Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-08
ONLY A VERDICT LACKING
Morgan Murder Case Now in the Jury's
Hands.
INTEREST MAINTAINED TO THE LAST
Court Room Packed to Hear Con-
Guiding Argument and Instruc-
tiOns of the Judgc-Prisoncr
Declares He VIII lie Free.

1t was within very few minutes Of 8
o'clock yesterday afternoon when the case
of George Morgan was placed In the hands
of the Jury which Is to decide whether he Is
the murderer OF Ida Gaskill and which. II it
finds him guilty, will send him either to the
gallows or to the penitentiary for life,
All the morning and all the afternoon until
415 o'clock was occupied with the arguments
OF the opposing counsel. At that time County
Attorney Baldrlge finished his speech to the
jury, which lasted two hours.
At the conclusion of the address Judge
Scott began delivering his instructions to The
jury and did not finish until almost o'clock
He said that under the Information Morgan
was charged with murder In the first degree
and with criminal assault and murder. Under
the first count 1t was within the province Of
the jury to bring in a verdict CT murder in
the first degree murder In the second de-
gree or manslaughter, Under the second If
IL had been shown that the girl had been as
saulted 1t was possible for the jury to bring
In only a verdict OF conviction
He instructed the jury to clrefully consider
especially the evidence Ct the police officers,
who fatty contradicted the statement Of Nor
gan that on the morning of his arrest he ex-
planned the blood on his clothing by saying
that he had the nose bleed. He instructed
1t, too. not to hesitate IL one Of the links in
the chain CT the evidence appeared weak, but
to Judge from the evidence taken as mass
He said that II the evidence showed that
Morgan had committed an assault upon Ida
Gaskill II was enough to show that the girl
had been killed by him. III the jury was
satisfied OF the first proposition withOu,
reasonable doubt 1t justified It in convicting
Morgan, and then It was left fer them TO
decide whether he should be hanged or sent
10 the penitentary for life.
The arguments and instructions were lis
tened to by an audience as large as the
court room would accommodate. Every
available bit OF sitting and standing room
was occupied. Every one In the room paid
close attention to all that was said, cspe-
cally the jury.
Morgan carried himself as he has during
the entire trial, There was absolutely no
expression on his face and /. was imposs!-
Bile 10 tell from his features what was going
on within his mind. He leaned back easily
In his chair. lounglng carelsssy and grace
fully. Sometimes his hands were claspsd be-
fore him. sometimes his arms were sup
ported on his chair or one lay on the table
beside him, ard sometimes he slowly ca
ressed his moustache. But there was AT no
time any indication OF nervousness or emo
tion In his manner His eyes we're usually
hxsd on the counsel who was speaking. occa-
sionally they glanced at the Jury or at the
crowd before and beside him II paid close
atteation to the instruction Of the curt
IL was not expected that the Jury would re-
turn last night. but despi that fact num-
Der OF people hung about the court room
pntsl O'clock, when Judge Scott am ;racsl /
that he would wait no longer for verilc'.
County Attorney Baldrige Is conlden' CT 1
conviction. His confidence seems 10 be as
great as Morsan's, who said 20 his guards
- he left the court room.
~ this time Tomorrow | VIII b. free"