The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-03

who subsequently desecrated the grave of
his victim in the most tiendish manner,
was convicted of murder in the second de-
gree in the Superior Court of Trinity
County this evening, at 1880 o'clock.
Long before court opened this morning
an eager and excited throng had taken
possession of every available inch of room
in the courtroom, overlooked into the cor
ridors and extended from the stairway
into the street, for the closing scenes in
the trial of the third Round Valley assas-
sin to be convicted of murder this year
was a matter of some interest to the peo-
pie OF Trinity County, who trembled for
fear lest through some miscarriage of the
law the accused should be released and
reign of terror follow.
A vague rumor had been heard upon the
street that certain Juror had been tam
pered with, and it was with profound
sigh of relief that the crowd listened to
the verdict handed to the Judge by George
z. Chapman, foreman Of the jury, that
the jury found the defendant guilty of
murder in the second degree and without
recommending mercy.
1t was Just after the Jury had returned
to the courthouse from dinner. and the
close room all day were conspicuous for
their absence. The murderer, who, dur
ing the arguments of both the prosecution
and the defense, had eYinced an intense
interest, together with extreme nervous
ness, accompanied by intermittent moods
OF the gravest abstraction and musing.
had apparently composed himself, and
when the verdict was announced not a
tremor passed over his dark countenance.
and it was apparent that he had fortified
himself for the reception of news OF a
more serious fate.
at $50 o'clock the case was given into
the hands of the jurors and exactly two
hours later the verdict was returned. 1t
gives general satisfaction, for there are
four other accomplices to the murder of
Littlefield awaiting trial at Weaverville
and it is believed that his fate will be
theirs.
The opening speech for the prosecution
was made by James w. Bartlett, the pro g.
ecuting attorney for Trinity County. He
terseIy and briefly narrated the theory of
the prosecution and described the circum-
stances attending Littlefield's death.
After him followed Robert R. Fowler, as
sistant counsel for the defense. He made
an eloquent plea to the Jurors. Then
Oregon Sanders arose and for two hours
pleaded for the life and liberty of the de-
PENDANT 1t was evident from the begin
ming that the plan of the defense was to
assail and impeach the character of and
testimony given by the witnesses for the
prosecution, as he later admitted that he
had never found it SO hard to talk upon a
case in his life as upon this.
At the commencement of his speech
Sanders cautioned the Jurors agains
tribal jealousy, which he protested that
he believed to exist between the counties
OF Mendocino and Trinity. In succession
he took up witnesses Hoglan, Wilburn,
Hanover and Doolittle. branding them as
&c tile thieves, squawmen, rascals in gen.
eral He dwelt upon the fact that no
blood or water had been found upon the
clothing of the defendant.
Before Deputy Attorney-General G. N.
Post entered upon tho body of his argu.
ment, he spoke of the pleasant relations
that had existed between himself and the
opposing counsel, and paid a well-deserved
tribute to fearless Tom Bergin. the tall.
sinewy young Sheriff of Trinity County.
who worked relentlessly and regardless of
his own safety to bring the murderers out
said:
You remember what I told YOU in my
opening statement, and / believe that I
have kept my word. / said / would prove
conspiracy. and now say that George
E. White was the head and front of this
conspiracy. 1t was only necessary for
him TO intimate that it would be an agree
able thlng to him If such man be re-
moved and it would be done"
He stated that the cons piracy which had