge Shannon. pointed his finger ut
him and shouted in tones of the widest
rage:
"And YOU are to blame for it, you bas-
tard s. o. b."
At this instant Mrs. Knowlton flung
her arms around her husbands neck
and tried to pacify him, Deputy Mar
shal Gray sprang forward and seized
him by the throat, Deputy Pay caught
him by the right arm and Deputy Moul-
ton encircled him with his arms from
behind. knowlton struggled violently,
but was pulled over backwards, break
ing down the railing of the bar and
overturning chairs, and the five per-
sons came down upon the floor all in
Il heap. 4 struggle which lasted not
more than minute ensued, when
knowlton was oyerpowered and placed
in chair and admouished to keep quiet.
No one was hurt in the struggle ex-
cep'ing Deputy Gray, who carries a
black eye and Il skinned nose, the effect
of b!ow from hnowltons left fist when
Gray first took hold Of him. After
Nno%lton was seated i'm his chair Dep,,-
ty Pay sprung pair Of shackles upon
his ankles. and III doing this job rece,v-
ed kick in the chin from the prisoner
which left deep cash in the inside of
his lower lip.
During the struggle the widest excite
ment prevailed. A portion of the au-
dence rushed toward the scene of the
encounter. while others had pressing
business down town. A woman tainted
in the audience and Judge Shannon ran
ont of back door to bring her some
water. A couple of other distinguished
officials followed, who looked some like
the governor Of the territory and his
private secretary-but everything could
not be taken in at a glance.
But i'm the course of fifteen minutes
quiet was restored and the proceedings
continued after the usual form.
The court addressing the jury)-"So
say you all Of your"
The jury-"Ies."
knowlton addressing the COURT
"Why don't you shut them off as you
did Dutch Fred?''
The court-"the jury is discharged"
Knowlton addressing the court "And
so are you" with an oath).
This ended the most remarkable
scene ever witnessed in Dakota court
Knowlton was taken back to his cell
where he was chained to the floor and
an additional guard Of two men placed
on duty. Mrs. Knowlton was accom-
panied to her hotel by some lady fsiends
and as she passed down the street her
sobs and means could be heard block
away. She had clung to her husband
with heroic fortitude throughout the
trial and she confidently expected an
acquittal The verdict unnerved her
and the sudden separation from her
husband broke her down completely.
The affair in the court room was not
unexpected to the officers. They look
ed for an attempt at escape and strong
force Of we'll armed men had been post
ed in the court room and about the
building by Deputy Gray. All the doors
were locked with the exception of one
and the guards had full instructions to
act promptly in case Of an emergency.
This is the reason Knowlton was SO
quickly surrounded and overpowered
when he rose to his feet and stepped
forward to talk to Judge Shannon. He
is man of strong passions and the Ito
HIM unexpected verdict caused him to