The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
VERDICT IS MURDER
Paddy Shea Convicted on His
Second Trial
FOR KILLING ED DAWSON
Attorneys Make Eloquent Ad-
dresses to the Jury.

around bad man. last July. The argu-
rnents TO the jury were commenced in the
forenoon and the case was given to the
jury at precisely 3:45 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon. Shea was Immediately taken
10 the county Jail TO await the verdict,
and while there was seen by a rporter
for the Eagle, who asked Shea if he
thought he would be acquitted. He said:
q can not think. I have been passing
through a terrible ordeal and my head
will not work But I would like TO say
that whatever is the outcome of my case
I owe very much to my attorneys and
feel that they have done for me all that
man could do for another. I feel grateful
10 them for the manner in which they
conducted the case. Besides, they have
my congratulations for their fine address
TO the jury in my behalf
At the close Of the case in the forenoon
Hon. John Adams, counsel for Shea,
opened with an address to the jury. He
made a brief but telling argument which
was listened to attentively by the jury.
Mr. Adams talk was confined mainly to
he points at issue in the case, waving all
dramatic eloquence for the associate
counsel When MIR. Adams had used up
his allotted time ne was followed by r.
r. Vermilion, who held the jury spell
bound as the words which fell from his
lips made the twelve men sitting in judg-
Inent realize the important duty which
confronted them IN deciding the future OF
Shea's liberty or, II guilty, the severity
of punishment which should follow the
degree of crime IN which they may decide
that the defendant was guilty Of Mr..
Vermilion made an eloquent appeal for
the acquittal of Shea, and many who were
IN the court chamber pronounced the eff
fort Of Mr.. Vermilion as the best orator
zeal speech they had ever heard him
make before a jury. George Adams, an
other one OF Shea's counsel, then closed
the argument for his client. Mr. Adams
has been the most earnest worker in the
case since Shea was first arrested and has
stood by his client, making a hard fight
for his acquittal before the district court
once, then the supreme court for a new
trial, and again for the admittance OF his
client to bail, being obliged to carry the
application up TO the supreme court, and
in all these efforts meeting with favora-
bic decisions. Yesterday he arose before
the second jury he had appeared before in |
behalf of his client The court room was |
packed almost to suffocation. A pin could |
have been heard to drop. Attorney Ad- !
ans began his address in a slow and mod |
crate speech, gradually warming up as |
the evidence Brought out in the trial was
touched upon by the faithful counsel, and |
to IL =:
burst of the most eloquent words ever /
spoken by the attorney came to him and |
were sent ringing out in a tone Of be- |
seeching appeal to the hearts Of the |
twelve men whose eyes were riveted upon |
the attorney as IL in a state of hypno-
Vism. Mr.. Adams never made such a |
speech in his life in any court of justice |
as he did yesterday. The entire evidence |
was touched upon link by link, until there |
was not a thread left for the prosecu+ fon /
TO make a telling point that had T.
ready been dwelt upon in the spe
of the defendants counsel. When the |
two hours and half had been consumed /
rs allotted by the court for argument on
both sides Attorney Adams drew his
address to a close, pleading for justice
and the liberty of his client who, he said,
he knew was innocent of the crime of
murder, or Of any wrong other than every
man would do in defending his life in his
own home.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney James
Comfy made the opening address 10 the
jury for the state. His manner of intro
ductery. delivered automatically. was
graceful and In a Gear, ringing voice,
vibrant as a bell reverberated throughout
the court room, echoing in the halls Of
justice as no man has ever heard before
IN the city of Wichita The attorney was |
eloquent at times, sarcastic and scorching
In his retaliation for the side of he de-
PENDANTS counsel He would at times
draw the chain OF circumstances so
tightly around the defendants doom that
no one could see but the guilty hand Of
a murderer and that a cold-blooded crime
had been committed by a criminal worthy
Of the gall0ws. He continued TO deal his
terrific TRADE against the defendant s !
witnesses, naming them as perjurers and
prostitutes, and in a most mastery tongue
appealed patheucally TO the jurors TO deal
out justice where justice was due and to
convict where conviction was justice. He
who was the motive in the crime for
which the defendant was being judged
before the tribunal Of twelve worthy men
who were sworn 10 do their duty. The |
attorney then wound up his logical and
'ratorical speech by asking that the jury |
consider their duty well and fearIessIy.
without finching from thar which the Al
mighty had called upon them to fulfill
In the afternoon after the usual dinner |
-ecess County Attorney Amidon closed |
he case with an hour and a half ad-
iress 10 the jury delivered in most dra-
matte manner. His remarks were mostly |
confined 10 the weaving of a chain Of evi-
ience around the defendant. taking up
'aeh point Of evidence as introduced in
he case by the testimony Of witnesses on
10Th sides. Abiding 10 the uuimpeached
violence Of the silent witness. the coat
worm by Dawson when ne was slo-. he
bowed the bullet hole in the back of The
and read extracts from the diving
tatement of the murdered man Dawson
nd exhibited the tive revolvers thar
we're important articles IN the evidence
nd in the determining OF the case as %
whether IL was case Of self defense or
murder In his long speech he never fail
q to remind the jury Of every little scrap
4 dana ging evidence that had been n
reduced. and took his fun and allotted
ime to make a dramatic close which sent
be jury 10 their room with a mind fun
+ deep thought and grave responsibilities.
:DITOR OF ORANGE JUDD HERE
spends Day in Wichita Accompau-
led by His wife.