The Mineral argus., 1884-04-17
rhe cauge Of the cincinnati RiOts.

Last Saturday night, after Judge Matthews
had charged the immortal land now thoroughly
terrihed). twelve before whom William Bernet
was tried for the murder of William Kirk, public
sentiment was generally expressed, A last well
hang a 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 fu~rthermost, 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 1t
as a guide to their findings. At first they seem
to have recognized their duty plainly, and dis
covered no way to any verdict except one OF
the court for information, and asked they could
recommend the boy to mercy. despite their
verdict. The court replied that they could
Monday. when the jury announced readiness to
deliver a verdict, the courtroom was PACKED
with humanity, and difficulty was exper1encedl IN
making . passage way for the entrance of jurors
and oficerc. When the foreman announced that
Berner was not guilty of murder IN the hrst
degree, but guilty of manslaughter tine mlloest
possible under the Indictment there arose q CRY
of surprise, mingled with expressions OF disgust
and anger, from the whole audience. Before a
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 a
sight of him and probably out OF an opportunity
co do him bodily harm, The court asked the
prisoners counsel if they wished the jury
polled to see if manslaughter was
EnC NClhICk VI 11SA 49, SNOg
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: we don't want any
polling from that jury" 1t was not necessary 70
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. III
a id outrageP he exclaimed, and without the
customary thanks to the jury for their falth1nl-
ness in doing their duty, he simply said: "The
Jury is dismissed" The twelve men arose from
their places with an irregular stagger, and got
out of the court room amid great tumult- The
prisoners counsel also left, and went down thu
street. The prosecutors had welded so strong
chain of evidence that Berners counsel, before
the trial, offered to enter a plea Of murder In TIM
second degree, which would entail I'm
prisonment for life. That Cincinnati wa
burst which has followed is shown by
published interviews with prominent CITIZEN
last Monday, President w. W. Peabody Of TIN
board of trade, said, on change: L think 1
disgTaceful and disgusting beyond expression
The time has come when the people themselve
will rid the coun0y of the expense Of trying
murderers." A meeting Of builders and con
tractors was broken up ON reception OF the news
and there was but one opinion; The sooner jan
are destroyed, police disbanded and the the Oh
urated, the sooner there will be security for III
and property" Precautionary measures wer
discussed by the sheriff and his deputies at tn
jail, before the verdict had been known an hour
The jurymen remained in the grand jury room
for hours, awaiting opportunity to regain thu
homes secretly. They have disappeared hon
public ken, it seems, and would fare Ill at tn
hands of the rioters. Their names are Samue
Edwards, John Wtlsey, Francis Buck, ElWoo'
Henrie, Michael MCGUIRE, Louis Harmeyer, Hen
~ Bohne, Samuel Merrill, Wesley sk1dmort
Charles f. Dollahan, A. +. Shaw and l.. A Phil
lips.