The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-19
Second Degree Verdict Returned
by the Paterson Jury
In the Cases of McAlIister, Death
and Campbell.
THE HIGHEST PENALTY
In Such Cases Is Thirty Years
in the Penitentiary.
The Jury Took IA Ballots Be-
fore Reaching a Conclusion.

New York. Jan. 19.-Walter c. McAl-
lister, Andrew J. Campbell and William
Death, three Of the four persons indict-
ed for the murder of Jennie Bosschieter.
a mill girl OF Paterson. n. J.. who was
murdered on the night OF October u.s.
last, were last night adjudged guilty Of
murder in the second degree. AccordinE
to the New Jersey law. the maximuni
penalty for the prisoners is 30 years ina
prisonment. The jury took IA ballots.
and after summoning Judge Dixon and
the prisoners filed into the court room.
The prisoners appeared very nervous
McAllister seemed more excited than
any Of the others. He sat biting his lips
while waiting Campbell thrust his
hands into his trousers pockets and
cIinched his fists in them. Death looked
anxiously about the court room for
moment and then assumed the same at
titude as Campbell.
When the verdict was announced. the
prisoners evinced neither elation nor re-
lief
Judge Dixon thanked the jury and
said he believed the verdict just one
He dismissed the Jurors until Monday
morning. The court then rose and Il e
prisoners were taken back to the jail.
HOW THE JURY STOOD.
New York, Jan. 19.-The jury in the
41O11[AAACNtA
for a little over four hours. The pris-
Oners showed clearly the nervous strain
under which they had been laborinR.
Word was sent out At 7.I5 o'clock that
the jury was ready to hand In its ver-
dict. Judge Dixon appeared a few min
utes later and the prisoners were led In.
What must have been a half hour OF
terrible suspense for them followed.
Their counsel did not arrive until eight
o'clock When Lawyers Michael and
Charles Dunn did appear the jury
The prisoners were slightly pale as
they stood looking at the jurors. Camp
bell was the most resOlute of the three.
Traces of emotion could be detected In
the faces Of the others.
.4 After the jury had been dismissed, one
of them said that the first ballot showed
that nye men stood for a verdict ot
murder in the first degree, six for the
second degree and one man stood Tor
acquitta1 The five who stood for muir
der IN the first degree soon came around.
but the man who stood FOR acquittal
was fixed in his opinion.
The evidence was then carefully
weighed which consumed over three
hours and the one man then agreed with
After the verdict AIcAlister said to
There were lot Of lies told before
they could give US that"
Campbell said. My Cod
When they entered the jail they rush.
ed to Kerr's cell. McAlister exclaimed.
Second degree
MY Cod said Kerr. That's tough,
too. / wonder viii I get the same
The mother of the murdered girl said.
weeping: MY darling Jennie is
avenged at last. The killing was not so
bad, but--but-Oh--it was awful; It was
awful. We hoped they would receive
the same fate as they gave Jennie, but
that could not bring her back"
Prosecuting Attorney Emley said.
1.-The state is content because the state
and its representatives have done their
full duty. Personally, there has never
been vindictiveness In my heart"
One Of the counsel for the prisoners
said that he considered the verdict a
victory for the defense. Michael Dunn
counsel for Campbell and Death. said
that the case would be appealed on
error It may be IS months before q
final adjudication Of the case,
Prosecutor Emley said after the
verdict that Kerr would be tried some
time during the present term but he
could not at present fix the date.