Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-06-11
THE EDWARDS TRIAL.
Able Arguments of Counsel on Each Side
The Case Given to the Jury At p. m.

THE EDWARDS TRIAL.
Able Arguments Of Counsel on Each Side
The Case Given to the Jury At p. m.
The Edwards Wilson murder trial was re-
sumed in the district court yesterday morn
ing, with Judge james A. Ray, of yelling
ton, on the floor on behalf of the state.
Judge Rays argument, which was . fine
effort, was directed mainly towards tearing
to pieces the proceeding argument of the
defendants counsel, VIM. Mcdonald, and
he succeeded in making some serious rents
in that gentleman's version of the care.
Judge Ray spoke for over an hour and a
half, during which time he held the stten-
ton of the jury well. he reviewed the ev-
idence very carefully and secuted the theory
of self-deJense. He referred to the sort
of weapon Wilson carried, saying that it
was only little buckshot concern and was
not a deadly weapon. He warned the jury
of their duty in the case and cautioned
them not to be led aside by any considers
ton of sympathy that might be excited by
the presence of defendants wife and chill
dren.
He was followed by Mr.. Thomas George,
of Wellington, for the defence, who spoke
about the same length of time as Judge Ray
had. Mr.. George made an unusually strong
and earnest argument, reviewing both the
evidence and tho arguments Of the states
counsel, and dealing the witnesses for the
state sundry sturdy blows. He Eso dealt
largely with the character of the deceased,
on which he drew several black lines. Mr..
George concluded at lbs and court ad-
journed until p. m.
When court reconvened in the afternoon
the room was full of spectators and
listeners. A few ladies were also
present and among the ladies inside the bar
besides those related to the deceased and the
defendant, were Mrs. Judge Ray and Mrs.
II. II. Davidson, of Wellington.
The Sedgwick county bar WAS well rep
resented, the two remaining and principle
arguments of Hon. W. E. Stanley, of this
city, for the defense and that of Mr.. John
A. Murray, Sumner county's young county
attorney, on behalf of the state. The court
was called to order st LOO and the roster of
the jury was called. Hon. w. E. Stanley
then squared himself before the jury to
make the final effort for the life and liberty
of VIM. T. Edwards, and he certainly made
an effective and telling argument, which
made profound impression on both the
jury ard and all inside that hall. At first
his manner was placid and cool but as he
advanced well into the field before him. he
warmed up, the fire of conviction lit up his
countenance and he wsxed eloquent. For
two hours he poured forth stream OF ar
gument, of persuasion and of appeal. Con-
ddent of the justice of his cause he went
into it with An earnestness and q will that
carried conviction, and in the language Of
many who have known him for years, "he
msde the best effort of his life." He entered
at great length into the evidence and she wed
up every little Inconsistency in the states
testimony; painted yividly the characters of
the gamblers on whose testimony the state
relied for conviction and inquired of tn
jury whether they would be willing TO trust
their lives or their property in such hands.
For the purpose of illustrating the unrelia-
bic character of the states evidence he
placed seyera. objects on table in front of
the jury to show the situations of the sew
sral witnesses and the combatants with re.
spect TO each other and went on to show how
impossible it was that their evidence re-
garding the position of Edwards and Wilson
on that fatal occasion, could be true.
In an elegant peroration he drew a very
vivid picture of the theories of both sides OF
the case and closed with very poetical ap-
pea! to the jury.
Al PRECISELY 2:45 County Attorney Muir
ray. of Wellington, took the floor and spoke
until o'clock. He bowed to the Judge and
then turned ana faced the jury. entering
Immediately into his argument with no in
PRODUCTION save referring to the painful duty
his position, as the attorney of the state,
imposed upon him. From that on he pro-
oeeded step by step into the merits of the
case and delivered thrust after thrust to the
defendants theory and placed him in ex-
sctly the same category as the states wit
ness whom the attorneys for the defense de-
rided and claimed their evidence was en-
titled to no consideration.
According TO his own evidence he said the
defendant was gambler and had been the
of "a gaming house in Wellington
For two hours and twenty minutes he con-
tinued TO pour forth q stream of convincing
that might be likened 70 the
fresh and vigorous current of rapid river,
now gliding smoothly along without rip
pie on its surface, again rolling over . rocky
bottom and anon breaking on some rugged
cliff or promontory. 1t was An argument
that claimed general attention. He dis
claimed any desire to unduly influence the
Jury, and maintained that he desired moth
ing but justice in accordance with the law
and the testimony. Suddenly he would
wheel around to the counsel for
The defense, and deal their conduct during |
The trial some telling blows. He made such |
\ furious charge on his townsman
Mr.. Georges conduct in connection with |
he case in its first stages, that Mr.. Stanley |
deemed it expedient to ask the court to call |
him to order. He possesses Q wonderful |
which enabled him to traverse the |
whole of that long and intricate case and re-
view the whole testimony without consult
ng his notes. The general observation Of |
III who heard him was that this young man
would make his mark ms q lawyer. No mat
er what the result of this case, in which his
ide was very black both as to the central
igure and the material he had for witnesses,
lie and his law partner, Mr.. Elliott, and
heir colleague, Judge Ray, have exhibited
Inc legal abilities and talent, and young
Murray WAS the central figure.
Judge Wall instructed the jury on the
ind OF verdicts they might render in the
sse, and at o'clock the jury retired, and
p TO this writing no word has been heard
rom them. The general opinion seems to
e hung jury.
STILL tn COME.
Yesterday was one of the big DAYS for Ar
ivals in this city. Every train that came in
-as crowded with passengers who got off