St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-20
MEIGGS FOUND GUILTY.
THE JURY AGREED IN THREE HOURS
AND A HALF.
DEPENDANT FEELS UGLY.

Reported by Good Authority That
Co-Defendants Howard and
Miller Will Plead Guilty-Po-
lice Gazette Places FIeury's
Sentence at Ten Years-Sensa-
tionaI Incidents OF the Trial.
James J. Meiggs was found guilty as
an accomphce in robbing the Merchants
National bank of $1,000 bag of gold,
house Aug. IA last. 1t is said on pretty
good authority that Benjamin Miller
and James Howard, who were Jointly
indicted with Thomas Fleury and j. j.
Meiggs. will not hesitate any longer to
plead guilty. 1t is also said that they
were disposed to do so before, but were
restrained from doing it until after the
trial of Fleury and Meiggs.
The jury went out last evening at
$50 and about 10 O'Clock last night had
agreed upon a verdict. Some time was
required to bring the court and attorneys
to the court room. Meiggs is somewhat
crippled with rheumatism and he
showed WEAKNESS after climbing the
stairs to the top floor of the court
house. A short conversation was neld
with Henry Johns, his attorney, before
the jury came in. MeiggS asked his
attorney what the prospects were and
was told that it was well to prepare for
the worst. The face of the prisoner did
not change at that time, neither did it
when the clerk read the verdict signed
by the foreman, Edwin S. Beck, to the
effect that he was guilty as charged in
the Indictment.
After the verdict had been recorded
and declared 10y the iurora to be their
true verdict, Judge Kelly discharged the
jurors, thanking them for their faithful
services.
A GLOBE reporter asked MeiggS if he
expected such verdict. He hesitated
moment, and then growied out reply:
'You don't expect an innocent man to
expect verdict of guilty? No, did
not expect it." Meiggs was in an ugly
mood last night. He has not been so
clipper for couple of days as he was
during the early stage of the trial.
The county attorney has not decided
what course he will pursue as to calling
the other co-defendants for trial at
once. He will, however, move for sem
tence in day or two in the cases of
both Fleury and Meiggs.
While the county attorney was max
ing his very able speech to the jury yes
terday an unusual incident occurred
that surprised the people in the court
room. Mr.. Butler was administering a
scathing Lecture to Fleury, who was in
the court room. Turning to him, he
called attention TO the law that permits
the state or defense to call a CO.
defendant to the stand. He said
it was the privilege of Fieury
to 90 on the stand and tes-
tlfy as to whether Meiggs was con-
nected with the robbery or not. Butler
pressed his point and asked why Fleury
was silent IN such an important matter
1t was in his power to free Meiggs in
case of innocence. After asking why
Fleury remained silent, and Just as he
turned his face from him, Fleury
jumped up and said, II could not do it.
l could not GO on the stand. They
would not let me-"
Another incident of the trial yester-
day occurred when Mr.. Johns was sum
ming up to the jury. The able advo-
cate in dissecting the testimony declared
that the brown coat found in Meiggs'
room i'll Chicago could not have be
lOnged to the defendant. Then taking
off his fine Prince Albert coat Mr..
Johns dOnned the brown sack coat of
cheap material and showed that it was
too small foI him. and declared that it
would fit the ample form of Meiggs
with less grace. Mr.. Butler suggested
that the coat be tried upen Miller.
There is considerable speculation as
to what sentence will be imposed by
Judge Kelly upon FIeury and Meiggs.
The minimum is five years and the
maximum ten years. The Police Ga
Zette ran cut of Fleury not long since,
and placed his sentence at ten years.