Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-03-20

the hospital until he got his strength,
and then would resume the picture bust
ness. He said he would canvass in RAJ
cine.
Rev David B. Cheney was not in the
courtroom when the verdict was brought
IN. A reporter visited him at his house.
Il have nothing whatever to say"
said Mr.. Cheney; neither has my wife,
This was all that Mr.. Cheney would say.
The case went 10 the jury at 10:11
o'clock this morning. Judge Flett gave
very fair and impartial charge. He
quoted the law involved and instructed
the jury to find the prisoner guilty, if the
prosecution had shown beyond Il reason
able doubt, that COrbett was the man
who had done the shooting. He said
that, if there was reasonable doubt, it
was the duty OF the jury to find the ac-
cuSed innocent.
An Interesting Case.
Prominent attorneys of Racine agree
that the Corbett case, which has been on
trial the past ten days in the municipal
court, is the most interesting and COM
plcated in the criminal annals of the
county. Since the morning of the shoot
ing, December e, 1899, the features have
been discussed in and out of the courts.
Opinions have been as varied as the
wind and it became Il factional matter.
On account Of the prominence attained
by Rev. Cheney i'll the A. Z. a. Of the
the enmity of the Catholic church to a
large extent and because of his interest
in crusades against saloons and open
policy on Sunday the saloonmen do not
love him any toe well. But outside of
these factions the minister is well-liked
and admitted to be a good and power
full preacher. Even his worst enemies adj
init that the assault was cowardly and
murderous one, but from the first day
Of Corbett's arrest, raised the cry that
he was not the right man and that he
was not given a fair chance.
Not Properly Identified.
1t was argued that first newspaper
picture was taken to the CheneyS; then
a photograph and the coat and hat worn
by the accused man, and that before
the man himself was taken up for iden-
tification their minds were pretty we'll
made up that he was the man. They
say that a dozen photographs should have
been displayed and Mr.. and Mrs. Cheney
asked to pick the assassin from the num-
Der, or that at least three or four men
taken before them and Cerbett picked
from among the crowd. Instead Corbett
was taken up before them alone.
On the other hand the friends of Rev.
Cheney claim that the identification was
brought about in the usual manner. But
be that as it may, the testimony of the
state resulted in Rev. and Mrs. Cheney
positively identifying the man Corbett as
tnolf aSSdlldUC anu D1rS. join armstrong
identified him as the man she saw run
ming away from the house and equally
as strong evidence was heard that he
looked like the man.
Presented strong A1ibi.
The defense presented scores of wit
nesses who positively testified that at the
exact time Of the shooting, or at least
a few minutes before or after, Corbett
was in the vicinity Of Wisconsin and
Third streets. And there is the case
Was it a case of mistaken identity or
was it not? The alibi is considered
strong.
The main argument, OF the attorneys
for the defense was that it was pure
case of mistaken identity and that Cor
bett has been a victim of circumstances.
The state argued that Corbett was the
man, that be had plenty of time to run
from the Cheney home to Wisconsin and
Third streets and commence canvassing
for pictures. after the shooting and that
the women who testified as to time were
simply off a few minutes.
Corbett himself, while SO weak he can
hardly stand, positively denied that he
was ever at the Cheney home, Or that
he ever saw Rev. and Mrs. Cheney until
taken before them for identification. He
admits that he sails under an assumed
name, but that he does it for the reason
it helps his business.
Immense crowds have been at the trial
and still larger numbers to hear the
arguments which were very thorough
and searching or both sides Attorney
Thompson, who was finishing for the
state yesterday afternoon when court
adjourned, continued this morning at 8
o'clock and after he had finished Judge
Flett made his charge to the jury