The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-29

Charge to Do It--Intense Interest OF
Legal Tilt, Objection or Exception-The
Story of a Dramatic Day.
Guilty
George Murray" Is the man who blew
open the safe of the Maine Cold Storage
and Provision Company at or near the
hour of midnight on that stormy night
of the 18th of last September.
at least SO declared the IL men and
lively listened to the evidence In one OF
the most interesting criminal cases that
has occupied the Superior Court in this
city for long time past. They reached
this verdict, however, only sitter having
been in constant deliberation somewhat
ever six hours and then emily after hav-
ing heen sent for by the court who, af-
ter telling them that his honor regretted
very much they had reached no conclu-
sion, read to them the instructions OF a
noted Massachusetts Jurist which has
come to be known among the legal pro-
| fession as the "riot aot." They then re-
tired again for consultation and In
very few moments they were heard filing
down stairs again and every body knew
that 1t meant verdict had been arrived
at. The court room was as still as death
when Clerk Libby put the usual ques-
lions to the fore man, which was an
swsred in the ALTERNATIVES:
"What say you, MIR. Foreman, is the
prisoner at the bar guilty OF not gull
typ"
| equity" said Foreman jacobs quietly,
but distinctly, and George Murray stood
convicted felon under the statutes of
the State of Maine.
The great interest displayed by the
public in the trial of this case which has
before been commented on In these col
umns, and which began with the open
| ing day, has never tagged, but has stead
lily increased day by day as the trial pro-
ceeded. Evsn tbs terrible storm OF yes
terday was net sufficient to keep the
SPECTATORS away from the Superior
Court room. Long before the time for
opening court arrived there was large
attendance present, and when the high
sheriff of Gum berland county escorted
the presiding justice to the bench ana
| the cryer called "court, there WAS hard
ly vacant seat anywhere in the court
room.
Judge Bonney's charge WAS short, COM
prehensive, clear, impartial and covered
fully the points of law upon which the
Jurors must mould their verdict. He
touched upon circumstantial evidence.
This kind Of evidence is of character
that the proper weight to give to it
can only be decided by the exercise OF
the good sense and judgment of the ju-
rors themselves. The charge was entirely
satisfactory to both the counsel for the
state and the respondent. There were
no disputed points as to admissihility
of evidence or anything OF that sort.
This had been a remarkable trial In that
respect. Although lit was a case occupy
ing three full days nearly mot an OBJ
jection was on record. not "A single sxcep-
ton having been noted. Counsel Morrill,
objected through misunderstanding OF
it's character to the testimony Of 6
PRESS reporter, but Dit was quickly
withdrawn when he understood tbs mr.
turs of the evidence and that left the
reoord clear.
!, The jury retired at II O'clock ant
when the shades of evening fell si1
hours later the 10 tnilsmen had not coIn'
back. 1t looked like a disagreement ant
the fact of their temperance bsinf
conveyed to Murray was source OF verJ
: considerable satisfaction 10 that good
looking gentlem man. But brightest nope
, are often shortest-lived. So were MUIR
rays, as future developments showed.
/ Judge Bonney cent the jury an inyi
!, tstion to O'Clock tete-te-tete ans
,, when they arrived he talked to then
, and read the "riot act'' alluded to in bh
first paragraph. 1t is from charge o
, the court in a Massachusetts case o
, Common wealth vs.. Tewhey. 1t tell
the Jurors that some weight must b
. given to O prepondence of sentiment IL
: the Jury in either direction Of guilt o
acouital. 1t instruots the minority to Sc
if they oannot reconcile their opinion
to those Of the majority of their NUM- beE
This authority Is the same one nsed b.
. the court in the Bran case in Boston
? to which his counsel have made sue
earnest objection.
The Jury listened and went back .
: their room. In 10 minutes they war
on the way back. In five minutesamor
Murray was on his way to the count
Jail, eligible for promotion to Thomas
top at an early date.
The jury voted very often during tn
six hours. The first ballot was to fc
conviction, then it was 10 to 2. and
hung there for hours. Then they Gale
on Judge Bonney. Then the minorit
went down and 10 good men and true {
the county of Gum berland sealed tt
fate Of George Murray, aliases ad libe
tum.
Valuable Lecture.