The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-01-15
The Trial of Ellis Closed.


William Ellis, charged with killing Mi
chael Ryan, late Marshal of Eaton, COM
menced on Monday last before Judge
HUME and a jury. From Monday morn
ing until Thursday evening the court
room was crowded from morning till
night with an immense crowd Of persons
eager to catch every word uttered in the
case. A large number of ladies we're
constantly in attendance, and though the
Judge and Sheriff CALAMITY did all they
could to accommodate them comfortably,
there are doubtless many ladies u
ing the mussed condition of hats and
costumes.
Such interest has not been manifested
in any case tried in Eaton for years.
Public sentiment was divided upon what
the jury ought to do, and would do in
the case, Marshal Ryan had many warm
friends, who would not concede any
thing, but insisted that a conviction was
certain; others more conservative, look
ed for a conviction for ~manslaughter,
while still others thought a disagreement
probable, and an acquittal possible
With all these diversified opinions and
sentiments, it is a fact creditable to the
community, that no actual bad feeling
exhibited itself and all seemed willing
that a fair trial should finally determine
the matter. An effort was made in some
quarters, as is rumored, to give the case
a political complexion, but we think the
effort was a failure.
The testimony was closed on Wednes-
day evening, and the whole of Thursday
was occupied, until 6 o'clock, in the ar
guments OF counsel. The arguments are
spoken of as able and interesting. At
seven O'Clock Judge Hume commenced
reading his written charge. The charge
was elaborate and exhaustive, occupy
ing an hour in the reading, and is spoken
of by counsel on both sides as being a
strictly impartial statement of the law.
The jury retired and the crowd gradual
ly melted away, though many remained
to the last. At eleven o'clock the jury
was ready to report, and the Sheriff, in
order to avoid a rush, acted wisely by
privately notifying the Judge and coun-
sci, without ringing the court house bell,
and there were not exceeding fifty per-
son present when the jury filed in. Al
ter the roll of jurors was called the Court
received the verdict, which was read by
the Clerk. The verdict was "not gull
ty," and was received by those present
in silence. The defendant was discharg-
ed and the curtain fell upon the last
scene in the tragedy that resulted in the
death Of Michael Ryan.
TRIAL oTEs.
Sheriff Dan Peters has been initiated.
The ladies will all vote for Judge Hume.
A ladies' gallery would have been con-
venient.
Harvey Huffman cleaned house this
week.
The honors were carried off by foreign
counsel, though the home team did well.
The court room presented the appear
ance after the trial, of having been used
for a Republican convention.
John P. Acton mourns the loss of three
porter house steaks, left in the jury room
while he crowded in to hear the trial.
The crowd on Thursday was estimated
at 700, of which number 200 we're wo-
men. Court. Corwin says there were
5000 present during the week.
Harvey Huffman has not enjoyed him
self SO much for many years. 1t was
particularly pleasing to him when late
corners stood upon his nicaly busted jury
room tables with muddy boots.