The San Francisco call., 1898-03-23
The Fratricide Dazed When the Jury's Finding Is
 Read.
SCENES AT THE CLOSE.
Burning Denunciation of the Culprit in the District Attorneys
 Address.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NAPA, March 22.-The trlai or the fratricide of St. Helena is ended and the jury has decreed that George Clark must die on the gallows His attor- neys fought hard for lighter punish ment. They hoped for life sentence, but after MT. Bell closed the case this morning there was but one opinion among those who listened. Clark fidgeted and nervously clasped and un- clasped his hands as the District At torney denounced the crime and It's perpetrator and then when the court was charging the jury he settled back into a stolid apathy, broken only when the Sheriff came to rouse him and to take him back to the jail.
 The jury retired at eight minutes to o'clock. The prisoner was taken back to the jail, and while the crowd hung around the court house he paced around the central we'll of the prison, his hands in his pockets, his eyes bent on the floor and blinking as if he had just come into the light and his steps quick and nervous.
 There was much speculation among the waiting crowds while the minutes dragged along. The fifteen-m minute men acknowledged their mistake, and then the thirty minute men followed suit. The impression was that lIeIS NdS d hitch somewhere on the question of the penalty, and then as more minutes went by and still no sign from the jury room the walters began to talk of a hung jury and the chances of an all- night session.
 Gradually the people began to drift away from the court house and stand on the nearby corners to discuss the delay.
 eli hxy then there was knock on the door of the jury-room. The people in the court were suddenly silent and those out in the hall came trooping in. The jurors only wanted ink and pens, however, and these were given them, but it was a good sign and more people came in from the outside and these on the cor ners came back to the courthouse and waited expectantly. The crowd was right Within a minute a knock again came from the jury-room and it was announced to the elisor that verdict had been agreed upon The crowds poured in in greater numbers and the Judge, who had gone home, was sent for. The jury was called when the court was seated, and then l. G. Her ron, the foreman, rose and pronounced the verdict, Guilty of murder in the first degree
 It had taken just an hour.
 Clark hung his head and the tears started to his eyes, but no other sign did he make while Monday next was being agreed upon as the date for his sentence, and the courts adjournment started the crowds to the hall or gave license to those who wished to jostle one another in an effort to gain a closer view of the condemned. He was taken to the jail again and resumed his rest less walk around the narrow gallery, nervous, preoccupied, his hands clasped before him, his face pale and the gath ering tears chasing each other more and more quickly down his pallid cheeks. He was crying bitterly when the Sheriff left him alone He was asked if he had anything to say for publication and spaSmodically he put up his hand and replied:
 "No;' 1 won't talk to no reporters, and then he resumed his restless, rapid walk. The jury cast four ballots. The first stood eleven for murder in the first degree and one for murder in the second degree. The second ballot was unanimous for murder in the first de- gree. The third ballot was on the pen alty. It stood ten for hanging and two for life sentence.e The fourth ballot settled Clarks doom.
 MT. Bell followed MT. Beerstecher, and closed the case. He tore to shredS MT. Hogans oratorical fabric, and he dashed aside the theories one by one, which the defense had advanced as pos- Sible explanations of the murder. He devoted himself particularly to the claim of the defense in argument, and he called attention to the fact that there had been no testimony to show such mental state in the defendant. In concluding MT. Bell demanded conviction with the death penalty. and in doing so he arraigned the defendant in words that almost burned. He de- scribed him as one who had entered the home of his brother, only to destroy it; who had destroyed his brothers fam fly; who had thrown disgrace on his brothers children and had despoiled his brothers wife, and then he took all that was left-hiS brothers life.
 Judge Ham then read his charge to the jury. It came as something of surprise when, after his opening words, Judge Ham charged the jurors that they should not allow any remarks of the court, made when the Judge so se- verely criticized Henry Hogan of coun- sel for the defense last Tuesday morn ing. to in any way prejudice the de- fendant in the eyes of the jury.
 The charge dealt with the usual points touched upon in murder cases, with the addition that the jurors were to leave aside all question of confession, and arrive at their verdict without con- Sidering it.
 Then the jury retired to decide the fate of Clark.
 Precautions are being taken to pre- vent any attempt at suicide that the prisoner may indulge in. The Sheriff fears that should Clark lose all hope he will try to kill himself. There is a special guard over the prisoner now, and there will be one always with him until he is sent to San Quentin.
 Clark was locked up for the night at o'clock, and at that time he had re- gained command of himself. He has hopes that his case will fare better be- fore the Supreme Court than 1t has be- fore the lower tribunal. and no one tries to dispel this hope. It is evident his conviction is surprise to him.
 The attorneys for the defense have not vet decided whether or not they