The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-10-22
BILLINGS WILL GOFREE.
THE SUPREME COURT SAYS
THE EVIDENCE WAS POOR.
Nothing To show that Billings Was the
Murderer of kingsley-The Court Thinks
the Young Lawyer Committed Suicide
billings Case Reversed and demanded.

DraJcd case OF Inc state VS.. Nj. ~. Dill
lings, the charge being that OF the muir
der Of Willis Kingsley, County Attorney
OF Bremen County. The opinion, which
was handed down by Justice Granger,
holds that the evidence tends to establish
suicide on the part OF Kingsley, and
practically advises that the case be dis
missed by the lower court, to which IL is
remanded. The case is one OF the most
famous in the annals of Iowa criminal ju-
risprudence. Billings is man past fifty
years of age. He had lived in Waverly
since 1868, engaged all the time in the
practice OF law. Kingsley was young
man, having been born of most excel
lent family in that county, and having
boarded for some time at Billings house.
On the afternoon of Dec. 81, 1887, be-
tween and o'clock, Billings was seen
10 go up the stairway leading 10 Kings
ley's Office and into the door. The two
men were closeted there for some time
Their visit was stormy one, and occu-
pants of Office rooms across the hall dis
tincty heard the voices of both of the
men raised in angry dispute. Finally,
about o'clock, or after dark, two pistol
shots were heard in rapid succession,
there was a heavy fall upon the floor,
and Billings came bounding down the
stairway TO the sidewalk crying, "Im
shot I'm shot" Kingsley was found on
the floor Of his office lying just inside the
rear room with his head against one OF
the folding doors.
Upon q chair in the room lay Billings
coat with an empty revolver that had
not been fired in the pocket Upon
Billings person were papers showing
that he had visited Kingsley for the pur-
pose of procuring from him pecuniary
damages for alleged intimacy that had
existed between Kingsley and Mrs.
Billings. These papers consisted of
written confession of Mrs. Billings and
sundry promissory notes running TO 1902.
Billings was finally arraigned for trial.
His counsel moved for a change of venue,
the affidavit as to prejudice of the popu-
lace and court being amply fortified by
the names of many responsible citizens.
The motion, however, was promptly
overruled. After a most exhaustive
hearing the jury returned verdict OF
guilty, fixing the penalty at imprison-
ment for life. The Judge in passing
sentence displayed his feeling by re-
marking that ii was a matter Of regret
that the death penalty could not have
been visited upon the defendant
An appeal was taken, which resulted
in a reversal by the Supreme Court, its
decision being based upon the error in
volved in the refusal Of change or
venue. The merits Of the case were not
considered by the court. Judge Ruddick
then sent 1t TO Blackhawk County, where
il was tried by Judge Ney. A second
verdict Of guilty resulted, and a second
sentence of Imprisonment for life fol-
lowed. 1t was here that the most strik-
ing incident in the history of the case
occurred The court I'm overriding a
motion TO set aside the verdict remarked
that if he had been upon the jury he
would have been compelled TO vote for
an acquittal, as there was absolutely no
evidence upon which to base conviction.
The Judge said: "If / were the jury
trying this case | should render a verdict
of not guilty, from the evidence intro
duced here. 1t is a striking fact that
Kingsley's eyelashes and the side of his
nose nearly down TO the end were burn
ed with powder. The evidence in
regard TO the holes in the clothing, the
bullet on the suspender, the wound on
the back, certainly indicate that Bill
ings was shot in the back by Kingsley or
some other person.
billings pretended to have discovered
ings' wife. He does not act the part OF
an injured husband. He does not appear
indignant and furious, but like a Shiny
viper gets up a story-a confession
that shows the mind given over TO evil
intentions
Accompanying it in his pocket were
notes drawn for several years, amount
ing to something I'm the neighbqrhood OF
So, 600 and running for sixteen years, a
good share of Kingsleys lifetime. II
that confession was out of the case, l
would have set aside this verdict as
quickly as IL was rendered. but in the
light Of that confession, of course, smy
suspicion, as well as the suspicion OF
every juror that heard this case, must be
aroused against Billings. Now while l
say, even in the light of that confession,
believing Billings TO be the vile man that
confession shows him to be, IL l were a
Juror / would find a verdict OF not guilty
here"
Mr.. Billings replied to these structures
Of the court He explained the reason
he had resorted TO the method of procur-
ing pecuniary damages privately from
Kingsley because he did not wish TO
blacken his wife's name with publicity
by resorting 10 the courts. Then, con-
tnung, he said: as that the viest
thing on earth? If it be- then the jury
and your Honor propose sending me to
the penitentiary for doing a thing l
doubt not your Honor, in the love of
life partner, would do if it became neces-
sary to protect her name. May be per-
mitted TO ask your Honor what would
you have done in such case where Chat
loved partner"
BY the Court would have killed
him.
Bllings-What?
by the Court would have killed
him.
Bllings-Well, | was going TO say,
that would expose her Has il become
the unwritten law of America i'm such
cases, which are so often settled in the
private Office, that we must go to Spain
for ideas OF vindicatioE of ones So
called honor, adopt their customs, use
the stiletto, the dagger? Has il become
the unwritten law of this age that
man shall be sent to the penitentiary for
murder because he does not Stay the
man who has violated his home?
Items OF Interest.
A TIIIRTFEN-YF AR-oTD girl il the Or