Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-13
So Decided the Jury in District
Court This Morning.
HE WILL BE SENTENCED MONDAY
Prisoner Receives His Verdict With
Perfect composure-Attorney Nor
rison and Leech Say Motion for an
Appeal Will Be Made.

Eliza Booker, the defendant in the
Abba rape case, was found guilty by
the district court jury this morning
The verdict was agreed upon shortly
after the jury breakfasted, and after
a deliberation of between 16 and II
hours. The prisoner received the ver-
dict with perfect composure, but his
manner while going from the court
house to the Jail was such as to indi-
cate that he was decidedly displeased
with the result of the long trial.
Judge Eichelberger announced that
sentence will be passed Monday OF
next week, at the opening of court.
The Trial.
The Booker case was submitted to
the jury at between and 4 o'clock
yesterday afternoon, as announced in
the Courier, after trial lasting since
Friday, December z. 1t was expected
by nearly everyone who heard the
evidence that verdict would be ar
rived at within half an hour, and it
surprised all when one was not return
ed as late as 9 o'clock. 1t seemed
that good breakfast brought the dis
senting members of the jury into line
with the majority, for it was announc-
ed shortly after the jury had eaten it's
morning meal, that verdict had been
agreed upon.
Had the Jury Polled.
There were few persons in court,
other than attorneys and court at
taches, when the jury filed in. When
the foreman announced the finding,
Attorney Leech, one of the represent
atives of the defendant, asked to have
the jury polled. The clerk called the
name of each of the jurors, who then
arose and replied to the question
asked by the court. The question was,
do you find the defendant in this
case guilty as charged?" and the an.
swer in each instance was. Il do"
Judge Eichelberge- then discharged
the jury for the term, all of the jury
cases on the calandar having been
disposed of. The prisoner was taken
back to iailsto await the, day of sen.
tence. HIS look vas 4os5acast laa
| his movement indicated dissatisfac-
| ton at the result of the finding.
The Case in Brief.
1t was alleged against Booker that
on the night of October 81, or early on
| the morning of November 1, he forci-
| bly, entered the home of Mrs. Sarah
Hoevel, in Abba, and that he commit
ted the crime of rape on Mrs. fHoevel.
He was arrested early on the morn
1 ing of November 1, while eating
breakfast. The excitement attending
the incident warranted Sheriff Doner
in taking the prisoner to place OF
safety, and he hurried the man to Ft.
Madison, where he was kept behind
the penitntiary walls until the prelim-
mary hearing, three weeks ago, when
the man was taken back to Abba. A
detail of the Ottumwa military COM
pany escorted the prisoner to Abba
for the purpose of giving him protec-
tion.
The prisoner waived examination
and was bound over to the grand jury.
He later took change of venue from
Monroe to Wapello county, and the
case was placed on trial in this city,
December T. The prisoner was repre-
sented by Attorney Ed. Morrison, OF
Abba, Attorney George Woodson, OF
Muchakinock, and Attorney G. G.
Leech, of Ottumwa, Woodson retiring
Immediately after the, trial was com.
menced here, and Leech taking his
place. The states interests were
looked after by District Attorney
/ Clarkson, of Abba, and District Attor.
ney Enoch, of Ottumwa.