Evening journal., 1899-04-06
COTTER CONVICTED.
Jury Finds Verdict of Guilty
After Being Out Nine Hours.
FOUND GUILTY ON TWO COUNTS

NIGHT.
The jury in the case Of the government
against William L. cotter returned a YER
dict of guilty last night at Q o'clock after
nine hours deliberation.
The jury was charged yesterday morn
ing by Judge Bradford in United States
Court and retired at i2O5 o'clock No
word was received until $50 oclocl, last
night, when message was sent to the |
judge that the jury would like to ask him
a question
The judge sent word back by the baiim |
that he would gladly answer any question |
which the jury might ask i'm connection
with the case. lie told the jury. how
ever. that the question must be in writ |
Ing. The jury decided that it would not
ask the question just then. and at $40
o'clock the bailim was again called to the
door Of the jury room by a rap upon the
door. on answering it he was told to in
form the judge that the jury had agreed
upon verdict, and was ready TO come In.
Judge Bradford was Informed Of the mes
the counsel i'm the case be sent for. In tina
meantime the court room was unlocked
and the lights turned on.
VERDICT RENDERED.
Ex-senator Higgins. David ]. Relnhardt
and w. +. Cotter. arrived in the court
room at $50 o'clock, and District Attor.
ney Vandegrift appeared few moments
later. In addition to the officers Of the
court, the attorneys in the case and tho
reporters, the only persons present were
J. Jackson Pierce, ProthonotaTy Victor b
Woolley. George II. Hollis and y. T. wal.
ton.
The jury came in as soon as Judge
| Bradford had taken his seat upon the
bench, and after the roll had been called
Clerk Mahanfy asked if they had agreed
| upon a verdict. and on receiving an az
hrmative reply the foreman answered:
we find him not guilty on counts Nos
l. 3, and T. and guilty upon counts Nos
9 and H."
| A poll of the jury was then requested
by Mr.. Higgins each man answering in
the affirmative. Cotter was as cool as IT
was possible for man TO be under the
circumstances. and never moved a muscle
Of his face to disclose the intense strain
that must have been upon his mind.
Ex-senator Higgins at once gave notice
that he would move for a new trail. IN
answer to Judge Bradford he said that he
would file reasons to-day. Monday morn
ing at 10 o'clock was nexd as the time for
hearing argument on the application.
SENT TO NEW CASTLE
[ Cotter was then committed to the
5 custody of Marshal Short. and after shak-
! ing hands with his counsel. went into the
S office Of the marshal. While there hc
3 wrote letter to his wife, announcing the
result Of the trial, remarking to a friend
e that he did not wish her shocked by a
/; telegram. He expressed no opinion on the
+ verdict, other than saying Il stood in
front Of bullets for four years, and
} guess can stand this"
He was taken to New Castle on the 9.5
o'clock trolley car by Marshal Short and
Deputy Clark. and given into the custod,
= Of Sheriff Taylor.
;; COTTER's PUNISHMENT.
o The two counts on which Cotter wa
= convicted are the conspiracy counts in tn
o indictment. They charge him with having
! conspired TO aid and abet William n
o Boggs in abstracting and misapplying tn
n funds of the First National Bank, Of DO
It yer. The punishment is not more thai
20 two years imprisonment, and not NOR
le than $4,000 fine in each count. This woul
10 make a total Of $4,000 fine and four year:
/. imprisonment I'm case that Cotter shoul
IL get the full penalty.
n' SYMPATHY EXPRESSED.
ie There is considerable sympathy express
IN ed for the convicted man, who is 5S year
Of age and at one time a wealthy an
prominent citizen. but who later su,
cumbed to the freaks Of fortune.
NIL He at one time lived in this city. an
IN was I'm business under the name of Film
ed & Cotter. He owned a large oil work
n. and later was employed by the Standar
as Oil Company i'm a responsible position
or For some time he was a resident Of ne'
tn Dover, and lived on fine farm wit
he large buildings, and was apparently pro
r. porous. Later he went into the real e
re tate business. but appeared to be
straitened circumstances. In speakil
Of the conviction last night District Alto
ney Vandegrift expressed much sympati
as for the convicted man.
OIL Although I only did my duty" said
ier 81 feel much sympathy for Cotter al
he especially for his wife and family"
he Marshal Short approached at the door
lie the district attorneys office with b
ed prisoner he retired into an inner ROOT
m. remarxing: II don't care to see him. 81
.en remained there until Cotter had left t
err Federal building.
JURORS KEEP SILENT.
After the verdict had been reached Ia
IT night the jurors agreed among thel
r selves that they would not talk about
al case. and refused to say a word concer
for ing how they reached their verdict,
W. though it was learned that no ballot "
"a taken until the entire mass Of eviden
~ documentary and otherwise, had be
gone over.
The government had ninety-eight
hibits of letters, checks and Telegram
81, while the defense put in twenty-one 4
of hibits Of letters and papers. 1t was NJ
is essary for the jury to read these in ore
z2c to arrive at a decision because many
them were not read to the jury, but VI
merely marked in evidence ard put il