Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1890-02-17
WHIMSICAL JUDGE QUIRK.

/ ~ 'cAs 10y vOhu Goal was
found near the liver bank. Marks Of .
struggle were also discovered. Immedi-
ately there arose cry that the man had
been murdered; and, about this time,
there came along a reputable citizen who
declared that he had, several days before,
heard Sim White and Al Miller swear
/ that they would Kill Peters. The two men
were arrested aud taken before q Justice
Of the peace. TLey avowed their limo.
ceuce, and their lawyer declared that
they could not be held for murder uutil
1t was proved that murder had been
| committed. This proof was not long
wanting, for = fisherman soon arrived
with the information that he had found
the body OF Peters. The body was iden.
tiled. and the preliminary trial pro.
ceeded, resulting not only in establish.
ing the fact that White aud Miller swore
that they would kill Peters, but that they
were overheard TO declare that they
would drown him. They were held over
and indicted BY the Grand Jury.
| THE CASE IN COURT.
When the case came up before Judge
Quirk, Of the Circuit Court, some Of the
ablest lawyers 10 the state were 10 stten-
dance. for White and Miller were not
friendless, and, moreover, they were not
without means.- After more than q week
oil "skirmishine" Jury was empane! led,
and then the great trial was begun. The
majority Of the people believed that .
verdict Of guilty would be rendered, and
bets were made with persons who believ-
ed that the prisoners were guilty, but
who thought that the jury might be
'culvered."
| THE JtfDc ma I'm Aurr
The trial had not proceeded far when
1t could be clearly seen that the Judge
was convinced that White and Miller
were guilty. This jurist was something
more than peculiar old fellow. He W as
. decided character, and so set were his
opinions when once formed that no argu.
ment and no proof could change them.
"Gentlemen OF the jury" said the Judge
81 don't think that IL IL necessary to 20
into su argument concerning this case.
The guilt Of these men Is 30 clear that 1t
would be n criminal act to waste the
county's money in prolonging this trial
Now, prisoners. the best thing you can
do II 10 confess your guilt and throw
yourselves upon the mercy OF this Court.
Have you any confession to make, Mr..
Winter"
mo. your Honor, except that I am
innocent"
"Have you any confession. Mr.. Nil.
ler?"
"Noue. except to say that had moth.
ing to do with the killing Of our friend
Peters."
/ "Ail right" said the Judge. II see
that you do not desire any mercy; but Il
you expect to escape by making pro
longed fight let me tell you that you will
meet with nothing but disappointment
am here % the fearless agent Of jus.
tee have made up my mind. have
determined that you are guilty, and
nothing on earth can change, me. Gen
tlemen of the jury, you may retire AND
agree upon . verdict"
The jury without leaving the box rem
dered verdict Of guilty.
i THE SENTENCE.
"Gentlemen," said the Judge, "to az
pedite matters and thereby savo expense
to the county, will sentence these m N
now. The law may DO in favor OF delay
but Justice 10 not. The law might per-
init the sheriff to take these men to Jail
and feed them, at the coun'y's expense,
until some distant day of execution should
arrive, but justice, the one bright flower
10 our great judiciary garden OF weeds,
looks up and Gays, No, Mr.. Sheriff, these
men must be hanged forwith;' SO take
them out when the death sentence has
been passed, and hang them to the most
convenient tree. Prisoners at the bar,
stand up and receive your sentence"
| ''sILENcE, WOMAN"
The prisoners stood up, and just as the
judge had pronounced the last words oil
the sentence the wife OF Mr.. Peters ut
tered Q shout aud, bounding toward the
door, threw her arms around . man who
had Just entered the conrt room. A
wild commotion followed.
whats thu matter?" the judge
demanded. ''Whois the man that the
bereaved widow is hugQingf'
ANT no bereaved widow, Jeige,n
the woman answered, "iur this is nv
husband safe and WE'LL"
"silence, woman" thu judge de-
manded. "You ought to have better
sense than to interrupt this Court"
"Your honor" said q lawyer, ~
suppose my clients can now go free.''
"And why 80, sir"
"Can your honor ask such q question
when Mr.. Peters stands here before
youp
.who is Mr.. Petersr'
| Aoui hohoib Cephob uhuSiotauu
you"
"But you will pretty soon. The Mr..
Peters that this Court has taken into
consideration 10 dead"
"No Pm notl' exclaimed Peters,
stepping forward.
"You may think yon are not, Mr..
Peters, but you are. Never In all my
professional career" tho Judge contin-
ued, "have l ever seen facts that go
clearly and strongly establish the guilt
Of two men,"
"But, Judge" Peters pleaded, "that
cannot be, Tor no murder has been COM
mittod."
"Mr. Peters, you have not examined
the evidence as closely as have"
"But here stand In refutation of all
evidence" 49,.
"Mr. Peters, you have NOT read as
many t,xt books on evidence as ! have.
The cas-, against these prisoners is per.
fectly 81 ar. They swore that they would
drown you, and your coat was found
near the river. IL not that strong EVIL
dence2"
ayes, but"
Hold on. The body of man was
taken from the river aud identified as
your remains"
But l am here to refate the identif-
cation"
you have come around here to bully
me-"
"Ah, you are here to throw an obstruc-
tion In the way OF justice, are youi
have heard on several Oceasl us that you