The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-02-22

Probabilities Of tho lsssnlt- Something
About afl the DeEsnaRnts-Bad for
Rockwell.

About a1l the DefsndRmfs-Bad for
Rockwell.
Sunday Tattlers Special correspondence
TOMS RIVER, N. j., Feb. 81. The various
phases that the Wainwright trial has as
sumed during the Eve long weeks which it
has occupied, has placed it among the most
famous murder trials in the annals Of crime
in this country. Dragging, as it has, within
its scope people IN almost every stage of
life, the trial has created widespread in
terest, Notwithstanding Its occurrence in
one of the most barren and thinly popula-
ted sections CT this State. Politics, society,
science and religion have all added their
mite to make it celebrated. Itlooked three
weeks ago as If all the defendants had
placsd themselves within the recah Of the
law, but gradually the case has been set
thing itself down to a solid basis, till, while
there Is very strong opinion In the minds
of majority of the community that all the
defendants have guilty knowledge of the
murder, 1t IS certain now that Mrs. Vain
wright and her son Charles and daughter
Mary Emma, are to be acquitted, and only
Rockwell, the chief the defendants, and
George Wainwright, the eldest son of the
murdered man, will be held. It is more
generally believed, that the jury will dis
agree even as to these. A gentleman high
in the standing of the community, told
your correspondent yesterday, that he is
personally acquainted with two or three of
the juorors and knows them to be opposed
to capital punishment. This fact, coupled
with the position in which the Juror Me-
Cague stands, makes disagreement all the
more probable. The long but skillful
argument of Mr.. Carmichael, which occu-
pied from early Wednesday afternoon till
the adjournment of Court on Friday. has
no doubt had its effect on the jury. The
quick, forcible and splendid summing up
Of Mr.. Sooy, on behalf of the Wainwright
and particularly George Wainwright. il
those defendants are acquitted, went far
toward clearing up them. Mr.. Lindabury
is said to nave declared that Mr. Sooy's adj
dress was at once the finest and
most effective he ever heard in
criminal case. Rockweil's two daughters
were in the Court and occupied seats on
either side of their father on Thursday and
Friday. Both are intelligent and refined
looking young ladies. Lizzie, the eldest.
is very handsome. She is brunette Of
about twenty; has large black eyes, black
hair, and splendid physique. The
younger sister, Carrie, is also very pre-
possessing in appearance. 1t is said that
their appearance in Court at this stage of
the trial is for effect; and indeed for one to
sit down and watch t g innocent half
orphaned girls, it seems that to rob them
of their paternal sire by consigning him to
the gallows, would be almost crime in
itself, and there is no telling what might
be the consequences to the poor girls were
such fatality to occur. Rockwell himself
has aged very much during the last few
days under the terrible ordeal through
which he has passed and it must be ad-
mitted that he is in a more perilous posi-
ton to-day than he has been at any
time since his arrest. There is q
growing belief that his only SAL
vatloa is IN the effort which Judge
Hoffman will make in his behalf on Tues
day, and it is doubted that even what he
may say will be sufficient to convince even
a portion of the jury that his hands are
not stained with the blood of James Wais-
wright.
George Rockwell, brother of the ac-
cused man, has faithfully devoted his time
and energies doing what he could to clear
him of the crime 1t is he who is backing
the defense financially, and it is even hint
ed, although reported to be man of means.
that his expenditures since the trial COM
mencsd have crippled his ready resources.
He recognizes the disgrace and stigma q
conviction will cast upon his family, and
the anticipation of such an event is said to
weigh heavily on his mind. He feels very
bitterly toward ex-Sheriff Robbins for the
stand the latter has taken in his brothers
prosecution, and all newspaper reports of
the trial In the least unfavorable (which
have necessarily been so at times) to his
brothers case are denounced by him as un-
just and prejudiced. While he stoutly de-
clares his belief in his brothers innocence.
his demeanor in conversation on the sub
ject would justify the conclusion that he
conscientiously believes to the contrary.
Your correspondent has heard men who
have taken an active part in the ferreting
out of this crime, who have always been
friends of Rockwell, tell George Rockwell
point blank that their interest had been
excited by desire to bring the man who
had outraged the community to the extent
of committing such cowardly and helm
GUS ofense to justice; that Rockwell was
the last man they suspected; but having
traced participation in the crime at least,
up to the very threshold of his door, the
damning evidence which they discovered
has convinced them beyond the perad-
venture of a doubt that he is the guilty
party. Us
1t is also the general belief of the COM
munity that, though the State has not
proved case against them, every member
OF tbs Wainwright family has guilty know
ledge of the old mans death, and the man
ner in which it was brought about. Ger
tain 1t is that nothing in the demeanor of
any one of them has been calculated to
excite the slightest sympathy for them;
and, while such an occurrence would be q
widespread topic Of comment for or against
them for a time, it would not be cause
of very general regret if the law should nd
the community of their society by consign-
ing them all to the gallows.
A great affection is said to exist between
Mary Emma and Charlie and their play
full pranks in Court sometimes would tend
to bear out the statement Charlie is the
most intelligent member of the family, and
since his confinement in Jail, has learned
to draw beautifully. He has drawn sketches
of the house, as well as the scene and
vicinity Of the murder, and in this way has
assisted his counsel not a little. Mary
Emma and George compare very tavorably
intelligence, while theignorance of the old
woman is indicated in almost every line of
her countenance, which cannot be said to
be far short of repulsive. BUD.
Hooker Guards Reception.