The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-28


Was Lsid-1he Prisoner Unmoved By the
Pr-onounoeme.t Of the Death Sentence,
Which The Judge Declares the Most Psin-
fal Duty of His Lifo
Norfolk, Va, December 23.-John An
dersen stands convicted OF the murder
of William Wallace Saunders, mate Of
schooner Olive Pecker, On the high
seas on August Sth last, and under the
sentence of the court must be hanged
OF March 18th next, unless the supreme
court OF the United States in the mean
time interposes 10 save his life or pro-
long his existence.
All the conclusion OF the argument OF
counsel last evening, the jury were
sent to their room to deliberate, the
court remaining in session half an
hour. The jury then returned and said
that the time was too short for proper
the court took a recess until 10 o'clock
this morning, the jury meanwhile be-
ing excused from further deliberation
upon the case until the re-assembling
of court. 1t was an hour behind sche-
dule time when the court was opened
today, Judge Golf having been delayed
by a Slight mishap to the steamer
Hampton Roads at Old Point.
Immediately upon the opening OF
court the jury were sen to their room.
At 1910 o'clock they came into the
court room and their YER
dict as follows: I'VE, the jury, find
49, T~1- a~r oioC
John Andersen, guilty as charged in
the Indictment"
The prisoner, who had exhibited all
imaginable moods during the progress
OF the trial, heard the verdict with
outward cOnpOsure, almost with in
difference.
Nj. George Mcintosh, counsel for the
prisoner, Immediately mace a motion
for q new trial. At the afternoon ses-
sion the motion was argued. The
grounds assigned for the motion were
ten, one of which related to a motion
made before the trial to Quash the
venire for the petit jury for the reason
that the writ did not state the purpose
for which the jurors were
Another related to the testimony OF q
witness who gave his opinion in re-
gard to the opportunity a man at the
NheelhOuse aft had to see what was
going on at the fOrecastle, the schOOn-
er carrying q. deck load Of lumber and
being under sail. The witness was n
of the owners OF the vessel, being Ia
miliar with her construction, but not
having seen her when loaded for the
fatal voyage. The defense excepted to
the testimony, but it was admitted.
The other grounds OF exception related
to the exclusion of evidence offered for
the defense, tending to shOW the char
acter Of the captain and the cruel con-
! duct of the mate, especially an alleged
| attempt OF the deceased to throw the
! prisoner overheard, the night previous
to the homicide.
| Mr.. Mcintosh argued the motion at
| some length, saying that he had great
| confidence in his grounds for excep-
| ton.
| The court overruled the motion, aft
( ter a brief argument in reply by the
| district attorney, and Judge Golf SEN
| fenced the prisoner. After reviewing
the evidence briefly, Judge Golf con-
| cluded as follows: 1T is the most
painful duty of my life. i pity you as
I never pitied a man before. The
judgment is that you be taken by the
marshal and confined in close custody
in the Norfolk jail till Friday, March
10, 1898, and that you then be X
by the marshal to some suitable place
in the district, and that between the
hours of 2 and 6 o'clock in the after
moor of that day you be hanged by the
neck till you are dead"
The prisoner hardly moved a muscle
while the sentence was being p%rOnOunc-
ed, but cried a little while talking to
his attorney a little while afterWard.