The sun., 1889-11-09
EXCITING SCENE In COURT.
TIE PRISONER TRIES TO DASH HLG
BRAINS OUT IN TIE doom.
Women Scream, His WIFE and Her Father
Faint Away, and JurOr Falls OvoE

Women Scream, His VvIFs and Her Father
Faint Away, and n Juror Falls OvcPl
with an Attack OF Heart Disease
LOWELL, Nov. s.--There was n dramatic
scene in the court room this morning when
John Booth was found guilty OF criminal as
sault upon little Annie Murphy. who is only IL
years OF age. The crime was clearly proved,
and the jury returned verdict Of guilty. The
result upon the prisoner was startling. Booth
sank down on the bench inside the dock railing
when he heard the verdict, and remained quiet
until his wife and parents and counsel entered
the room. When he saw his wife, q beautiful
woman, his eyes filed with tears and he bowed
his head upon his hands. Suddenly n woman
screamed and there was commotion In tfiS
dock. Booth was dashing his head up nd
down with terrible force upon the railing In
front OF him. Then he rose to his feet, stood
on the chair and dashed himself heafnong
against the rail- A chorus Of screams went
UP from the women. Booth, with face In
famed and glarinG eyes. had the appearance
OF q maniac. His wife fell over senseIoss and
was caught by a bystander.
Two officers leaped into the dock, and tried
to hold the maniac. He shook them OF 40
though they were infants. All the officers in
the court and the Lowell policemen present as
witness rushed into the bar. and ten stalwart
men wore engaged in overpowering him.
Handouts were produced but 1t was impossi-
BILE to get his hands together. At length an
officer closed upon his throat, and. forcing him
to the iron back OF the dock. deprived him OF
ability to further resist. He was ironed. but
not until he dropped to the floor. limp as a raEs
with face blackened by strangulation. did he
yield. He was carried by half dozen offlcerS
TO an adjoining room.
Meanwhile. Mrs. Booth had been carried from
the room, and her father lay upon the door
senseess. Foreman John O. Sweeny Of the
second jury fell over in his chair with an ate
were seen TO topple over but they speedily re-
Vived. Judge Sherman stood in his place and
commRnded every one to sit down. and par
OF the bar and spectators were trembling. how
ever, with the excitement OF the terrible sceno.
When quiet had been restored District At
was In a condition to be sentenced. and said he
thought. under the circumstances, that the
case had better be disposed Of at once Booth
was accordingly led in and placed again in the
terly. and the District Attorney moved that
sentence be pronounced. Judge Sherman sens
fenced him to fifteen years at hard labor In
State prison. A murmur arose among the
spectators as Booth leaped to his feet
=" am innocent!" he cried. i" I am Innocent
OF the crime that is charged against me. God
Rrantthat may live to bring the blackmailers
outrage ever perpetrated in n court OF juskic0
to separate man from dear wife like that
and send him of to prison"
he finished falling helplessly into the officers
arms II o was taken from the court to the Jail,
followed by rabble OF spectators attracted By
the Tumor Of trouble at the Court House. The
1t was the most painful scene ever witnessed
In q court in Massachusetts.