The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-07-15

inquest last month and which has
been published in all of the papers
time and again. He told his horrible
story without the least tremor, and
spoke as if be were relating the ex-
ploits of some dime novel hero.
WEDNESDAY MAY IL.
At half past one in the afternoon
the trial of Charles Hamilton was re-
sumed, the jury appearing and taking
their seats few minutes before that
hour.
Mr.. Longan then read the exposition
of the law and instructions to the Jury
or behalf the state, and was followed
by Mr.. Sparks with those asked for
the defense.
THE ARGUMENTS.
At 1:50 Mr.. Logan began his argu-
ment, making general resume of the
case from the inception of the horrible
crime in the mind of Aultman until
the arrest and incarceration of the two
men. He ruthlessly tore to pieces the
only hope of the acknowledgements
thy-and scattered the frail fabric to
the winds. Ordinarily, Mr.. Logan is
an eloquent, logical speaker. but on
this occasion, with the punishment of
brutal and horrifying murder before
his minds eve, every word rang out,
every syllable bore might, and had the
ballotiDg for verdict been permitted
among bis hearers at the close of his
speech, il is safe to say that nine
tenths of them would have read
''guilty."
Mr.. Sparks arose, and in a low but
distinct voice began his speech. He
introduced his cause by saying that
his task was
wELL-NIGH HOPELESS.
He had been appointed by the court
to defend prisoner whose own open
confession had condemned him r; he
was laboring without hope of pecunia-
~ reward, but would do the best he
could to establish the innocence of his
client. He took the confession of
Hamilton, incident by incident, hop
ing to draw therefrom some proof of
the innocence of the unfortunate
young man. He pictured Aultman's
as the master, controlling spirit, draw
ing as with chain of steel the weaker
mind of Hamilton. All the occur
rences of the tragedy save one, the
striking of Steidle with the track
wrench, we're proven to have been the
work of Aultman by him the plans
were laid by his strong will and
SUPERIOR CUNNING
were they executed. Hamilton had
struck the blow that stunned their
victim, but beyond this none of the
fiendish work had been his. He did
not see anything of Steidle until the
night of the murder; Aultman had
-coaxed him away from Sedalia, de-
.ceived him at Montserrat, walked
with him to Warrenshurg. enticed him
into the gloomy railway track in the
dead hour of night, cursed and abused
Hamilton for not striking the blow,
and after the murderous weapon had
fallen upon the head of the helpless
and unsuspecting German,
RTFLED HIS POCKETS
of their contents, land rolling the writhing
body over to secure the pistol in the hip
pocket, leaving the body between the
rails 10 be crushed beneath the wheels
of the approaching tram. But of no
avail was Mr.. Sparks plea for the life
of his client. After speaking for more
than an hour he yielded the floor to
Prosecuting Attorney Wood, to whom
was assigned the duty of closing and
giving the case to the jury. Mr.. Wood,
though at times forclble and brilliant
orator, needed not to say much on this
occasion, for the verdict
WAS PRINTED ON THE FACES OF
THE JURY.
He finished his speech at 4 As, and, |
after hearing the instructions of the |
court, the jury retired.
just an hour later, that is 5 :45, the |
Jury signalled to the sheriff that they had |
come to conclusion and filed in and |
took positions before the court. The
usual legal questions were asked and the
foreman handed the verdict to the clerk.
silence lasted few minutes, when
the clerk was commanded to read the
verdict. 1t was as follows:
THE VERDICT.
"We, the jury, find the defendant,
Chas. Hamilton, guilty of murder in the
first degree, in the manner and form as
charged i'm the Indictment.
"ANDREw 5. CAMPBELL,
Foreman"
Mr.. Spark then asked that the jury be
polled, which was done The clerk
called their names one at time, and
after answering the court propounded
TO each this question, ''Mr.-, is this
your verdict" to which each answered
s yes" and they were discharged. /
CONDUCT OF THE PRISONER.
The prisoner watched the jury closely
from tho timp thay pntorod tho roo,,, - |