Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-10-02


"A Great Crowd at the COurt-Fhe
story Of RaIs Horrible Crime.
WOODSTOCK, orr, Sept 25.-With a
esirO to puah the Birchall trlsi through
b shorter time than 1t has threatened
70 occrpy, the court met this morning ut
y 80, hAlf an hour earlier than 1t has pre-
VionkIy assembled.
crowd gathered around tie cab which
Brought the prisoner to court 10 see him
aiifDt. In spite of the hundreds of ewes
which are Watching him Birchall does
act ii,nch. He was in the dock thIg M orn-
arg about 20 minutes before the Judge
catered the court room. He was attended
BY his special guard, Entwhistle, VINO
ete'nd that Bifohali had slept we'll and
aud eaten hearty breakfast.
T!oEe was even greater attendance of
Ladies' than on any previous occasion.
Their entrance in crowds Just as court
opened interrupted tho proceedings and
made several calls of ''siience" necessary
and even then the proceedings had 10 bs
suspended for o time until order was re-
slored.
TIe first witneaa was s. b. Fuller,
manager of the Imperial Bank here. He
AusAsihCh Suo hlEuhlulo Il "A BOIneTb6k'
ON certain checks rs that of the prisoner,
opened On account with the I'm.
pesial Bank on the 10th or 18th of De.
cember 1883. He identified also certain
letters put in evidence ns those of the
prisoner.
SIR. Osier, chief counsel for the crown,
wanted to put in as evidence and to have
entered on the record certain letters to
I'LL wsaI 40, -,
aud Benwell were brought together, but
MIR. Blaokstock strongly objected on the
gsouud that though the hand writing was
proven the fact OF mailing the letters or
OF their receipt by MelleriSh was not
proven.
This point was noted by the Judge,
who said thHt if he decided that the evil
donce shouli not DO received he could so
Instruct tho jury.
The letters we're read.
Yo-DsrccK, ONT, Sept. 29.-This is ex-
pectsd TO be the last day Of tue trial of John
Reginald Brehail. who ls charged with the
murder OF II. y BenWell in Bleinhelm
Swamp ia February last. The prisoner was
In his place eGrly. AT last the strain Is tell
ing upon him. l. rs evident that he did
nor Aiuep we'll last night, but ne shows
ana look OF mp ehension OF man who
feels hut rf0Ht events Tor MIN Rre happens
Ing ard that the time when 1t will be known
what the future has IN store for him Is fast
approaching. The jury looks wonderfully
fresh and well-kept, considering the time
they heYe been confined.
remarkable fact IN connection with the
trial Is that Ia addition 10 the regular force
oil newspaper men there Is In attendance
large etafi OF stenogrRphers employed by
one Of the cable companies, which has ar
ranged TO sead by cable verbatim reports
OF MIR. Black stock'B speech, the judges
charge and a luug report OF air. Osler's
addre' as well. Preliminary to the speeches
this morning some evidence was taken.
WooDsrcCK, 0Sr., Sept. 29.-Rsginald
Blrcnall Will 10 hanged on November IAN.
HIS has Deen found guilty Of the murder
OF =. q. Denwell and the ntence OF death
waH pg announced just before midn Rht.
IT was u day OF Intense interest AT Wood
stock. The arguments OF the attorneys
were replete witch stactling statements and
the judges charge following seemed to
eoul Il the duath-knel OF the pris Jner.
On is, tho last day Of the great murder
thai, the town was awake ut IN early hour.
Long bsiore 80 O'clock the courthouse
was surrounded by crowd that completely
blocked the entrance, and judge, Jury
counsel and all privileged persons had TO
gain enttancs 10 the building through
side door.
When Birchnll came into court he APP
pearei cool and collected, but not as iocu-
lar as usual. rs wore black serge suit and
patent leather shoes; WAC ciOdnly shavenj
MS heavy black musIache had been curled
and his thick block hair carefully brushed.
As he entered the box Mes. Blrchall, accom-
pnliud by her sister, Mrs. West-Jones,
walked to seats which had been reserved
for them three feet from the prisoners box.
Mrs. Blrchall shows III her face her misery
OF heart. She wore to-day dark blue SILK
gown with white designs OF floWers, tam
colored gloves. a black hat, trimmed with
dGrk blue velvet, and thick, brown
double breasted jacket that was buttoned
tight about her shrunken form. When seated
che leaned forward like en old WOMAN.
peiiey, who was also marked by Bircball
as victim, came into court with bou-
tonniec oil blue pansies In his coat and
large red scarf tied in IL Knot. Many ladies
secured admission to the court, completely
filling the gallery at the bGGk oil the hRll
ami over hell OF the remaining space In the
room. They eagerly discussol Mrs Blrchall
and pointed her oat to one another. The
only person present who spoke to Mrs.
BlrchAll, except Junior Counsel Hellmuth
Of the defence, was the wife Of the hev. W.
Il. Wade, BltchalPs spiritual adviser, who
sat on her loft.
After the witnesses had all been heard
til. counsel submitted the ease.
Judge MAeAlahon then In solemn and
earnest manner direct d the jury to per-
form their duty conseien. toualy. While ne
was speaking Blrchnll satin his accustomed
attitVtte looking calmly at the Judge and
resting his hohd on the edge OF his box.
at N.53 the case was given TO the jury.
At. the jury had agreed upon YER
dlet, 1here was soma delay before Blrchall
In nnp al
facs WAS pallld, but not unusually so.
When the Jury was asked II they had agreed
upon verdict the foreman said they had.
"what is your verdict" was ASKED.
'Ws mud John Reginald Blrchall guilty
OF the murder OF Il. U. BenUeli,' was the
reply.
Bl.chall was calm and never fllnched.
Mr. Ilellmuth, OF counsel for the defonce,
asked for poll OF the jury, and US each
nuns nume was called he arose and said
"Gulty"
Judge MacMahon asked tho prisoner
what Lac hud TO say why sentence OF death
should not he pronounced upon Nun.
Bitchall aross In the box with his hands
folded IN front OF him, the handcuffJ hay
Ing bsen removed. He was calm, confident
and firm, bur mis- face was white. He said:
"Smply that am not guilty OF the crime,
my lord
the Jury was In perfect accord with the
judgement OF the court and he pronounced
the sentence Of death upon John Reginald
blrchall, that "he be hanged on Friday,
ihs l4th OF November next, bctTee- AID
O'clock"
Bilehall remained standing while the
judge vas speaking, and then with a bow
he took his seat. Ii was exactly midnight.
DiRcHALL's AWFUL CRIME.
The trial of Reginald Birchall for the
p,urdar of ErpIaripk q. RsnWBll began on
Monday. september % !, and was hence one
...a.I. RaaiIlnna of