Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-22

killing dog. Continuing, Mr.. Richards
said this case had been tried By the
newspapers, that they we're the cause
of the crowds during the trial, that
they have bounded the prisoner from
the time of his arrest. He said that
the sooner this damnable-l47,
At this junUture Chief ustice Lore
stopped him. and told him that he
must confins himself TO the case.
He then took another tack. and did
not ask the jury to acquit IL they
thought that the, State had produced
sufficient evidence to satisfy their
minds and conscience beyond reason
able doubt that the prisoner committed
the crime. He read to The jury the
oath under which they must find
verdict. 1t is d solemn thing for II
men to say whether or not q man shall
die upon the galIows, He reviewed
the evidence adducod, dwelling par
ticularly upon the testimony OF Drs.
Hopkins and Wilson. He thought it
impossible for one man to do SO much
as they claim Gordy did.
Mr.. Richards continued bis argument
in the afternoon, and concluded his
remarks at 3. % o'clock.
Attorney General While Immediately
began the closing argument for the
State. He replied to the statement
made by counsel for the defence that
more than one man was concerned in
the crime by saying that even IL such
we're tho case, although be did not
admit it, the Jury must find the pris.
oner guilty IL they thought him uon-
nected With the killing ss an accessory.
At .. 10 O'Clock the State closed it's
case and the. Jury WAS charged by
Chief Justice Lore. He defined murder
in tho first degree. There are other
grades Of murder but the jury are not
called upon to discriminate. They
should find the prisoner guilty as he
stood indicted, or not guilty. The only
thing for them to determine was
whether the prisoner killed tho woman.
The evidence in this case is entirely
circumstantIal. IL could no. possibly be
otherwise. lie. then gave the definition
of circumstantia evidence, and said to
warrant conviction il must be entirely
satisfactory to them beyond a reason.
ablo doubt Proof OF motive is not
necessary. In determining the case the
evidence must point with moral Ger.
need not, in fact could not. be proved
WIN plCGi6lous bc
wounds and footprints must be con-
sidered. Finally they should ,istormino
the case solely and entirely from what
they had heard in the court room
during the trial, must divorce from
their minds ali the ideas and theories
concerning the crime which they had
before they were drawn.
The jury retired at $40 o'clock. 1t
was generally thought that the jury
would not be long 10 reaching YER
dict, and many persons remained In the
court room. At 645 o'clock word was
sent to the court that the jury was
ready to render the verdict. Counsel
for both sides and the prisoner were
sent for, and by the time the jury. with
set and determined faces, filed into the
court room every foot of space 10 the
room was occupied. Before taking the
verdict the court ordered that there
should he no noise Ia the court room,
no expression OF approval or disappruval
Of the result of the solemn proceedings
about 10 be begun. The prisoner evi.
IDENTITY expected that the jury would
acquit him. For the fret time during
the whole of the trial he sat erect in
the box, and when told to arise and
look upon the jury be stood up straight
and looked them full in the face. The
twitching of the muscles was all gone.
Either he had assumed, for effect, the
attitued and appearances that had been
remarkable during the trial or he had
nerved himself for the supreme ordeal.
When the Jury pronounced his doom
not a shadow crossed bis face. His
nerve was simply remarkable. While
many, including the attorney general,
we're moved to tears by the awful
solemnity of the occasion, TO all out
ward appearances. the prisoner was the
most indifferent man there.
Gordy's brother and brother law,
who were in tba court room when the
verdict was given, completely broke
down under the terrible shock. When
the prisoner was place Ia the dock ono
of the tipstaves who had him in
custody said to him, Jim, they are
going to convict you. can SEQ il by
their LOOKS" Gordy replied "Yes, l
believe they will" After the jury bad
been polled the court ordered that not
a man leave the room until the prisoner
had been conducted to the Jail. After
Gordy had been removed Mr.. Cullen
moved for stay OF judgment, stating
that reasons would be filed within the
required time. The motion was granted.
Georgetown, April 17.-James NJ.
Gordy, who was convicted on Thurs
day of killing his wife. formerly Mrs.
Mary Lewis Of New York, was sem
fenced to-day to lie hanged ON Juna
18th. In passing sentence Chief Justice
Loro said
flames NJ. Gordy, you have had an
impartial trial. You have been dc.
Tended by able counsel, who have ex-
hausted every resource OF trained minds
and large experience In your defence.
They left nothing undone tending to
your safety. No fault can attach to
them that you were not acquitted.
You were convictede and we think
rightfully, upon an unbroken chain of
circumstantial evidence, woven by
your own words and actions. which |
fasten the crime upon you with con-
elusive certainty.
"Your crime upon its face ia one of |
almost fiandish atrocity. The woman
you murdered was hound to you by one |
OF the most tender and endearing ties |
Of our human life.
son the 25th Of last February, in |
tho City Of New York, you led her to
the altar and there, 10 the holy saGra.
ment of marriage, pledged your man.
hood to love her. to protect her, and,
forsaking all others, to cleave only unto |
her. On the 10th of March you lured
her from her friends in New York into |
this State, it may be through her |