The Daily Texarkanian., 1894-10-22
G. L. BRYANT GUILTY.
JURY VERDICT, MURDER IN THE
FIRST DEGREE
Penalty, Life Service in the Texas
Penitentiary Closing Scenes
Of the Trial.

The shedding of Prof. G. 7. Ellis
blood has been avenged, as far as
human agency can avenge there
for, and his murderer, G. L. Bry-
ant, will forever hereafter be shut
out from society which he has so
grossly outraged.
After having been out less than
two hours the jury returned a ver-
dict of guilty of murder in the first
degree, with penalty of life service
in the penitentiarY. Shortly after
Z o'clock Saturday night they re-
tired, after having heard District
Attorney Glass, and by about 8
O'Clock had come to decision, and
soon rendered their verdict, We
learn that three members of
the jury favored hanging, 1t was
an intelligent jury, composed en-
tirely of white men, all farmers,
who have nobly performed their
duty. Their names are: W. L.
Ball, B. F. Chalker, N. E. Medley,
W. R. Vance, E. B. Burkhalter, W.
H. Smith, c. C. Beard, J. f. Pen
dergast, c. I. Day, ]. o. McCutch-
con, J. V. Meadows and 7. E. Dow
dell. 1t is the first jury in many
years, in Bowie county, to convict
white man of murder in the first
degree. 1t is to be hoped it heralds
a better day for Bowie county, in
the enforcement of law and good
order.
The first news of the result of the
trial reached this city at $50 o'clock
Saturday night, in a telegram from
Prof. Allan Winham to Mr.. Jeff San
derson, giving the verdict, and early
yesterday morning it was generally
known here, and discussed on the
streets. Public sentiment seemed
in hearty approval of
the verdict. We did not hear a
single person dissent from it. The
work of that jury will long be re-
and commended.
While there is general sympathy
expressed for Bryant's immediate
family and relatives, over the Sc
we're punishment meted out to him,
excuses or palliates his
crime, and think he only gets his
just deserts.
CLOSING SCENES OF THE TRIAL.
The argument of counsel in the
case is said to have been deeply in
teresting. Defendants lawyers,
Messrs. Hudgins, Estes, Harrell and
King, did all they could for their
client. Their speeches were both
earnest and eloquent, but a bad
case like that of Bryant's was hard
to plead before a jury. Mr.. Hudg-
ms speech is said to have been an
able one, as he brought to bear all
possible influences at the command
of first-class criminal lawyer. Mr..
Estes also did full well his duty, and
it is said his eloquence in behalf OF
the prisoner at the bar, brought
tears to many eyes. But it appears
that the evidence was too strong
against Bryant, hence all was una
vailing. The states attorneys,
Glass and Mehaffey, deserve credit
for the very able manner in which
they performed an unpleasant duty.
In their shrewd examination of the
defense's witnesses (as heretofore
shown tore to shreds all chance OF
justification, and thus made almost
certain a conviction, And in their
speeches before the jury they
clinched the evidence of the prison
er's guilt in a most able and effect
i've manner.
Bryant's attorneys will make ev-
cry effort to save him, first by try
ing to get a new trial, and if this is
refused will appeal the case to the
State Supreme court 1t is not
thought, however, that they will be
successful in either, but that the
verdict will stand.
REVIEW OF THE CRIME,
On Friday night, September 2lst,
near Kizers lumber sheds, Texar-
kama, Texas, at about 8 o'clock, G.,
L. Bryant shot Geo Y. Ellis through
the bowels, from the effects OF
which wound Ellis died five days Ia.
ter. Bryant had repeatedly ma
lipned and abused Ellis, because the
latter was starting up an opposition
school, $50 the evidence proves and
.lI of ILo ohootinr cpoin a