The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-31
Murderer of Express Messenger
Lane Guilty in First
Degree.
UNIQUE DEFENSE P0WERLESS.
Child of Consangnineous Marriage
Declared to BE Possessed of
Abnormal Mentality Pris-
oner Shows First Emotion.

Marysville. o. Oct So-The jury at mid
night returned a verdict OF murder Ia the
first degree. without recomrl=nda, ,ic n.
against Rosyn II. Ferreil for the mGrGer.
on the night of August 10 iGst. of Charles
Lane an express messenger on a I'arfan-
de castbouni train. The murder was COM
mitted for the purpose of robbery. Fe'Iell
secured $l.,4o in money from the safe of
the Adams Express Company.
The verdict carries with Il the death
penalty. which is eectrocution
4 desperate effort was made TO save the
prisoners life. The crime WAS not denied
but the plea was made that he was men,
tally Irresponsible. and an attempt was
made 10 show that his insanity was heredi-
tary.
The deliberations Of the jury occupied six
hours and thirty minutes and the verdict
was reached at ll:io o'clock tonight Both
Judge Meinorn and the prisoner had retired
for the night. and nearly an hour was con-
the verdict received
FerrrIi Merely Flushed.
When the Indictment was read Ferrell ap-
poare to be taken by surprise and his face
flushed. This was the first visible sign Of
emotion that has been shown by him dur
illE lHt ,tidI. Dut ne QUICKLY fcG1lreG COM
posure and was led b1ck to his cell without
| h1viTg uttered a word
Judge Meihorn discharged the jury and
| Hon. J. l.. Cameron. counsel for the de-
frEse, at cnce gave notice Of a motion for
a new trial.
one Of the grounds of the motion will be
the sickness OF Juror Westlake. who was
taken with measles shortly after the Jury
! had retired to deliberate. Mr.. Cameron
claims that in his condition MIR. Westlake
would have agreed TO any verdict in order
10 be released from duty.
There were rot over twenty spectators in
the courtroom when the jury reported. and
there was no excitement.
The cost Of the trial to the State and
Union County will be about s9.50e.
Ferrell required the services OF a physi-
clan last night and appeared in court in Il
pitiable condition this morning.
X. :. Cameron resumed his argument for
| the defense this morning. dealing largely
| with the insanity clIirn.
Mr.. Cameron. after having spoken three
hours ara q half. concluded with plea for
mercy ard for the mercy clause In the YER
| dict.
Prosecutor Robinson then began the clos
| Ing argument for the State. He claimed that
| the prisoner was responsible for his acts
| and asked the court TO charge the Jury
| that the mercy clause In first degree YER
dict could not take away the pardoninS
power from the Governor, that beng a con-
stitutional privilege.
The case was gwen 10 tie Jury At f,ro'
The charge to the jury was quite Lengthy,
| beirg devoted largely to Instructors Tor
| the jury in determining the mental status
| of the prisoner at the time the crime was
! committed. He admcnished the jury that
| no light or hippant doubt should be allowed
| to enter into the case. The jury at once re-
| tired for deliberation. but UP to 1880 p. m
i n verdict had not been reached.
| Ferrelrs demeanor during the whole OF the
| last days proceedings was one OF appar-
ent Indifference, and during the earlier part
Los st,..a ing fl.a he
| the question that meant life and death 10
| him he was playing cards In the jail