River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-04-03
rae cause Of the Cincinnati Riots.

Last Saturday night, after Judge Matthews
terI,edI tae 1--we befoTe whom Wil,a Bere,
was tried for the murder of William Kirk, public
sentiment was generally expressed, AT last wen
hang murderer in Cincinnati" Both those
versed in the law and those who could under
stand plain English were sure the murder could
be nothing else than murder in the first degree
or that at furthermost two or three of the jurors
might cause a disagreement The court had
given them particularly TO understand that their
only business was to report upon the truth Of
the facts that had been presented, and that they
had nothing to do with the law except to use 10
a guide to their findings. At first they seem
to have recognized their duty plainly, and dis.
covered 30 way to any verdict except one OF
murder in the first degree: since they seat to
the court for information, and asked III they could
recommend the boy To mercy, despite then
verdict. The court replied that they could.
Monday, when the jury announced readiness to
deliver verdict, the court was packed
with humanity, and difficulty was experienced In
making passage way for the entrance of jurors
and oticerc. When the foreman announced that
Berner was not guilty Of murder in the first
degree, but guilty of granddaughter lthe mildest
possible under the indictmentl there arose a CRY
of surprise mingled with expressions Of disgust
and anger, from the whole audience Before
minute had passed the boy was taken through
the judges private room, down the back stairs,
and through the tunnel leading over into the
jail-thus cheating the noisy crowd out OF
sight of him and probably out of an opportunity
10 do him bodily harm, The court asked the
prisoners counsel IL they wished the jury
polled to see If granddaughter was
lIe vi edCu anu every Ohk
of them. They said they had nc
such wish. The same thing was asked Of the
prosecutors. No. sir" exclaimed Messrs. Pugh
and Thomas in disgust; I'VE don't want any
polling from that jury" It was not necessary to
ask the court what he thought of the verdict.
With an indignation that he shared with hun
dreds of others around him, he could not refrain
from expressing himself in an undertone. "Itf
a id Outraged" he exclaimed, and without the
customary thanks to the jury for their faithful
ness in doing their duty, he simply said; The
jury Is dismissed" The twelve men arose from
their places with irregular stagger, and got
out OF the court room amid great tumult- The
prisoners counsel also left, and went down the
street. The prosecutors had welded so strong
chain of evidence that Berner's counsel before
the trial, offered to enter plea of murder In the
second degree, which would entail Inn
prisonment for life. That Cincinnati was
not wholly ,unprepared for the out
burst which has followed is shown by
published interviews With prominent citizens
last Monday, President w. w. Peabody, of the
board of trade, said on change: Il think Ii
disgraceful and disgusting beyond expression.
The time has come when the people themselves
murderers. meeting OF builders and con-
tractors was broken up on reception of the news,
and there was but one opinion: The sooner Jalls
are destroyed, police disbanded and the the old
time 40 California vigilance committee is inaug
urated the sooner there will be security for life
and property" Precautionary measures were
discussed by the sheriff and his deputies at the
jail. before the verdict had been known an hour.
The jurymen remained In the grand jury room
for hours awaiting opportunity to regain theiI
homes secretly. They have disappeared from
public ken, it seems, and would fare i'll at the
hands of the rioters. Their names are Samuel
Edwards, John Wilsey Francis Buck, Elwood
Henrie Michael Mcclure, Louis Harmeyer Hen
Charles F. Dollahan, A. F. Shaw and l.. A. Phil
lips.