The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-16
GORDY IS GUILTY.
So Says The Sussex CoualE Jury.
!sl:9Nss SAYS EE Il !iN1sENF
One of His Brothers and His
, Brothei-i -in.law Wept When
They Hard the
Verdict.

| GEORGETOWN, Del, April 15.-Tho jury
in the case of james NJ GOrdy, who has
been on trial for the murder Of his bride,
formerly Mrs. Mary Lewis, gave q verdict
of murder in the first degree Tho verdict
was rendered ut z 80 o'clock tonight.
1t was $50 o'clock when the jurors re.
tired , and they were ready to return their
verdict as soon as they reached the jury
room, but as the court had taken recess
until Z o'clock no poll was made until
Gas.
| The jury filed into court and Chief
Justice Lore warned the crowd against
any demonstration. Clerk Dorman pro-
pounded the question US to the verdict and
a hush settled on the hundreds of persons
present. The reply Of Foreman Titus
Guilty as indicted although given in
the room. In an instant there was muir
mur of approval.
Gordy was commanded to stand up. He
arose and leaned against tbs railing Of the
prisoners dock with his hands clasped.
The verdict did not cause him to finch.
Counsel for the defense asked that the
jury be again polled, and each juryman
answered guilty" The prisoner then
sat down and picking up his hat put 1t on
his head. p
Levin H. Moore, brother-in law Of the
prisoner, and Joseph Gordy, his brother,
were sitting by the rail of the dock when
the verdict was given. Both of them low
cred their heads and wept. Mr., Moore
said Gordy's mother was at her home,
about three and one.half miles from
Georgetown, and that he was going to
break the news to her. He was sure that
the news would kill her.
Chief Justice Lore ordered the way
cleared for the prisoner and asked the
crowd to remain until the sheriff and
Gordy had gotten out Of the building.
Deputy Short, carrying staye tipped
with black, signifying death, led the pro.
cession. the prisoner following Deputy
Roland w. Joseph holding red staff.
signifying blood, brought up the rear.
This is an old English Gus tom still OBJ
served in murder trials here.
Gordy walked through the crowd ap.
parently unconcerned and was hurried to
the rear entrance of the Jail When he
reached his cell the handouts were re-
moved and he asked Deputy Short for q
chew of tobacco, which was given him.
Mr.. Short asked Gordy what he thought
Of the verdict He replied:
Il am innocent Will they hang me at
Georgetown
In his charge to the jury Chief Justice
Lore said
THE indictment charges that the death
of Mrs Gordy was caused by the use Of
a blunt instrument or an oar or II hammer
in the hands of and used by the prisoner.
The proof must correspond with this aver.
mont. IT, therefore, you believe that
death resulted from drowning or any other
cause than that laid down In the indict.
ment and proved, you should aequit him.
If you have any reasonable doubt Of the
guilt of the prisoner or Of the proof OF such
guilt upon any material element Of the
crime charged, you should acquit.
But gentlemen, that doubt should be
reasonable doubt-Dot mere possibility,
not whiln, not fancy, not speculative
doubt born of sympathy or caprice and
having no foundation in the evidence.
The State is not bound in its proof to
make mathematical demonstration or 10
produce proof to absolute certainty, but
only to moral certainty-that is, to pro.
duce such sproof as would satisfy nor
mally balanced and healthy mind"
The jury then retired for its verdict,
which was rendered rs above stated.
From early morning until the verdict
had been announced the court house was
packed to suffocation. The pipes were re.
moved from the stoves by the crowd, and
as many as could get foothold upon the
stoves hung on to them. One man held
himself up by poking his arm through the
stove-pipe hole in the chimney.
The women, who have all along showed
deep interest in the case, were out in full
force. Many Of them congregated on the
outside of the court house and expressed
approval of the verdict.
Wa Mr.. Richardson said there would. be q
motion in arrest of Judgment tomorrow.
1t is rumored that motion may be made
for q new trial, but the defense will prob.
ably not attempt to prevent the sentenc,
ing OF the prisoner.
The last white man who was hanged
here met his fate in 1881. In 1879 Joseph
Burton, colored, was hanged for felonious
assault. Two other men who were con.
victed of murder in Sussex tounty escaped
and are still at large.