The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-10-05
SECOND DECREE
Verdict Of the Jury Who
Tried John Garrabrandt
for Murder.
SIMPSON Is PLEASED
Prosecutor Erwin Says the
Murderer's Youth Alone
Saved Him From the
Gallows.
SIMPSON rs PLEASED


"Guilty of murder in the second
degree This was the decision OF the
jury who tried John Garrabrandt the
self confessed slayer of young Harry
Mass. The case was given the jury
at 1850 yesterday afternoon and the
decision was made at 7:40 last night.
1t is said that the jury on the first bal
lot stood to in favor of second de-
gree murder and that eight ballots were
taken before the minority would agree to
any verdict than one carrying the death
penalty with it. The ballotting was done
by the raising of hands. Acquittal was
not even considered, the only question al
any time being between first and second
degrees.
After the verdict had been returned a
number of the jurors when interviewed
refused to give any information as to
what had taken place in the jury room
They said that all the jurors had pledged
themselves not to divulge anything in re-
gard to their deliberations during the
nearly four hours they were locked in
the rear court room.
The extreme penalty for second degree
murder is thirty years in State Prison
ceive the maximum sentence, which, with
the time allowed off for good behavior,
Will give him about twenty years to serve.
GIe will be a man of about thirty mine
when he is released from prison.
When nineteen year old John Cara
brandt arose from his seat in the
Court of Oyer and Terminer at $40
o'clock last night, to hear the verdict
of the jury a smile appeared on his lips
He exhibited the same remarkable COM
posure that had characterized his every
act during the trial.
It was a strange scene indeed that was
witnessed by the large number of specta-
tors who occupied the benches in the
..front court room,' soon after the an
nouncement spread at 7:4O o'clock that the
jury had agreed. They had been cat
since 4:5O and speculation was rife as to
what the verdict would be. Many of
those in attendance at the trial had wait
ed in and around the court room in the
expectation that verdict would be speed
lily rendered.
Mrs. Catherine Hayes, mother of the
murdered boy, waited until half past six
as if anxious to hear the jury's words
avenging her son. Garrabrandts mother
left soon after the case went into the
hands of the jury.
Lawyer Alex. Simpson, whose brilliant
defence of the almost hopeless case had
much to do with saving his young client
neck from the hangman's moose, hovered
anxiously about the court room, as did
Prosecutor Erwin. Justice Collins and
Judge Blair had gone to the Union League
Club house in Jersey City, leaving word to
be telephoned for if the jury agreed.
The report that an agreemen had been
reached spread like wildfire around the
neighborhood of the Court House and
soon every seat in the colrt room was
filled.
The current rurnor had been that the
iurv stood 10 to 2 for murder in the first
degree and the impression prevailed that
the verdict would be one of first degree,
CARRYING with it the death sentence.
Justice Collins and Judge Blair arrived
at $40 and soon after Garrabrandt was
brought over from the Jail handcuffed te
Deputy Sheriff Hague. smile, as if the
proceedings were really amusing to him
lit up the boy murderer's face as he walked
up the aisle to the seat inside the ralieo
enclosure he occupied during his three
days trial.
The lights burning on only one chande-
Iier but family Illuminated the room as
the members of the jury filed to the seats
they had occupied during the tedious trial
Garrabrandt gave them passing glance
but in no way indicated that he realized
that on the words about to be proclaimed
by the foreman his life depended.
..The prisoner will stand up, said tht
Court, and Garrabrandt obeyed almost
mechanically.
Jurors look upon the prisoner. Prisoner
look upon the jury" directed the clerk.
The youthful murderer turned his head
in the direction of the jury box and
smile that threatened to break into 9
laugh appeared on his face.
Gentlemen of the jury have you agreed
On a verdict?'' asked Clerk O'Mara.
I'VE have" responded the foreman, as
every eye in the court room. except Cara
brandt $, scrutinized his face as If to read
what he was going to say next.
What say you, gentlemen of the jury
do you find the defendant guilty or MOI
guilty?" was the clerks next question.
'sGuilty of murder in the second degree,
replied the foreman slowly and distinctly
Almost everyone in the court room look
I'd surprised, except the one most inter
ested in the words just pronounced. Or
his face appeared no indication Of pleas
ure or sorrow. 1t was a face of indiffer
ence and yet did not appear to be the fact
Df the moral imbecile the defendants
counsel had tried to prove him. 1t was {
face that seemed capable of appreciation
1t would not show.
Justice Collins himself appeared littl'
surprised as he slowly said
Gentlemen, you are discharged with th'
thanks of the Court. The prisoner may
be remanded; he will be sentenced later
At signal from Deputy Sheriff Hague
Earrabrandt arose and extended his right
arm to have the handcun fastened to it
Hc was still smiling when he was led oul
An Old and Well Tried Remedy