Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-02-24

WILLPTL MCROeR.
TIE Portland Wife Murderer Reund
Guilty II the First DeGree.
[OreQouian. Fob. 23d.l

OreRonian, Fob. 3d.
Considerable speculation was rife in
the city yesterday morning when il was
learned that the jury in the Murray
trial had returned sealed verdict dur
ing the previous night. The short time
which they had found necessary in or
der to agree was considered by many a.
An indication that the Jury had not
gone to either extreme. That 10, that
the verdict did not aoquit the prisoner
on the ground of insanity, neither did
it find him guilty of willful murder:
ter or murder in the second degree had
been found. Conversation upon the
matter caused much excitement among
the crowd that has gathered every morn
ing at the courthouse during tho last
eleven days. Long before the hour for
court to open the room was filled with
these eager spectators. Just before the
Judge arrived the prisoner Murray was
brought in by Jailer Doueherty and
took his accustomed seat by the aide of
his attorneys. He had been told that
the jury had agreed upon a scaled YER
dict and the announcement had not
tended to quiet his nerves. Ono fact
was very apparent, Murray either for
got to keep up his assumed state of
maudlin idiOcy, or else he did not care
to do so longer, now that his fate was
surely decided. He held his head up
and glanced furtively around the room
after he had taken his seat. The ex-
preston of his face was one Of anxious
expectancy. He tOyed nervously with
the buttons upon his vest, and shifted
about in his chair during the few mo-
mants of waiting.
When Judge Smith took his seat the
court room before him seemed to be q
perfect sea Of upturned faces. Clerk
Marshall read the minutes of the pre-
viOus days session, which occupied
some little time and served to prolong
the prisoners evident suspense. The
crowd also we're growing impatient
There was moment's silence, which
Was broken by Judge Smith saying to
Sheriff Sears, "You may bring in the
jury" A tremOr of expectancy ran
through the vast audience, and Murray
glanced nervously mp and then down,
as il just coming to his senses or awak-
ing from some horrible dream. The
jury quickly and quietly filed in, took
their seats, and their names being
called, all were found to b present.
Gentlemen Of the jury, have you agreed
upon q verdict?" asked Judge Smith.
"Yes, your honor" responded the fore
man, and be handed It to the Judge.
Brsatbless anxiety and suspense we're
nov portrayed in every face in the
audience. Murray's discontinue was
teliing upon him. His face and hands
twitched, the former scarcely any and
the latter considerably. The Judge
hastily scanned the verdict, his eyes re-
vealing 10 ono 81 o studied bis counte-
nance what the awful truth concerning
Murrxy's fate vas to be. He handed
the verdict TO Clerk Marshall. Murray
was told to stand up. He arose and
Strengthened himself with evident weak
ness and effort, and the officer read,
while a silence painful and oppressive.
like that which comes over one in the
presence of death itself, pervaded the
great hall:
In the Circuit Court, Of the State of
Oregon. for the county of MultnOmah !:
State of Oregon VI. j. w. Murray: We,
the Jury in the above entitled action,
6nd the defendant guilty Of murder in
F. n. CoLExAx, Foreman.
The last word had scarcely left the
Clerks lips before Murray, the hot
blood mounting high in his temples.
sank back in his chair. There vas
somothing like great sigh Of satiafac-
ton roos up from thu crowd. although
nearly all the speculations OF tho morn
ing were how shown to have been l0is-
judgments q 70 the convictions of thoee
twelve men Who had sworn 70 do jus
tios. Bas, although Murray was evil
IDENTITY expecting q moro favorable YER
dict, and vas for the moment oompleto-
" stunned 1t the thought OF death mp
on the gallovs, he did not again ~
lapes into his former appearance OF inn
beoility. He Vas nov wide awake 70
everything that was going on around
him, and glanced almost appealinRly At
his attorneya % e searching for one
spark OF hope. Then be looked square
" at the Jury, - il thinking. Well.
you have done your worst. and nov thai
Il II Ill over tie little l care" Tha
Court addressed himself 20 0r. DaAaG
REGARDING The tine for passing sentence
upoa the psieooer. The attorney stated
that be Vould like TO have IL postponed
fos few days, aad the Jude aooOrd.
ineiy named wednesday next Tor thaa
p1Fpooe. In another moosont 0uftAy
- uur1erog, closely guarded - ~
oleoseu, pasosd out q The CoaFt-ro0al
and dovn the stairs into the jail. Vhefl
the door Of his iron cell o0oe mos
closed upoo him. Ten 0inuseo latel
the Court. room vas eleassd, end IL
crowd Vas dispsesinR in every dirsctios
shrsaehoas The city.
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