The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-17
VERDICT IS ASSAULT
Nina Raymond Comes Next
to Going Free.
JURY OUT TWELVE HOURS
Could Not Have Agreed on
AcquittaI.

The jury in the Nina Raymond murder
trial returned a verdict at O'Clock last
night, after having been out since noon
yesterday. The verdict was assault and
battery, the very least that was possible
under Judge Dale's instructions, short Of
aoquittaL 1t is very easy to be seen that
it was a compromise verdict, rendered in
order to save the trouble and expense
Of a new trial in case the jury had dis
agreed, which was almost certain. It is
understood that almost every one of the
Jurymen were in favor OF acquittal and
that each succeeding ballot showed very
little change. Then, after it was evident
that one or two jurymen were going to
stand for conviction in some form, one
of those who was most in favor Of ac-
quittal, proposed a compromise on the
lowest sentence possible, for the sake of an
agreement. The jurynen were F. P. LEX
ron, J. P. Darling. W. NJ. Wycoff, Theo.
Kerr, L. Webster, J. Il. OIdfather, A. B.
Clark, E. T. Allen, H. E. Taylor, H. a.
Reed, J. c. Davis and J. H. Crocker.
Nina Raymond received the verdict with
apparent satisfaction, although she at
first admitted that it was not what she
deserved. She thought she ought TO have
been acquitted and the stain Of such
crime wiped away by the verdict Of the
jury.
Il think they ought to have acquitted
me-" she said last night, although I am
glad to accept this verdict rather than
have another hung jury and the strain OF
another trial I believe those who held
out for acquittal realized deeply that am
innocent and did the best they could for
me, and thank them very much. I have
been held in Jail for eight months now,
and I think I shall soon be free"
This was said with great expression
Of happiness and after all, 1t was evident
that the accused woman was very happy
to think that she could SO soon be free
and in better condition every way than
when she was incarcerated eight months
ago.
Judge Dale's instructions to the jury
were different from those given at the
first trial. His first instructions were for
murder in the first or second degree or
acquittal. The last instructions were for
acquittal or murder in the first or second
degree. manslaughter in either OF the four
degrees, assault with intent to Kill, or
simple assault.
The arguments opened promptly after
the instructions had been read to the jury
yesterday morning. Fred Stanley opened
the argument for the defense,, and his
speech was modest and argumentative,
covering all the various details in a clear
manner most favorable to his client
Claude 9. Stanley made a fine and lowery
speech which is said to have been a re-
markable story of the case and a pretty
mingling of tender sentiment and pathos
which Is so telling in murder trial. His
speech was so forceful that it brought
tears to the eyes Of great many of the
spectators.
Mr. Amidon followed with his sarcasm
and cutting phrases. in which style he IS
particularly gifted He was strong in ar
gument. too. but his main point seemed
TO have been centered in an enGeavor 10
lessen the effect OF Claude Stanley's
speech by ridicule and pithy and peril
nent references to the efforts Of the young
lawyer.
This is Stanley & Stanley's second muir
der case, the first being the Fitz Simmons
case. in which they had very little show
for verdict short Of murder in the sec
ond, which they got. In the Nina Ray
rnond case it is considered that they have
done excellent work. and have handled
their case well all the way through. They
have been conscientious, taking the case
when there was little hope for the eirl
and absolutely no show for remuneration
Since II has turned out that they have
saved their client and win get a profess
sional price for their services from Mas
relatives.
Nina Raymond has been the subject %
much interest among those women tden-
titled with the prison work Of the
Women's Christian Temperance Union,
and several who have had no connection
with that work She has been visited
constantly and they have done her a
great deal OF good. During the proceed
ings Of the trial several women sat N
the audience and Wednesday after court
adjourned one woman from the country
called the accused girl over 10 the rail-
Ing. nu- her arms around her and wis
rere9 words Of comfort TO her. These
women say she can be reclaimed.
The next murder trial this term OF court
Is that Of the C0lwich threshers who are
now in jail. charged with numbering their
COMPANION on the road home from COL
vich one Saturday nizht las, summer.
Stanley & Stanley are their attorneys
To uCIO Tux NCE0V