Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-21
GUILTY AS INDICTED
Verdict Rendered in Case of Charles
L. McUin.
FOR MURDER OF ROBERT E. TURNER
The Jury DeIiherated Less Than an
Hour.
THE CONCLUDING EVIDENCE

After being out little less than an hour,
during which time lunch was served, the
jury in the case of Charles l.. McCin,
charged with the murder Of Robert E. Tur-
ner December 2S last, returned a verdict
of guilty as indicted a 80 o'clock this
afternoon in Criminal Court No. /, Justice
Clabaugh presiding The defendant heard
the verdict without the slightest expression
of interest. His counsel made no motion
for a new trial, and the prisoner was re-
manded to Jail to await sentence by the
court. The jury made no recommendation
for mercy.
Arguments of Counsel.
Mr.. Ashley NJ. Gould, assistant United
States district attorney, opened the argu-
ment on behalf of the government. He
ridiculed the idea that Turner the de-
ceased could have accidentally self-infict-
ed the wound which caused his death, as
contended by the defendant in his state
ment of the case yesterday afternoon. MIR.
Gould also questioned the statement that
the left-hand blow the chest, admit
ted!y struck by the accused, could have
Knocked Turner down. The defendant, he
pointed out is slight man, weighing lii
tie more than 100 pounds, while the de-
ceased was an athlete, six feet in height
and weighing 165 pounds. The case, Mr..
Gould said, was not halfway one; it was
not case Of insanity; it a murder
without extenuating circumstances. He
said the community should be protected
from such persons, and he therefore asked
for verdict Of guilty indicted.
Mr. Tracy l.. Jeffords, who has defended
McCin throughout the trial, followed Mr..
Gould. Mr.. Jefords reviewed the testi-
mony of the witnesses briefly. In regard to
| the staten ent made by the defendant that
o knife tyEn 1aI- haf. = b,a
homicide and had not seen it again until he
| found it lying in the snow after Turner had
| been taken into the house, counsel said the
deceased had evidently fallen upon the
| knife when he and McCin We're clinched
| and slipped McjTin, Mr.. J-ffords declared
did not know Turner was hurt when he
| fell, and expected him to get right up.
| This circumstance, he claimed. was evi-
dence Mctin had not stabbed the man as
alleged.
Mr.. Jeffords next referred to the demeanor
| and actions of the defendant Immediately
| following the alleged murder. He did not
act as a criminal; he did not flee; he of
| fered his handkerchief to wipe away the
blood, and picked up the bloody knife that
he knew would be in evidence and placed
| II. in his pocket. because it happened to be
! his lost one. Mr.. Jeffurds said McI'in was
! in love, but declared that all the world
loves lover
| Government Closes.
Gen. Thos. II. Anderson. United States
| district attorney, closed for the govern
n.ent. He characterized the case as the
| most cruel, heartless, cold-blooded murder
! ever heard in the District courts Turner
he declared, died a martyr to the jealousy
| and hatred of the defendant McUin. If
ever there was man who gave up his life
without cause excuse il was Turner
whose only offense that a pretty girl
cared more for him than she did for Mel in
Gen. Anderson quoted several Of the wit
nesSes, and asked for verdict of guilty.
Justice Clabaugh charged the jury briefly
| explaining the considerations that should
enter into the verdict. He explained that
the jury might, in the event of a verdict
| of guilty, decide as to. the punishment be-
tween the death penalty and Imprisonment
for life.
Testimony Concluded Yesterday.
The taking of testimony was concluded
yesterday afternoon, the only witness for
the defense being the accused himself
When McIin had taken the stand he was
| asked by his counsel Mr.. Jeffords whether
| or not he killed Robert E. Turner
NO, sir. promptly replied the defendant
Continuing his testimony, McCin said he
had known Turner for about four months
before the alteration. He admitted he was
| in love with Bertha Crown and that they
had had a disagreement. A few days before
the tragedy, McCin said, Turner remarked
TO MN: Il see you have gone back to the
Crowns to board. and / suppose you will
try now to get Bertha back. Well, If you
do l Will kill you. / have already killed
one man, and would just as soon make you
the second"
McUin said he told Turner to go away:
he did not want to have any words or any
thing to do with him. The day Turner lost
his life, the witness stated, he had three
drinks during the early afternoon. McUin
declared that when he met Turner in front
of the Crown home the latter struck him
and made movement if to get some
| thing from his pocket. McUin did not see
what it was. Witness struck Turner blow
| in the chest, they cinched and fell in the
snow together. McUn declared he did not
use knife After Turner had been car
ried into the house witness saw his CMc-
uin'O knife lying in the snow. He picked
| 1t up and placed it In his pocket.
Had Lost His Knife.
"Wil you explain to the jury how your
knife happened to be there?' asked Mr..
Jeffords.
McUin said he had lost his knife two
days before and this was the first he had
seen of it since that time.
On cross-examination McUin admitted
that he had been found guilty of murder in
Tennessee and had been sentenced to ten
years in the penitentiary there but was
afterward pardoned. He declared he was
not Jealous of Bertha, but had objected to
| the attentions of a Mr. Floyd because the
latter was married man, He said SeyeraI