Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-23

/ NShoAuSAe ebAo NayosNsS
The Taylor murder case came TO An
end In district court at 1880 O'Clock
Saturday morning.
The evidence closed on yesterday
afternoon and the court adjourned
until O'Clock this morning. After
the court read his instructions to the
jury, which occupied about 40 minutes,
Mr.. Moore, county attorney, arose and
said that in bis opening statement to
the jury he had stated that the func-
tions OF q prosecuting officer do not
require him to press a prosecution
beyond what any fair minded man
would press II, and while he would In
the trial endeavor to vindicate the jus
tice Of the State, he should see that the
rights Of the prisoner were protected
That in con Jultation with his associate
during the intermission OF the court
they had arrived at the conclusion that
while the evidence established the fact
that while almost all Of the symptoms
developed by Mr.. Taylor's sickness
we're those OF arseniUal and strychnine
poisoning, that while! the analysis Of
the body showed the presence OF these
poisons In the system after death, aud
while the conduct OF the defendant was
very indiscreet and her conduct at the
ieath bed OF her husband was unnatural
and indicated q desire on the part Of
The defendant to prevent any person
from knowing the exact manner or
cause of her husbands death and while
the evidence pointed strongly toward
the guilt Of the defendant as charged
In the information; yet, the county
attorney and his associate were not
satisfied that the evidence which the
State had been able to produce estab.
lished the fact beyond a reasonable
doubt that John Taylor did not die
from other causes than that Of arseni-
cal or strycbnine poisoning. And that
for this reason there Is doubt in the
minds OF the prosecution whether the
violence proves the defendant guilty
beyond "a reasonable doubt, and enter
tanning this view OF the evidence which
the State had been able to introduce
aud believing that under the evidence
If the jury should lind the defendant
guilty, the court would not regard the
evidence as sufficient TO Sustain the
verdict, he could not conscien tiously
10 before the jury and ask them to
convict the defendant on this evidence
aud that he would therefore consent
that the court Instruct the jury TO
render verdict Of not guilty.
W. 8. Stamb tugh for the defense
then addressed the court. He admit
Ced that the prosecution was from the
peculiar clrcum stances surrounding the
case warranted In making thorough
Investigation OF the matter and con-
graduated the county attorney on the
fairness OF his prosecution,
After Mr.. Stambiugh closed Judge
Humphrey stated that his view coin
iided with that of the county attorney,
and that while he believed that the
county attorney was not only justified
but would have been derelict in his
duty had he not instituted this pro.
ceedings, still II the jury had found the
defendant guilty, he wouli have been
compelled to hold that the evidence
was insufficient TO sustain the verdict
II guilty of murder in the hrst degree
beyond reasonable doubt, and he
therefore instructed the jury to render
verdict OF not guilty.
Two of the jurymen, however, re-
fused to coincide with the verdict.
believing In the defendants guilt.
Mrs. Taylor Is the first woman ever
tried for murder In Dickinson county
md the case has attracted much atten-
tion. While the defendant may con-
gratulate herself on the verdict the
peculiar circumstances surrounding
raylor's death will long make the. actual
facts u mystery.
TESTIMONY.
Mrs. Thompson Taylor told
me few days before the death that
John was going to make will leaving
oil tho nrnnarfy IN Aonaa Ihia dauuh