The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-20
a LIFE TERM IN PRISON
JURY DELIBERATED BUT A SHORT
TIME OVER BRIDGEwATER's CASE.
State offered, Several weeks Ago, to
Compromise on ~ Much
Lighter Sentence.

Unless the Supreme Court interferes with
the verdict made in the Criminal Court last
night William Bridgewater the slayer of
Ollster Wharton at Woodruff Place last
August, must go to prison for life. This
was the verdict of the jury which found
Bridgewater guilty of murder in the second
degree. The jurors, in reaching this de-
cision, deliberated but few hours.
The argument in the case began yesterday
morning and closed at $50 o'clock in the
evening, when Prosecuting Attorney Wilt
sic finished for the state. Two speeches
were made on each side. Attorneys Healing
and Bowlus spoke for the defense, and AS
sistant States Attorney Afford opened the
argument for the prosecution. Helen
Bridgewater, who witnessed the struggle
that ended in the death of Ollister Wharton,
sat near her husband, the prisoner, and his
mother all of yesterday afternoon. The
courtroom was packed the entire day. AS
has been the case throughout the trial, the
crowd was mostly composed Of colored peo-
pie
Attorney Healing, in following John w.
Bowlus in an appeal for the prisoner, said
it had been intimated in the argument of
the state that Bridgewater when he went
to Woodruff Place on the night of the kill
ing, was In a murderous mood because he
believed that the man he had suspected of
being too fond of his wife was there. Mr..
Healing declared If this be true the jury
should show a verdict of acquittal, that the
man who trifes with the affections Of a
wife, and who destroys home is not to
live in this community. He dwelt on the
proposition that a man has the right to
protect the honor Of his home.
Prosecuting Attorney Wiltsie, in closing,
said he would show that Bridgewater had
lied and faisified in this case. The prosecu-
tor declared the state had been handicapped
all the way through the trial. The state,
he said, had but one witness and this was
Helen Bridgewater. the wife Of the prisoner.
who was also strong for the defense. She,
too, had made false statements, the prose-
cutor asserted, and he would be able to
show that she had. He would bring Ollister
Wharton back from the grave. and he de-
clared if every gaping wound in the body
did not belle the statements of the prisoner
he wanted him turned loose. Mr.. Wiltsie
said no in Marion county could cut an
others throat, stab him to death and be-
cause Of some kind of sympathy go free.
In such a country there is no law. Mr..
Wiltsie- charged that Mr.. Healing had APP
pealed to the prejudice and sympathy or the
make that kind Of argument. if these
jurors were the strong men the state
thought them to be when they were Sc
lected.
Mr. Wiltsie insisted that Ollister Wharton
received the first blow from Bridgewater's
knife in the back. To demonstrate his theo,
ry of the manner in which the blows had
been given, the prosecutor asked Deputy AL
ford to stand before the jury. The prosecu-
tor then took the knife with which Whart1n
body at different points just how he believed
the Stabbing was done.
THE CELEBRATION SHORT.
Judge McCray instructed the jurors and
sent them out to deliberate about o'clock.
A few minutes after 8 o'clock the jury sent
word down to the courtroom that 1t was
ready to report. Bridgewater was brought
over from the Jail and Attorney John c.
Ruckleshaus came to represent the defense.
After the verdict fixing the penalty at i'm
prisonment for life had been read the jury
was polled. Each man replied that this was
his verdict.
Prosecuting Attorney Wiltsie expressed
himself as satisfied with the verdict. Three
months ago the State offered Bridgewater
a compromise sentence with view to saw
ing the county the expense Of a trial, but
his attorneys refused to talk of PROPOSE
tion of this kind. Had they been disposed
to make terms with the State Bridgewater
LllSul Have plCdQSO Sulily DSSh ASb OlA
with a sentence of from two to twenty
years in prison. 1t was learned last night
that none of the jurors was in favor of
acquittal. On the first three ballots taken
seven of the twelve voted for murder in
the first degree Two of the five who were
against this proposition desired convic-
ton on the charge of manslaughter They
seemed to understand that the jury, IF man
slaughter were the verdict, could fix the
to these jurors that manslaughter came
within the meaning of the indeterminate
sentence law, and that only the court could
nix the sentence. they held out no longer
The twelve finally compromised on a life
sentence. The jurors were: c.. B. Hale,
South Summit street; G. Sheridan, Wayne
township; J. f. Smith, SOC Harrison street;
Wesley Coppock, ga Dorman street: Alonzo
Graham, $50 Meek street; John Johnson,
Lawrence township; c. f. Collins Franklin
townships Emil Ducks, Wood street; A. j.
Gardner, 2126 North Meridian street; G. e.
Hickman, 54 Lord street; Lawrence Ed
wards, Decatur township; c. II. Mime
meyer, Wayne township.
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