The times., 1899-05-26
HORTON DECLARED
GUILTY AS Indicted
The Jury Renders an Unqual-
flied Verdict.
An Agreement Reached in One Hour
and Twenty-Eight Minutes.
Closing scenes and Incidents of the
TriaI-Thc story of the
Murder.

way.
When the finding of the jury was an
nounced the defendant had his eyes fixed
upon the ceiling of the court room and
did not appear to pay the slightest heed
to the fact that his fate was being de-
cided. Not even when the announcement
was made did Horton appear to be affect
ed in any way. While waiting for the
jurors to enter the court room after an
agreement had been reached Horton
stroked one hand with the other but
otherwise did not show any sign of agita-
ton.
The only one of his relatives in court
at the time of the announcement OF the
| verdict was his brother, who has been a
constant attendant during the whole of
( the proceedings. AS soon as the verdict
/ was announced Deputy Springman, who
I was in charge of the defendant, arose, and
I Horton likewise stood up preparatory to
returning TO his cell. As he did so he
came face to face with his brother, who
/ extended his hand to tell him goodby.
/ The prisoners brother looked very much
! depressed in spirit, but the defendant
! smiled and, taking his brothers hand
/ pressed it and without uttering a word to
him passed on.
| II is said, however, that on his way to
his cell in the basement OF the building ne
/ remarked TO one of the deputy marshals:
Now they will hear from me" When
he arrived in the corridor below he was
met by his sister, his wife, and his niece.
! who were waiting TO hear the verdict.
/ The fact that the defendant was being re-
turned to a cell was proof to them that
l the worst had occurred, and they sobbed
/ pitifully as the convicted man approached.
The crime of which Horton stands con-
/ Victed was one Of the most brutal
! that ever besmirched the history of
a community His victim was wo-
man, with whom, it is said. he had
been on terms of intim2cy for a number
OF years and of whom he became jealous
She was the widow of Frank Nicholson,
who some time before the murder of his
wife had been divorced from her and who,
on account of her subsequent conduct,
committed suicide
Horton had been a member of the Metro
politan Police force for Il number OF years,
and it is stated that he neglected his duty
on account of the woman he killed. and
for this reason was dismissed from the
force.
On the afternoon of the murder Horton
met Mrs. Nicholson in Armory Park
shortly after 6 o'clock and remained there
some time. 1t was stated by Horton, soon
after being arrested, that the woman had
informed him that she would never meet
him again. This, he said angered him, as
! he was suspicious that she had transferred
her affections TO another man and he de-
cided to kill her. So, when Mrs. Nichol-
son arose to leave him, he persuaded her
to walk with him into that part of The
park which lies to the west of Four La
half Street. This she consented to do, and
they had gone but little way across the
street when he drew a penknife from his
pocket, and. opening it. plunged it into his
companions neck. At the first blow TIE
woman fell to the ground and with
uplifted hands implored Horton TO have
mercy and not kill her. Her prayers
and agony had no effect on the defendant,
! who pounced upon her and inflicted
several more wounds on the face and
neck of his victim as she lay upon the
/ ground.
When he thought he had completed his
{ work he turned to walk away, but
/ had only gone a few feet when he turned
/ to gaze upon his victim. In that momest
/ he noticed that the large veins in the wo-
mans neck were still pulsating, and, atoop-
/ ing down, he placed his knee upon the
! chest of the PROSTATE woman and with
( the forefinger of his left hand raised the
! jugular vein and, with the knife, which
/ he still held in his hand, severed the
artery. As he approached his victim this
[ last time he said: You are not dead yet;
! well III finish you
Before leaving the PROSTATE form OF the
woman for the last time Horton quietly
and calmly placed her hands across her
chest and said: jamie, you will never
deceive me any more" He walked few
steps. and, It is said, took a small bottle
| from his pocket. and, placing it to his lips,
appeared to drain il of its contents and
then idly tossed the bottle upon the grass
/ II was supposed from this action that he
| had taken poison, but it was afterward
| learned that he had not.
When seen at the station after his arrest
| Horton talked freely of the crime he had
committed. He said that he was impelled
10 take the woman's life because she had
/ proven untrue to him and that he was
happier for having done so than he had
been for several months
The trial of Horton was begun in Grim
| inal Court No. l before Justice Ciabaugh
on Tuesday, May 16, but the jury was not
impaneled until about noon on Thursday
The killing Of Mrs Nicholson was ad-
mitted by the defence, but il was claimed
that he was not responsible for the deed
because Of his deranged mental condition
Nearly one hundred witnesses We're eX-
amined upon either side during the pro-
ceedinEs. Part of those offered by thf
ing, and others were called upon TO testify
as TO the mental condition OF the defend
ant. Most of the latter were. well ac-
auainted with Horton, and during the las
few years have had business dealings witt
him These, together with the physician:
who examined the defendant, gave 1t a!
their opinion that he was OF sound mint
and knew well the difference between righ
and wrong Several physicians were alsC
offered as witnesses by the defence, and al
agreed that Horton is insane and not le'
galIy responsible for his acts. Many othe
persons who have known the defendan
for a great number of years were called
and testified that he is of unsound min'
and IN many respects mentally unbalanced
The arguments to the jury were begul
Wednesday afternoon, when Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Laskey presented the Gov
erument's side Of the case.
The arguments for the defence wer'
made Yesterday, as was also the c.osini
argument for the Government, which wa
made by Assistant District Attorney 10
seph Shillington, who finished at ZAP p m
Justice Clabaugh then began his charg
to the Jury and the case was given TO tn
Jury at 3:i4 p. m. The jury remained on
but one hour and twenty-eight minutes
and at 4:42 returned verdict OF guilt.
as indicted"
Mr. Robert w. Wells. the junior coun
sci for the defendant, asked that the jur
be polled and the request was granite
by the court The clerk of the court Gale
the names of the jurors one by one, an
, as he did so each juror stood up an
answered Guilty rs indicted.
The Jury was composed of the follow
ing: Emmett Hopes, Charles f. Erie:
E. W. Yount, William B. Tippett, cresso