Morning journal and courier., 1890-09-30
news BY TELEGRAPH.
From ALL Quarters.
BIRCHALLS TRIAL ENDED
Found Guilty and Sen
fenced to be Hanged.
FOUR MORE RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.
Another Attempt Made to
Kill the Gar.
RUSSIA MAssINe TROOPS IN ARMENIA
The Tariff Report Laid
Aside Informally.
THE FAMOUS BIRCHALL TRIAL.

THE FAMOUS RIRCHALL TRIAL.
The Accused Found Guilty OF the
Murder of Benweil-Able Pleas for
the Defense and ProsecutOn-Sen-
fenced to be Hanged in November
The Prisoners Remarks.
WOODSTOCK, Ont, Sept. 29.-At seven
minutes before 10 o'clock this morning,
Mr.. Blackstock began his address in
Birchall's behalf. Before summing up
began Mr. Blackstock introduced three
witnesses for the defense. James Costin, a
farmer living half mile from Princeton,
was the most important. He said that a
stranger called at his house Tuesday even
ing, February IS, and asked nights
lodging. He was refused. He said he was
going to Woodstock. The witness who saw
the body of Benwell swore that the stran-
ger was not the same man. The register
of the Metropolitan hotel, New York,
was produced showing the entry of the
names of Birchall, Benwell and party, and
acknowledged to be genuine.
Mr.. Blackstock finished speaking few
minutes past three, having spoken five and
one-quarter hours. Mr.. BirchaIl was much
affected by the address, but Birchall, who
had listened calmly to all that was said,
was as self possessed as ever. Mr.. Black
stocks address was a mastery effort.
Mr.. Osler began for the crown at $3.50
p. m. and spoke four hours. It was pitt
less arraignment of the prisoner. Step by
step he traced the line of evidence from
the time the Birchall-Benwen party left
England, prefacing his remarks with the
statement that young man left England
in February full of life and hope and
foully murdered in Blenheim swamp. He
showed how Birchan was in Oxford coun-
ty in 1888-99 and became acquainted with
the locality in which the body was found
Soon he came to the famous correspond
ence, including the letter written to Ben
wells father three days after the murder
He said that Birchall deliberately lied in
these letters; that there was no farm, nc
horses, no stock; all these specious taller
were told to Benwell to induce him tt
come to Canada, and that the letter o.
February 20 was written to induce Colone
Benwell to send out $500. He told thu
| jury there was no other possible termina
ton to these transactions except the Blen
helm swamp tragedy. 81 would have yor
| bear in mind, )" said he, ''two importan
things. The relationship between the par
ties and the object Of the murder. Tha
letter to Colonel Behwen was not write,
by fool. Fancy that man writing tina
letter for $500 with the knowledge tina
Benwen was abroad in the country witt
equal postal facilities. The man that wrot.
that letter knew that Benwel was layinI
stiff in death, and that his hand woul,
| never more put pen. to. paper"
Immediately after Mr.. Osler finishes
Judge Mcmahon addressed the jury. Be
ginning at TAO he spoke for two hours an
fifteen minutes and charged dead agains
the prisoner.
The jury retired at 9:53 pm. and wer
waiting with their verdict when the judg
arrived in the court at 11:25 pm.
A constable was dispatched to bring tn
prisoner down from the Jail. Then tn
crowd poured into the court room in will
doors.
The prisoner was brought into coul
handcuffed at Has, looking pale an
nervous.
The jury at once announced that the
had found verdict of murder in the fir,
When asked if he had anything to So
why sentence should not be passed upo
him, Birchall replied:
"Simply, l am not guilty of murder"
The judge then said:
81 fully concur with the verdict of Il
jury" and proceeded to pronounce Sci
tence, which was that Birchall be taken
, the Jail and between the hours of 8 a. L
, and 6 p. m. on Friday, the 14th day
November, be hanged by the neck uni