The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-12-26
SIMPLY AN ACQUITTAL

Cross Etamnation--I his business relaE
tions with me he has been reliable.
JOEL 7. BUCKLEY,
lawyer of Streator. said Weast's reputation
is bad Would not believe him under oatf
if he was interested.
Cross. ExdnunatioS Would not believe him
any way,
ELI COPE,
another Streatorite, said Weasts reputation
is bad. Would not believe him under oath
Cross Eromination.-Have known him ID
violate his word in a business matter with me
l.. NJ. SAWYER,
supervisor of the town of Eagle, said Weast'
reputation for truth and veracity was bad.
| could not believe him under oath.
Cross Examinations strong prohibit
zionist
thur and Daniel CarmOny testified substantiS 4
ally the same.
The testimony ended about o'clock on
Thursday.
The order of argument was, upon consul /
tation with the attorneys, fixed in the fol I
lowing order: Moloney, Blake, Wright
Bull, Duncan and Mayo, after which court
adjourned until 8 O'Clock Friday.
CLOSING ARGUMENTS.
Friday morning, the eleventh day Of the
great trial, States attorney Moloney, for the
people, began his address to the jury. He
was followed by E. F. Bull, for the defense,
who closed about 3 o'clock. This change Of
the order Of speaking was found necessary
as Mr.. Bull had received a telegram an.
nouncing the suicide Of X. T. Adams, at In
dianapolis, former prominent citizen Of
La Sale, and he desired to leave for that
city next day. A. P. Wright, Of Streator,
occupied the rest of the afternoon. Sstur.
day morning Geo. W. W. Blake spoke until
II o'clock, followed by James W. Duncan,
leading counsel for tho defense. Henry
Mayo closed for the prosecution. The
speeches were all able efforts, and during
the days the circuit court room was densely
thronged to hear the arguments, while hun
dreds "were turned away"
THE VERDICT.
The instructions were read and the case
given to the jury about six o'clock P. NJ.
The first ballot resulted in eight for acquit-
tai. One juror held out for IA years i'm
prisonment and another for 20 years. At
midnight Judge Blanchard was sent for and
told that the jury had agreed. D. O'Kane,
the foreman of that body, delivered the fol
lowing verdict: We, the jury. find the de-
PENDANT guilty Of manslaughter, and FIX the
term Of his Imprisonment at three years in
the penitentiary." The usual motion for
new trial was made, but was afterwards
Withdrawn. After the prisoner WAS brought
in to hear the verdict read, he was returned
to JAIL and during the remainder Of the
night his cries and loud lamentations could
be heard throughout all portions Of the
building.
The trial was indeed battle Of legal
giants on both sides. As to the verdict, il is
one which is generally condemned by the
public, amounting to only two years and
half at Joliet, with good behavior
On Tuesday evening Judge Shpp, who
was on the bench, was asked to pass SEN
tence, but be refused, preferring to have
Judge Blanchard, who was holding court at
Princeton, do so. During the week the
prisoner has been busy getting his affairs in
order.
Thursday afternoon, when Judge Blaneh-
ard returned from Princeton, Weast was
brought into court and sentenced to three
years in the pententiary, the first day in
solitary confinement There were present
Messrs. Duncan and Blake, his attorneys,
and very few others. Mrs. Weast, who
came down from Chicago the night before,
was in the prisoners waiting room with lit
tie Maudie. Pete took his sentence steadily
and without any perceptible emotion. He
was then handcutied and taken back to Jail
and will be taken to Joliet.
Birdie, the two year.old daughter, viii
remain with the mother in Chicago. Jennie
the nurse girl, will take care of
Nlaude at Joe Weast's in Cullom, this state.
Tongaline has already done very cool
4