Evening star., 1898-06-13
DISCUSSED BY JURY
Men Who Tried Oanty Tell How
They Reached Decision.
FHE VALUE OF CERTAIN TESTIMONY
Convincing Evidence That Rye
Carried a Knife.
co ST OF TIL E RIA L

~ " = ~ II T. II "A IL
The twelve jurymen who freed Dennis
Canty were at the marshars Office this
morning to obtain their fees for service.
They were locked up twenty-six days. and
receive 81 day, although five served nine
days longer, as they were on the regular
Criminal Court jury for the May term.
Therefore they will draw from So to $40
each.
Statements of the case and the reasons
which led them to reach their unanimous
verdict of scquittal have been made by sew
eral members of the jury.
"Canty only did what 1 OF any other
good citizen would have done.' said Fore
man Marr and all the others assented.
1.-The testimony of Keating, Williams and
Miss Somerville convinced US that Rye had
a knife. Without Keating and Miss SOM
erviIe there might have been a different
verdict. AS the case was presented our
verdict had to be either guilty of murder,
with or without capital punishment or ac-
Guittal. There could have been no half
way course-Such as manSiaughter. Those
three witnesses could not be impeached in
our minds. They told the truth. All the
other forty-seven could not tell anything
of value as to what happened before Rye
that Rye had a knife we firmly believe.
The one who had murder in his heart was
Rye. After the alteration Monday he
made up his mind to kill Canty. He drank
whisky-something. he never did before
this man who always kept his nerves right
so he could gamble. He put that knife UP
his sleeve through that loop. Then next
day he lay for Canty.
Rye's Purpose.
What was he doing at that corner?
What business had he there? His intention
was to come up behind Canty and cut him
with the knife. He told Canty he'd cut him
the day before if he did not pay. Pierre
Waggaman said Rye looked. when he saw
him, as if he was coming up behind. Canty
was scared-scared out of his wits. He was
a coward. we believe, and Rye seemed to
him TO be as big as a house. He had been
cursed and threatened by Rye, and Walton
and others had carried the threats to him.
He armed himself. believing that if they
met next day one would he killed. He didn't
intend murder He made no preparations
until the day before, and then because he
had right to believe his life in danger. He
tried 10 get out of Rye's way. Heating saw
Rye pull the knife and change it from one
hand to the other. We believe him. Miss
Somerville saw the knife held at his side.
She told the truth, and was the best wit
fused on the stand. We saw big men get
helpless when called into the box. No Won
der she was nervous. But she saw all she
said she saw.
Rye had that knife in his hand when he
approached Canty. Canty saw it. There
were more threats and profanity from
Rye. Then he made a motion. Canty
thought he was going to be cut. He pulled
his pistol and was SO scared he fired before
he got hts arm lifted. He didn't even
straighten his arm out The first sho.
didn't hit Rye. 1t dazed him. He thought
Canty unarmed. He moved as IL to get
aWav. The second shot hit him Cantv
had a double-action revolver. He was
firing 1t fast because he was scared and
because he didn't know how to use it.
Threatened and Frightened Canty.
Rye had no business to use Canty as
he did He was bad man and a coward
ly one. He brandt: he'd the penknife Mon
day when he threatened Canty and knew
it was intimidating the big fellow. He
slashed 1t up and down in front of Canty
ard said he'd cut him. When Canty spoke
about Rye'3 note then Rye made up his
mind to kill. He went and drank whisky
10 poison his heart into doing his evil pur-
pose. He got what he deserved. Canty is
TO the shooting doesn't show that he
threatened Rye or did more than to arm
himself in fear Of death from Rye.
I'VE swore to give a verdict according to
the evidence. We didn't mind the argu-
ments. Mr.. Davis made fine address, but
it was too farfetched. His talk about
Keating, Miss Somerville and the other wit
nesses hurt his case. He called too many
people liars His theory of the murder was
like dime novel. He wouldn't let Hardy
tell all he knew. We fitted the judges
charge to the evidence and then gave our
verdict. We were honest, and there wasn't
a man among us who didn't believe Rye
deserved all he got. We believe he would
have assassinated Canty If he had not been
shot. He didn't use his revolver because
he thought he could get behind Canty and
make sure Of him.
"Out Of all the conflicting evidence, that of
Keating, Williams and Miss Somerville
agreed, and clearly showed us the circum-
stances. Only an accident brought her into
the case. She was afraid to go on the
stand. but mentioned long afterward what
her called. We take The Star and will go
all over what 1t has printed about the case
with great deal of interest.
Thanks to the Deputies.
"Never were there kinder deputies than
w. T. Garrison and F. F. Klokow. We
want a chance to thank them publicly for
their courteous and unfailiAg attention. We
hope our verdict meets the approval of the
community, but whether it does or does not
we vera honest in giving it."
This Is substantially what was said to
The Star man in the course of a long con-
versation with all Of the jury. They show
ed an amazing familiarity with the testi-
nony of every witness.
The stenographers' bill for reporting the
testimony will be about 81, 900, the govern
ment and Canty dividing equally the cost.
John w. Hulse had the contract. He states
that the record will make 2, 700 pages. The
largest amount paid for such work in the
courts here was in the Holt will case, whers
the record cost s., 5S25 so.
The total cost of the Canty trial is not
known. but 1t was very great. Saturday
morning Canty told The Star reporter that
he could not afford the expense of another
trial. He had spent every dollar he could