The herald., 1897-09-19
FOUND GUILTY
Mechanism Will Spend His
Life in Jail
a VERDICT OF $4,000
JIHS. HoD0KINS AGAINST
SURVEYOR WRIGHT
Mrs. Martin Claims Another Share in
the Estate Of Ex-Gov. Downey.
Young's Will-Close Call

When Assistant District Attorney
williams began his closing argument IL
the McCamish murder trial yesterday his
voice was so husky that with difficulty
only could he speak. Although his voic'
cleared somewhat he labored under dis
advantage throughout the day.
During the morning he reviewed many
OF the facts that the defense in their ar
gument had sought to invalidate, in the
light of other testimony that had not
been adverted to at ALL or in the briefesi
possible way. Counsel sought to shosv
that the surmiseS and conjectures re-
rarding certain articles of an incrim-
mating nature found in the defendants
room could not possibly include other ar
ticles. In this connection Mr.. Williams
championed the cause of Daily Line
berger, albeit he confessed that he might
have been guilty OF some mistakes.
In the afternoon counsel confined him
self; very largely to the motive testimony
He thought Madisons statement regard
ing McCamlsh's alleged Infamous con-
fession to him to possess inherent prob
abilities of it's truth, and counsel de-
bird, but as right good fellow, with
good instincts, but having fallen from
grace.
The long list Of cases cited by Mr.. Rush
Illustrating the unreliability, at best, of
circumstantial evidence Mr.. Williams
laughed to seorn. Circumstantial evil
dence, he urged. was Gods evidence, for
such facts could not lie. while in thous-
ands of cases Of direct testimony justice
had miscarried through the deliberate
perjuries Of suborned witnesses.
Mr.. Williams concluded his argument
at twenty minutes past four. and Judge
Smith proceeded at once to charge the
jury The instructions for and against
the defendant were pretty evenly bal
anced, and at five minutes to five o'clock
the jury retired.
1t was nearly II o'clock a. night when
the jury, after repeated ballots, arrived
at decision, and so notified the bailifI
in charge. Word was sent to the jail
and McCamish reused out of bed.
Hastily dressing, he was conducted to
the court room, heavy-eyed and minus
collar or necktie. On entering the
court room he calmly walked to the
water cooler, took drink and sat down.
anxiously scanning the faces OF the jury
as though he might there find some indi-
cations of his fate.
The scene was impressive to degree
The rows Of empty seats, which during
the trial had been filled with eager lis
teners, the deep shadow cast over the
bench and countenance Of the judge, the
solemn stiffness Of the place, all COM
bined to produce an uncanny feeling.
McCamish was alone; not friend to give
him support. Even the district attor-
ney's office was not represented. The
jury filed in, and to the query Of Judge
Smith the foreman responded that they
had agreed upon verdict:
I'VE find the defendant guilty Of mur-
der in the first degree as charged, ana
fix the penalty as Imprisonment for life. ="
That was all; no request was made
that the jury be polled, and after few
words Of thanks from the Judge for their
services they were dismissed while Nc
Cam!sh, seeming stunned and saying no.
a word. was led back to his cell. Friday
morning next sentence will be passed
upon him.