The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-12-12
FOR LIFE OR DEATH.
The Trial of Peter A. Weast for
the Murder of Thos. B. Parks
Occupies the Attention of
the Court this Week.
ANOTHER NOTABLE MURDER TRIAL.
wEAST'S MASCOT.

| Not since the celebrated trial of William
Russell has the criminal court Of this county
! attracted so much attention rs during the
past week, when Peter Weast, of Streator,
WAS brought before the bar to answer for the
death of Thomas Parks, Of Benson. The
Russell case was one sufficient to sisken the
stouttst heart with its revolving horrors. 1t
was one Of the foulest crimes that ever COW
cred with the blood Of its victim the fair
name of any county in this state. On May
6, 1873, little Maggie Cuddy, child scarce
ly nine years of age, left her home near Utica
to 60 to neighbors for kitten. That was
the last seen of her alive Two weeks after
her body was found in q ra,ine near the tun
mel on the Rock Island road. On the body
was found stone weighing 800 pounds and
another weighing rs. There were unmis-
taxable evidences that the child had been
ravished. Walsh. young man who was
subsequently arrested, but afterwards liber-
ated, testified that "she was alive and kick
ing when they put her under the water and
rolled the huge stones on her little body
The trial began on Oct. 20 of the same year
and on Nov Q following n verdict was brought
in by the jury Of mot guilty" That Will
liam Russell committed this worse than MUIR
derous deed, for which poor little Maggie
MI
which her blood still cries aloud to heaven
for vengeance, those familiar with the history
Of that remarkable trial and acquittal firmly
believe and will until time 81 ell be no more
In that case sense Of outraged justice was
given expression in the verdict of acquittal.
There is but little or no parallel, however,
between these cases. In the trial of Russell
there were no mitigating circumstances as
in that Of Weast, which began on Monday.
In both of these cases James W. Duncan and
Z. +, Bull figured conspicuously as leading
counsel for the defense, materially aided in
this instance by the fine Italian hand of Geo.
W. W. Blake, who has Of late years acquired
a reputation as one Of the ablest criminal
lawyers at the Ottawa bar.
1t will bs remembered that on Friday af-
ternoon, Oct. 8, between the hour. of and
2 o'clock. the shooting Of Thomas Is. Parks
occurred in room AZ of the Plumb House,
Strestor. The bullet took effect in his left
thigh. severing the femorsl artery. After
enduring several surgical operations, one Of
them. the last, the amputation Of the leg,
and suffering untold agonies for three weeks,
he died Sunday. Nov. |, at = quarter past 8
in the morning. As he was dying he made
a solemn protestation OF his innocence Of the
charge Of undue intimacy between Mrs.
Weast and himself
In addition to the regular panel, special
venire Of so jurors had been called who
were all on hand Monday noon, and the
work Of impaneling jury was begun at 2
o'clock. Previous TO that every available
seat in the Circuit Court room WAS occupied
by an eager crowd; the inclosure was almost
filled up with attorneys and those interested
in the case as Witnesses. A half an hour
after the opening Of court, presided over by