The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-09-09
Ferris Admits Killing Watson, But Claims
He Struck the Fatal Blow to
Save Himself

George Ferris, alias Kentucky Bill"
Watson. The jury after two hours of
elaboration returned verdict of guilty
of the charge of murder in the first
degree, at 1890 o'clock this morning.
There was a slight wait for the stenog-
rapher after the jury had reported
an agreement. 1t was but few min
utes after 1890 that bailiff Ellis con-
Quoted the jury into the court ROOM
Judge Gear said:
Gentlemen, have you arrived at a
verdict?"
I'VE have" replied Foreman Thomas
Lucas.
I'm the case of the Territory of Ha-
wall. VS.. George Ferris-Murder in the
first degree. We, the jury in the above
entitled cause find the defendant guilty
of manslaughter in the first degree"
Several jurors Immediately corrected
him, and saiu he had read it wrong
Clerk Loucks corrected II to read ''mur-
der in the first degree" The jury was
then polled, Judge Gear asking each
juror separately, is that your verdict"
receiving an affirmative reply in each
case. He then thanked the jurors for
their faithful attendance and they were
excused.
The court then fixed the time for SEN
tence for next Thursday morning at
10 o'clock. The defendant excepted to
the verdict and will carry the case to
the Supreme Court.
The jury was called in at IL o'clock,
midnight, and the foreman reported
that they had reached no agreement.
Judge Gear wanted to send them out
to go to sleep, but one of the jurors,
f. +. Richardson, asked that they be
given so minutes extra. Richardson al
so asked the court to read the instruc
tions as to the different penalties. Gear
said that first degree of murder, was
death; second, twenty years to life;
manslaughter in first degree, twenty
years; second degree five to ten years.
etc. Juror Paris asked that the Judge
allow them to take the instructions to
the jury room, but the judge refused
this request saying it was against the
law. Another Juror asked that they
might take a copy OF the penal laws
with them, and this request was also
denied. The court then gave them half
an hour more to decide and the jury
went back to their quarters to deliber
ate further.
George Ferris was instructed at 1920
o'clock last evening after argument by
! counsel, and instructions from the
court. Judge Gear held lengthy night
session beginning at 1880 o'clock which
time the defense was begun.
But one witness was put on the stand
aside from the defendant. This was
man named Baker who testified to sew
eral meetings between Ferris and Wat
son, prior to the stabbing, at which he
said Watson threatened the defendant
Ferris then took the stand in his own
behalf testifying, however, but a few
minutes. He confined himself exclu-
, sively to the story of the crime on
the night of the murder he said he
came up to Myers home in Kakaako
and sat down al the top of the stairs.
Shortly after Watson and Daniel Smith
arrived, going directly up stairs. Wat
1 son Immediately began asking who II
was had questioned his ability to break
and ride horses and Mrs. Myers replied,
mo one" Then according TO Ferris
story Watson started for him and grab
bed his shirt, at the same time put
ting his hand upon his hip pocket
With that Ferris whirled around, pull
| ing out his knife and opening it, and
then, said Ferris, II let him have II
with the knife" There was little cross
examination and both sides then rest
ed. no rebuttal being offered.
Mr.. Reynolds opened the argument
, for the defense and was followed by
I Mr.. Peters; Deputy Attorney General
/ Cathcart making the closing argument
/ The Territory offered no instructions.
and not all of those offered by the de-
PENDANT were accepted by the court.
DAY SESSION IN MURDER CASE.
The trial Of Ferris was continued