Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-27
Court adjourned until . O'Clock Thursday


The motion for new trial In the case Of
William j. Calhoun, who was found guilty
OF feloniously assaultiDg Caroline Uiz, was
argued before full bench at Thursdays
session OF the court OF oyer and terminer.
The prisoner was placed In the dock, and
during the entire proceedings sat there
with his usual Indifferent, listless demeanor,
evidently paying little, II any attention to
what was done Oh said.
Iilburne Chandler, Esq.,, the prisoners
counsel, presented tho reasons filed by him
In support OF the motion for nov trial
(whicn have already been published in
the GA2ETTE), and argued ut length In
favor OF his motion. In reply to one OF Mr..
Chandler's reasons-that the prosecutrix
had been imprisoned at the city hall, and
that be had no opportunity to examine her
-Attorney.genera Biggs declared that he
had ordered her Imprisonment IN default OF
81 900 bail because he learned that an at
tempt was being made to spirit her away.
She had been offered, he understood, $3.50
to leave the city. He insisted, however,
that Mr.. Chandler had every opportunity to
confer with her. and presented an affidavit
from Special Officer Weldin, at the police
station, to the effect that no one had been
denied the privilege of seeing the prosecu-
ttix during her imprisonment. AS there
was no claim that tho verdict was against
the law or the evidence, or that there was
any informallty In the trial. he asked that
the motion for q new trial be denied on the
merits Of the case.
THE MOTION DENIED.
Chief Justice Oomsgy5 said that after
rending the reasons filed by counsel and
listening TO the argument, the court could
see no reason why new trial should be
granted. Ii was one OF the best. proved
cases of the Kind ever hoard In the court,
and there was no Impeachment of the testi-
nony OF the prosecuting witness. The
court, he said, deemed the reasons ad-
vanced fer new trail insufficient.
As to the question of a new trial In q
capital case, the chief justice said that III
any case where It could be shown that the
prisoner had not been afforded a full and
fair trial, tbs court would not refuse him
the right Of new hearing before II jury.
But in this case the court felt constraine cd
TO deny the motion for new trial.
THE PRISONER sENTENoED.
"Tbe motion for new trial having been
denied" said Attorney-general Biggs, sit
now becomes my painful duty to ask that
the Judgment OF the law bn passed upon ihe
prisoner, and l therefore make that mo-
tion."
Here the prisoner heaved an involuntary
Sigh that was almost gasp.
81 WAS DRUSK."
"Wlllian ]. Calhoun" said the chief JUS
tice, impresstvely, "staud up"
Tbs prisoner promptly rose to his feet.
Have you any thing to say why the sem
tence Of the court should not be pronounced
| upon you."
Then the prisoner spoke plainly and in
! clear, full tones, without tremor. He said
"All I've got to say Is before God Pm not
| guilty OF this crime. It's been shown that
was drunk and drunk for week. l did
not know what was doing"
is that all ~
''That's all I've got to say"
THE SENTENCE PRoNouScED.
Then profound silence fell upon the
| court room as the chief Justice announced
tbs youthfol prisoners awful doom. Ii
solemn tones he reciied the prisoner
offence, and his trial, which resulted In {
verdict OF guilty. "And the court is salts
fled," he added, "that on the law and tht
facts facts the the Eerd!ct gtas @ right right He ths2 In
| presslvely warned the prisoner Of the ne
cessity Of making instant preparation In
the short time that is to be allowed him fol
| his entry into another world, where he will
have to give an account OF this crime and
all others committed by him. But" he
concluded, 1--WE are assured by the accepted
religion OF thig world, that II you slnoerely
repent you will be forgiven. Your fate
should be fearful warning to all idle, dis
| s0lute young men,"
TO HANG ON RIDAY, MARCH 90.
Then came the fateful sentence OF death
1.-THE sentence OF this court Is that you
William ]. Calhoun. be taken from hence tc
the county Jail at New CASTLE, and there
kept securely confined until Friday, the 22d
day OF March, Ammo Domino 1883. on which
day. between the hours Of 10 O'Clock, In the
forenoon, and 2 o'clock, In tho afternoon
you be taken to some suitable place within
the prison enclosure, and there hanged by
the neck until you are dead. Aud may the
Lord have mercy upon your SOUL"
GAME TO THE LAST.
During this terrible ordeal the prisoner
stood erect. facing the court, but with his
eyes cast down. As the date Of his execu-
ton was announced, his lips were con-
vulsl sely compressed for an instant, but
that was all. When his doom was pro-
nounced he sat down, coolly brushed a
fleck of dust from his shoe, and then locked
around In his usual stolid, uneoncern5d
manner. Then the bailitfs escorted him to
the cells below. His nerve was wonderful.