The sun., 1897-03-16
SHELDONJURY SAY GUILTY.
TIE VERDICT AGREED TO AFTER 80
HOURS DELIBER1TION.
Notions Tor Arrest OF Judgment ana TOR . new
Trial Arc Denicd-Tbe Convicted MAN SEN
fenced to Die in the week BeginninE
April 0R-The story Of Hhnldon,n Crirnr

hEtht hEe Dchlcu-une ConVlcten Wan SEM
fenced to Die in the week BeginninE
April oB-The story OF sheidon,s Crime.
AUBURN, N. V. March l5.-NothinR was
heard from the Sheldon jury during tho night,
but at 1880 this morning Judge Dunwell re-
ccived word that the jury again ready to re-
port. Anbour lator court assembled. At 1898,
Just s4i2 hours. after tho Jury drst retired for
dclibcration. the tired members filed into court.
Sheldon sat by the side OF his counsel, Mr..
Drummond. Tho attorney closely scanned tho
drawn features OF the fagged.out jurors and
then said something to Sheldon which caused
him to smile, This was tho defendants last
smile in the trial.
Tho roll call was ordered, and Deputy Clerk
Westfall road tho list of names OF Jurors and Of
the defendant. He then said:
"Gcntlcmen of the jury, have you agreed upon
averdict -
Foreman Holden made reply in such low tones
that 1t could not bo heard distinctly. Clerk
westfall reported that the jury had not agreed.
Cricr Mcdonald corrected him, and said tho
jury had agreed. Again the query was put to
tho jury. md tho reply came back, this time
with startling distinctness.
1--WE have" said the foreman solemnly. I'VE
hnd tho prisoner guilty as charged"
For moment nothing was said or done.
Everybody In the court room looked the amaze
mcnt they must have felt. Attorney Drummond
appeared to bo dumfounded. Sheldon was un-
moved. He did not finch, and the only indica-
tion he gave of inward perturbation was shown
by the rapid movement of his eyelids No ono
spoke to him. Even Guy. tho everfaithful ono
who sat by his fathers side was rendered
speechless. Assembly man Sheldon and Adelbert
Sheldon. the two brothers Of the accused man,
were not present to hear the awful words Of
condemnation, but fifteen minutes later they
learned Of the jury's action and they hurried to
convicted murderer, but they did not not offer words
OF comfort or consolation. They looked discon
worst outcome that they could imagine. A con
vcton was not In thought Of and the 6ow
the declaration OF Foreman Holden was broken
was apparent that the Judge was extremely sat
ishcd that u verdict had been reached.
Let the jury be pollcd," was the Courts next
Then the s, Clerk, calling each jHryman by name.
e Guilty" said each of the twelve men in turn
:, As the word OF terrible import fell from the
OF made that would ncats
vousness. His wonderful stoicism was main
tanned to the last: The Court then turned to the
conclusion he ordered each Of them to be- paid
section s815 Of the Code Of Civil Procedure. .'''
Mr.. Drummond moved for an arrest of judg-
sci consented to immediate sentence, and Shell
don was ordered to stand up, He gave his ago as
When asked IL he had anything to say, he fall
teringly replied: I'm innocent of the crime
Sentence was pronounced in few words, nam
ing tho week of April 25 for the execution OF the
The murder was committed on April 80. 1885,
Sheldon received the sentence without visible
emotion. George Sheldon, brother, was bowed
in grief, and Assemblyman Sheldon, younger
brother. covered his face with his handkerchief.
Adelbert sheidon's eyes filled with tears. Guy
oE Of he y he
vote had stood for the most part ten for convic-
The Sheldon family has been for more then a
generation prominent In ,Cayuga county. Frank
known to almost every farmer in the extensive
northern section of the county. He married.
ton whose family was and f hardly less prom.
nnent than his own: -Four children, the oldest,
M es OF fSo h"ssdh
Il years old; His bEother Glare Is now repre-.
sembiy for the second time.
There was happiness in the family until Ellen
6onsehoid as % servant ius Soon It Became noticed
that Frank sheldon was transferring his affec-
saw their father go many times to the room Of
Ellen sulyan ; Strange as it may see, SEEM this
Ellen sullivan left the house at length, but she
did not leave Frank Sheldons affections behind.
MSaH ak of sEng ER sa M
him, and leaving his wife and children depend
joseph Early IN
don returned from Michigan. Through the
efforts Of his brothers there was partial rec;
onciation. Sheldon gave a bond in the sum of
$1,000 TO support his wife and family and to CON
duct himself as husband should. but he did not
at Weedsport. There Sheldon spent most Of bis
Things went on in this condition until April
30, 1896. On that morning the Sheldons arose
he was about the farm work with his sons be-
fore o'clock having spent part part Of The previous
and Jennie. his daughters. went to school. The
father went to Jordan, few miles distant,
seERs osdts s h9 afs aSodt
Guy that Mrs. Sheldon was dead on the pantry
went into the house, picked the body up, and
placed it on a couch in the sitting room; Shell
was the last one that saw her alive and the first
one that saw her dead body.
directed toward her anisithfqi husband. whose
to every one. Little threads were picked up
here and there, and the Coroner decided that an
port There, in ali lis backness. sheidon's life
was revealed. Other. revelations were there.
to- which tended to dseredit tho Q, theory Of sui
The Coroners Jury found that Mrs Sheldon did
not commit suicide. Sheldon was indicted.
The trial began seven weeks ago and has been
one OF the most remarkable In the history of
Cayuga county The evidence was entirely cir
cumstantial, much of 1t of an expert nature.
For the first time since the commencement of
the trial. Frank sheldon. the defendant gave
way to his emotion this afternoon. 1t occurred
whilo he was being taken from the jail TO the
State prison. During the ride he broke down
was OF short duration. His eyes were dry whom
the party arrived at the prison entrance and he
walked with firm step. Tho factory whistles
were sounding the hour OF o when tho heavy
gate closed on the convicted man, and soon after
ward he was conducted to a. cell in the con-
demned chamber His counsel was with him to
the last, and as they parted the attorney whis-
Dered O word of encouragement to his client.