Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-09-06
VERDICT IS RETURNED
SOON AFTER MIDNIGHT
DEFENDANT ON WITNESS STAND
ADMITS sTABBING WATSON.
sgNTeNcEoN THURSDAY.
DEFENSE APPEALS.

called by the prosecution which rest
cd about : O'Clock.
Mr.. Reynolds mOyed for the dis
charge of the defendant on the ground
that there had been no evidence con-
meeting him with the killing of John
Watson. or that the dead man was
John Watson. or tult John Watson
had come to his death through wounds
inflicted by Il knife or any other In
strumcnt in the hands OF the defend
ant. II was further argued that the
trial was unconditional as urged
the previous day.
Judge Gear denied the motion.
Mr.. Peters made the opening state
ment for the defense. outlining the ev-
idence to ! given later. L was admit
ted that the defendant did cut and
stab Watson. but IL was claimed that
lie did not commit the crime of mur.
der in the first degree It was further
shown that John Watson was a quar-
Telsome person. always looking fo.
trouble, and that he had for the two
months preceding the stabbing cont!u-
ualiy prosecuted the defendants On one
occasion II was shown that he had
tlourished n knife at the defendant au!
had often threatened him. and upon
the occasion OF the st9bblng he hal
placed his hand upon hts hip pocket.
II was urged also that Watson was
known as the terror OF Nlkaako, ald
was in the habit OF carrying weapons,
and had compelled the defendant Ia
use knife in his own defense.
Baker was the name Of the first wit.
ness for the defense He testified OF sew
eral meetings between Ferris and Wat
son. at which he said Watson had
threatened Ferris.
The defendant was put on the stand
in his own behalf. restricting himsel.
TO the immediate circumstances OF the
killing OF Watson. On the night of tn =
murder he said he came up to Meyers
! home In Kakaakc aud sat down at the
top of the stairs Shortly after Watson
arr Daniel Smith arrived going direct
gan asking who IL was had questioned
his ability to break and ride horses and
Mrs. Meyers replied mo one" Then
according to Ferris story. Watson
started for him and grabbed his shirt,
at the same time putting his hand upon
his hip pocket. With that Ferris whir.-
ed around, pulling out his knife and
opening it. and then, said Ferris. Il lei
him have II with the kulta
Messrs. Reynolds ana Peters both al.
dressed the jury for the defense, Depu'
lty Attorney General CatnCart closing
for the prosecution.
II was 1890 p M, when Judge Gear
instructed the jury, They we're called
in at ~ midnight and reported having
REACHED no agreement. Judge Gea!
wanted to send them out to go to
sleep. but one Of the jurors, F. E. Rich
ardson. asked that they be given 81
minutes extra time Richardson alsC
asked the court 60 read the instruc'
tons as to the different penalties. Gea;
said that first degnee of murder, was
death; second. twenty years to life
manslaughter in first degree, twenty
Years; second degree ave to ten years
etc. Juror Paris asked that the judge
Iallow them to take the Instructions e
the jury ROOM but the Judge refused
this request saying II was against th'
law. Another juror asked that the!
might take a copy Of the penal law
with them, and this request was also
denied. The court then gave them hal
an hour more to decide and the jur!
went back to their quarters TO deliber
ate further.
A few moments after 1880 the jur!
came into court and through the fore
man, Thomas r. Lucas returned a yer
diet finding George Ferris guilty O.
murder in the first degree
Counsel for the defendant noted eX
ceptions to the verdict.
Judge Gear appointed next Thursdl!
at 10 o'clock as the time for pronouIt
ing sentence.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "a - ~ M m N N
tolerated. To stimulate the zeal of al
subscribers, Of whatever religion !
race, medals will be distributed. Thos
who pay into the treasury from 100 Il
1900 francs will receive a nickel mei
al; subscribers Of from 1900 to 220
francs will be honored with a silvc
medal, and the medal to those payini
larger sums will be made of gold. Thi
eXpedient seems unlikely to max
much impression in Wall or LON oar
Istreets, although the Sultan seems Il
regard it as bright business idea
Meanwhile the French company tina
IL building railroads in Syria has
grievance. II completed the line fror
Damascus to Me2arib In the south at
cost Of s2,li0OO0, and is now extern
ing the road north OF Damascu.
through Hama to Aleppo. The pra,
: ect will add a great deal of territor
in the interior OF Syria TO the regiol
: already tributary to Beirut, the por
; oil Damascus. Turkey refused to ut
lie the French line as the northern
part Of Its road to Mecca. and has bee