The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-07-04
VERDICT OF GUILTY
FOR MISS MORRISON.
SecondkDegree Manslaughter,
the jury Decides.
THREE TO FIVE YEARS PENALTY.
The Prisoner Weeps When She Hears
1.-THE Result.
WILL ASK FOR NEW TRIAL
Twelve Men We're Out Thirty Hours
and at No Time Did More Than
One of Them Favor Acquittal.

Morrison case at 4:3t TINS afternoon
finding the defendant guilty OF man
slaughter in the second degree after
having deliberated together for 30
hours without rest, meals having
been served in the Jury room to the
twelve men where they had been since
the trial closed " Wednesday after
noon
Under the rule of practice in Kan
sas courts the Judge assesses the pun
ishment, the Jury simply defining the
degree. The maximum penalty for
second degree manslaughter Is five
years in the penitentiary and the
minimum three years.
The impression prevails that
the court will allow the prisoner the
lowest penalty if she should chose to
take it. but Miss MorrisOn's attOr
neys las night announced that they
would ask for another trial and fail
ing to get it would appeal the case.
When the verdict was announced
Miss Morrison fell over on her
fathers neck, threw her arms around
him and lay with her head on his
breast sobbing bitterly. Her father,
brother Hayward and sister, Mrs.
Bright, who were with her, also Wept.
When the Jury was discharged Miss
Morrison and her relatives followed
the sheriff to her cell and everybody
was refused admittance.
The first ballot stood six for muir
der in the first degree, five for second
degree murder and one for acquittal.
Fourteen ballots were taken.
STORY OF THE CASTLE MURDER.
Jessie Morrison and DIN Castle be-
fore his marriage to Clara Wiley We're
sweethearts and there had been for a
long time gossip in the little town OF
EldOradO as to which of the two girls
would capture the rather handsome
Young clerk at the Racket store.
Just a little over year ago the
marriage took place and the people
who knew Jessie Morrison and her
nervous. revengeful disposition Won
dered how she would take it.
Clara Wiley was not Onl Y the pref
tier of the two. but she was a sweet
hammered girl of a mild tempera
ment, who sang in the local church
choir and was devOut in all of her
habits. She had a large circle OF
friends and they shOwered blessings
upon her when the union was solemn
lied Two weeks after the wedding
and before the bridal wreath had
hardly faded the awful tragedy Oc-
Cured for which Jessie Morrison was
twice tried and yesterday convicted.
Jessie Morrison stopped at the
Castle cottage. where DIN and his
Young wife had just set up house
| keeping. on the morning OF June %,
1900. She says that she was hailed
hv Mrs. Castle as she was passing on
| the wav to the house OF a friend.
Mrs. Castle. in her dying statement.
said that she came in OF her own
will and was admitted to the parlOr
after knocking.
However this may be. Jessie Nor
rison was in the room when the trag-
edy occurred that fatal morning,
and when several of the neighborS,
attracted by the cries OF Mrs. Castle
and noise of the scutfie, entered the
room Jessie Morrison was bending
over the PROSTATE body with a
| bloody razor in her hand. On the
| floor Law Mrs. Castle with her neck
and face literally hacked to pieces.
For eighteen days Mrs. Castle ling
cred between life and death and or
July 10 she died. after having made
repeated statements III writing that
she was not the aggressOr. that she
did not assault Miss Morrison Will
the razor and that she did not infiicr
anv OF the injuries that Miss Morri
son claims she received before she -
cured the razor and dealt the deatl
blows.
Half all hour after Mrs. Castle dice
Miss Morrison was arrested upon {
charge OF murder and since July II
she has been held in custody. At (
former trial lasting several week: