The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-06-15
THE TRIAL ENDED.

Theft.
SAGINAW, June 13.-At 4-45 Tuesday
afternoon, after 40 minutes of delibera-
ton, the jury in the Parsons case re-
turned q verdict Of guilty as charged
in the information. The verdict
marked the conclusion Of one Of the
most sensational cases ever tried in this
city.
The closing of this trial ended the
most important and interesting case
ever tried before the bar of justice in
this city or state, and few cases of
equal magnitude have ever occurred
anywhere.
SAGINAW, June SIN the Parsons
trial Thursday several witnesses were
examin ed, but no materially new evil
dence was brought out and the prosecu-
ton rested, and Albert Trask. counsel
for the defense, addressed the court.
He said the defense had no one but
Parsons to confirm the story, but they
would bring witnesses to show that
Parsons was an honest, upright man.
SAGINAW, June 0. - After several
prominent citizens had testified to the
good character of the defendant, the
defense sprung the sensation Of the
week by placing Parsons on the stand.
He appeared perfectly composed, and
answered without hesitation. He ad-
mitted sending package to Grand
Rapids, but said it was package left
with him by Knight ON Feb. "a, to be
forwarded when he wanted it. The
volume of business passing through his
hands was nearly $4,000, 900 annually.
He had always furnished trial balances
and vouchers when requested. He was
at home the night Of the robbery all
night. Knight stayed at his house, but
was out about two hours. He sent the
package to Knight when he got letter
asking him to do 80. Parsons denied
making any admission to Sergeant
Owen, but did call the express agent a
fool because he threw pen at the wit
ness.
SAGINAW, June 11.--Saturday morn
ing Parsons was again on the stand for
rOss-examination. He was asked only
few questions and the answers de-
veloped nothing particularly new. The
defense then rested their case, with the
privilege of introducing other testi-
mony later if they chose. The prosecu-
ton then commenced their rebuttal
testimony. After several witnesses had
testified Fred Knight was called and
denied having seen the package which
he received in Grand Rapids until the
time when it was delivered to him
there. He had never made any state
ment in front of Parsons house that he
had forgotten a package, nor did he go
to his door early in the morning and
tell Parsons he had package to leave
in his charge. He had heard the de-
PENDANT recall the contents Of certain
letter supposed to have been written by
him. but denied ever having written
such letter.
SAGINAW, June 49, Monday morning
the attorneys in the Parsons trial ap-
peared in cour5 loaded down with law
books and documents prepared to argue
points TO show what should and should
not be included in the charge to the
jury.
Attorney Foote occupied an hour and
quarter in making his requests to
the Judge. He held that it would be
necessary for the prosecution to show
the nonconsent of each and every
one of the owners. the genuineness
of the property must be proved;
the people must prove beyond rea-
sonable doubt the de facto existence of
the company issuing the bonds: that the
bonds were genuine bonds of the COM
pany and that the signatures attached
were those of the proper officers. There
was evidence that the bonds in question
were genuine was as much an element
of the crime as the act of stealing them.
Assistant Prosecutor Gavett in his
answer said that according to the testi-
mony of E. p. Stone and Ami W..
Wright, no consent was given to take
the bonds away. He said there was no
evidence to prove the genuineness of
the bonds, as there was no question of
the fact that the Cincinnati, Saginaw
and Mackinaw railroad is a corpora
ton; that Ami w. Wright was presi-
dent of the road and his signature was
attached to the bonds.
Lawyer Trask then took up the de-
tense and occupied the remainder of
The afternoon, not being able to COM
| plete his argument up to the time OF
adjourning court. After Lawyer Trask
| concludes this morning Prosecuting
Attorney Snow will make the closin 8
plea for the people and the case will &c
to the jury.