The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-12
JURY STILL OUT.
No Verdict Reached in the Nor
ris0n Case.
We're Excused Last Night Until
This Morning.
WAS A SICK JUROR.
A Disagreement Is Now Looked
For by Attorneys.
Defendant Admits That She Il
Slightly Discouraged.
Strange Young Men Send Her
Their Photographs.

O'Clock last night the jury in the Jessie
Morrison murder case, after being out
eleven hours, had arrived at no verdict.
Without calling the jury in Judge
Shinn ordered the bailiff to take it to a
hotel for the night. He would have
compelled the jury to remain in the
jury room, but one of them is not feel
ing we'll
The bailif in charge of the jury sup
piled a deck of cards after supper and
a quartet sat down to a game of pitch.
Through window in the jury room the
game could be plainly seen. Those of
the jurors who were not in the game
stood about the table and looked on or
walked the floor In the opinion of law
yers here such a situation means a
hung jury.
The cell Of Jessie Morrison adjoins the
jury room on the east. All day the
voices of the jurors were plainy heard
by Miss Morrison and members of he1
family who were keeping her company
The words could not be distinguished,
but occasionally a laugh could be heard
and the mumbling of voices as if there
was a discussion. Miss Morrison sat in
her cell all day and talked with many
of her relatives who We're in the cell
with her. She was asked last night
what she thought of the situation.
4 am waiting patiently" she replied,
for some report from the jury
do you look for a verdict?"
mo, I think now that it will be
hung jury
would that suit your"
"Oh, no. I have been expecting an
acquittal all the time and such a YER
dict alone would satisfy me. But
guess 1 am doomed now to disappoint-
ment."
Sba rece;x-e5 n bio ,,ooi1 1oet ,,;1bt as
has been the case for some time She
was looking over some of the letters
when a reporter saw her.
DO any of them contain offers to go
on the stage2" he asked.
Miss Morrison smiled. NO" she re-
phed Il would not entertain such a
proposition for minute If I were free.
They are simply letters from unknown
persons who express good feeling for
me in my sorrow, and who hope for
my ultimate acquittal
My friends have been very kind to
me- continued the woman accused of
being a murderess "The Jail officials
could not have been more considerate-
The Christian minister and an evange-
eral times with words of comfort, but
my pastor has not come to see me once.
That seems queer to me.
In the main, I consider the trial a
fair one. Judge Shinn has treated me
fairly. I don't think the so-called state
ment of Mrs. Castle should have been
believe it was her work She did make
more than one statement, but they were
destroyed
One letter received by Miss Morrison
from a woman sympathizer requested
her to shower compliments upon Judge
Redden, one of the prisoners counsel
This was in contrast with some of the
expressions made by women in FL
Dorado. While Judge Redden was de-
hvering his address yesterday and his
throat was bothering him, a woman in
the courtroom was overheard to re-
mark:
I hope his throat will hurt so to-
night that he can't sleep"
Miss Morrison exhibited two photo
graphs of sympathizing young men
whom she never has seen Her mail is
as large as a cOngressman's. Some of
the letters are voluminous, but most of
them are brief. She prefers the latter
kind.
The county jail and the courtroom are
in one building and the room which has
been Jessie's home for so many long,
anxious months almost Immediately
joins that in which the horrible details
of the tragedy in the home of Olin and
Clara Wiley Castle have been repeated
over and over again. There are bars at
the entrance leading to the court house
hal and at the two windows which
overlook the alley back of the building.
Otherwise, Jessie MorTison's place of
confinement bears little resem blance to
the ordinary prison abode The furnish
ings, while plain, are comfortable. The
willing hands OF her devoted sisters
have added a few ornaments, which lend
an air of homely attractiveness to the
room. During the entire time that the
trial has been in progress there have
been flowers in the room, the profusion
of these gifts from friends and others
on some days transforming the cell into
a. veritable garden She received TWEEN
ty-one more letters of sympathy this
morning, several Of them from Kansas
City
Her relatives spent the morning with
Jessie. In the family party were the
father, one Of the brothers and three
of the sisters One of the latter is here
from Excelsior Springs. Mo, and is ac-
companied by her daughter, a beautiful
little girl of years This child visited
the cell this morning and prattled about
in innocent ignorance of the awful
weight of doubt and anxiety upon the
mind of her aunt. Jessie seemed to en-
joy the little ones presence and en-
couraged the childish laughter.
The close of the Morrison trial marks
the termination of the last murder trial
with which Captain J. G. Waters of To- |
peka will be connected, according to his |
own promise. While delivering his argu- |
ment in closing for the prosecution |
against Jessie Morrison Monday night |
he declared.
II am tired Of this trial and anxious
to get through. I swear that when this |
IS over shall never again, as long as |
live, be connected with a. murder case, |
either for the prosecution or the de- !
fense"
While he has appeared as counsel in
a number of murder cases it is said that /
this is the first in which he has been /