The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-06
KEECAN VERDICT.
Proceedings to Be Begun to
Have it Set Aside.
The Grounds for Appeal Are Three
in Number.
Trial and Conviction Has Cost the
State Nearly $1,000.

Judge Wiibur's court room presents q
deserted appearance today in marked con-
trast to week ago when the Keegan trial
was in full progress. Court was in session
few minutes this morning, but as there
were no cases, the jurors were excused
until tomorrow. Seven OF those in at
tendance were the Keegan jurors. The
other five were paid yesterday, and the
term OF the service OF the remainder ex-
pire Saturday.
Keegan was carried back to the State
Prison yesterday, shortly after the ver-
dict and viii remain there until brought
before the court for sentence or as a de-
fendant in new trial. Keegan's lawyers
have not taken any steps in this
direction, but under the provisions Of the
judiciary act will file notice in clerks
office within five days, stating that will
appeal the case. This acts as a stay OF
sentence until after the decision of the
appellate judges.
The grounds OF appeal as set forth by
Keegans lawyers will be that Judge
Wlbur's ruling was wrong in allowing
keegan's statements concerning his
whereabouts to be presented in re-
buttal; that new evidence has been
discovered, and that the verdict was
against the evidence. The new evidence in
the case is that OF a man who says that it
was he and not Keegsn who bought the two
glasses of beer at Blackley's saloon on the
afternoon OF Thursday, Sept. 9th. In
order to sustain the point that the verdict
was against the evidence il will be neces-
sary for the defense TO have prepared a
type written copy OF the testimony and
the judges charge. Ii will be several
months before the appeal can be
argued and it will doubtless require a
considerable time for the court to give its
opinion. III Keegan is fortunate epoug b
to obtain new trial it will, in all proba-
bility, be had net before nine months or a
year.
Mr.. Dubois does not regard it probable
that the courts decision in this matter
viii be favorable to Keegan. The uthor-
tiles, he says, undoubtedly support
Judge Wilbur's rulings in the case,
and as for new evidence, it will
not be sufficient ground for
new trial unless in the minds OF the
court it would change the aspect OF the
case in any important particular. AS to
the verdict, he believes the State estab-
lished their case beyond a reasonable
doubt.
Keegan's counsel express themselves as
hopeful that their client will finally be a
free man. Mr.. McGill said today
that he still thought the
accused sn innocent man, and
that II was another O'Neil case. He re-
CARDS the most damaging fact presented
in the case against Keegan as the borrow
ing of the revolver, ana the testimony of
John Conole. Yet, on the evidence, he
does not see how the jury conld have
found Keegan guilty.
1t is estimated that the conviction OF
Keegan has cost the State $1,000. The
witness fees alone reached nearly $500.
Criminal trials will not begin again
until next Monday when the remaining
cases on the Attorney Generals docket
will be disposed of. The last of these
will be the trial of John Nelson for re-
ceiving stolen goods, which has been set
down for the 25th of February.