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


evidence for the state, the defendant
was placed on the stand. He told q very
different story from that told by Charlie,
and tries TO lay all the blame for the
killing on the latter. He saws he knew
nothing whatever of Charities intention
to murder Steidle until the blow was
struck, and was then compelled, at the
point of Hamilton's pistol to choke the
man 10 death and rob him of his money.
All the planning was done by Charlie /;
he mapped out the work and threatened
Billie's life If he did not execute it.
Aultman's story all through was whin-
ming hypocrItical plea for sympathy, and
is easily contradicted. 1t shows that it
has been studied more for its effect on
the jury than the hope of having it be-
lieved by the mass of people.
ARGUMENTS.
The arguments were began by MIR.
Logan, of the counsel for the state. 1t
is unnecessary to say anything of MIR.
Logan's reputation as an orator, for
that is proverbial. He spoke earnestly
and honestly that Justice be done an out
ragged commonwealth. Col. Shepherd,
attorney for the prisoner, made strong
argument against hopeless mountain
of prejudice, speaking with much
warmth and fervor. Hon. A. w. Rogers
spoke in behalf of Hamilton, pressing
upon the minds of the jury what little
hope there was in the testimony, and
Analysing and fitting together the story
OF the defendant. 1t were well that men
could set aside their own personal feel
ings and thus enter the lists to clear the
stain from the soul of self confessed
murderer, otherwise what would poor
criminals do, the whole world against
them?
At eight O'Clock court was called, and
Mr.. Wood began the closing argument.
He spoke tor nearly two hours, saying
many things to impress upon the minds
of the jury the guilt of the defendant.
His speech was impressive, and did
much TO influence the verdict.
At 9:40 the case was given to the jury
which retired to its rooms.
The court room was crowded in al
most every foot of available space.
Many ladies, representing the highest
class of society, had assembled and were
given seats inside the bar, drawn thither
BY the interest in the case. The pri-
soner sat almost motionless, head erect,
eyes wandering from Judge to jury, and
from thence to the face of the speaker;
restless, uneasy and, at times, almost
with wild appearance. His face was
paler than its wont, and the lines about
his eyes and mouth were more defined
than usual, but one not acquainted with
his history, and meeting him anywhere
else than i'm a crowded court room,
would not think that he is the hardened
sinner that he is. His restless eyes, the
twitchings at his mouth, the nervous
posture, all portray the terrible mental
strain he is undergoing.
THE VERDICT.
At an early hour Saturday morning
the streets were alive with people inter-
ested in knowing, as soon as possible,
the verdict of the jury in the Aultman
case. When the court adjourned last
night, the case had been only twenty
minutes in the hands of the jury, and
only one ballot had been taken, result
ing in for guilty of murder in the first
degree and 8 for acquittal. Two of these
three stated on their ballots that they
had not fully made up their minds on
the case, and only voted to save time,
and it is supposed the other one only de-
sired to know how the other eleven felt
before committing himself. The jury
were taken to the Simmons house, where
they had long talk and earnest talk on
the matter. This morning, after they
had arisen, and before breakfast, an
other ballot was taken, resulting in
unanimous verdict of guilty. 1t became
known long before 9 O'Clock, at which
hour court was to meet, that the jury
had found verdict, and were ready to
report. This rumor had the effect of
filling the court room to overfiowing.
At 8 O'Clock the prisoner was brought
into court, little dreaming that he was
within few feet of the men who were to
condemn him to death.
After the transaction of some minor
business the Aultman case was resumed
and the jury placed lii front of the
bar. The usual legal questions were
asked and answered, and Mr.. Jeremiah
Beattie, the foreman, stepped forward
and handed to the clerk folded paper.
The clerk opened it and read
THE VERDICT.
We, the jury, find the defendant,
William III. Hamilton, guilty of murder
in the first degree in the manner and
form as charged in the indictment.
JEREMIAH BEATIE,
Foreman.
The prisoner, who had been sitting
with his eyes resting upon |
the jury, here let them fail aud the lids |
closed over the almost sightless balls. i
He remained in this position until after |
the jury had been polled and discharged,
a perfect pictvre of lifeless man. His |
attorney placed his hand upon his
shoulder and spoke to him, when Ault-
man raised his eyes and let them wander
among the faces before him. His frame |
was in tremor; his face pale as death,
and his fingers working nervously at his
side.
Charles Hamilton was then brought