The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-28
Verdlct Was n Surprise,
Many Persons ConG-
DENLY Expecting There
Would Be Long Wan
and Final Disagreement
No Step Taken br Laqyyer
Palmer TO Supborf HIS
Sfatement Mat He Can
Prope WHO KILLED tie
Prefty Lain. Teacher

| Special TO the Indianapolis Jousnal
BEDFORD. Ind. May 27 We. the jury.
find the defendant. James Mcdonald. not
guilty"
This was the verdict OF the jury in the
Schafer murder case, returned few min
utes after O'Clock this afternoon.
The case went TO the july at 1870 a. m.
Seven ballots were taken. ,On the first the
jurors stood nine for acqtdttal and three
for conviction. The three next ballots
showed no change. on the NTH there were
only two for conviction. en- the sixth one
and on the seventh there. was a unani-
nous vote of not guilty
On the announcement OF the verdict Judge
Wilson told the prisoner 7e was free and
Mcdonald left the courtroom with his at
torneys, r. n. Palmer aD.i f. NJ. Vance.
going from the courtroom TO Mr. Vance's
office.
After talk with his coansel Mcdonald
went to his home on West Ninth street. He
has no present intention of leaving the
city believing his vincication of the
charge of murder will be accepted by the
people as proof that his reseated statement
of innocence was true. There is no feeling
against him that he cannGt live down.
To your correspondent Mcdonald said:
81 do not believe any person in the city
L L
was innocent OF the charge. and I spoke the
truth. To the jury / return thanks for the
confidence they had in my witnesses. l
pened''
The verdict was a surprise TO many peo-
pie Nearly every person. whether they
believed the prisoner innocent or guilty. ex-
pected a hung jury.
IF the jury Is as far from agreeing as
the public generally. there will never be a
verdict" was one OF many expressions TO
he QF.d on he Cf- ar,I In . ~.
after the judges charge.
With very few exceptions those who be-
lieved Mcdonald guilty before the trial are
still Of the same opinion, and the same
Is true OF those who believed him innocent.
r. n. Palmer. Of counsel for Mcdonald,
has not yet taken any step to support his
statement OF yesterday, in which he said:
1 have locked in my breast testimony
which. IL 1 could bring before the Jury.
would pale that already given. even as
mole nil is TO mountain. Give me a
grand jury and three weeks time and I
killed Sarah Schafer.''
ing for an outline of what he intended to
do he declined to be interviewed.
AUTHORITIES AT SEA.
The authorities seem to be at sea. and
less Mr.. Palmer reveals the evidence
locked in his breast the great murder
mystery bids fair to remain unsolved.
There is no doubt the pretty Latin teacher
was foully murdered. but who committed
the crime is a question n0 one seems able
to answer The prosecuting attorney has
not yet stated whether he viii summon Mr.
Palmer before the Grand jury. or whether
he will permit the lawy IS statemta ut 20
pass as mere legal license" intended 10
influence the jury.
The arguments IN the case were conciud-
cd about II o'clock this morning s b.
Lowe closing his speech for the state. Mr..
Lowe, In alludinS 20 Ny. Paimer's state
ment, said:
while the grand jury was IN session maxi
Ing an investigation OF this murder car
ried locked up in his breast the secret OF
Miss Schafer's murder. ana x ne held this
secret and failed TO use it IA his trial in
the defense OF Mcdonald. as he had right
to do he not only merits disbarIatnt. but
MS ciientage would do that by withholding
Then Mr.. Lowe alluded 10 McDonald's
profession OF religion. He quoted epizrama
ana sentences declaring the law on murder,
picked at random from the Bible In clos
ing these quotations he walked over 10
where Mcdonald was seq ted and delivered
with terrible effect the decree of mo mur-
derer shall enter the kingdom OF heaven"
then, turning to the jury. and after ex-
pressing MS firm conviction that McDonoid
killed Sarah Schafer. he demanded, ''BreaA
his neck. i say; break his neck: IL fs due
James Mcdonald Ii is written in Gods
law, Whose sheddeth mass blood. by man
also shall his blood be she1'"
Judge Wilson then reaC his instructions.
which were largely an explanation Of tho
law and especially as IL s5ears on circum-
stantial evidence and setSng UP and prov
ing an alibi. He repeatedly told the Jurors
that guilt must be proved beyond reason
able doubt. The instructions seemed
slightly in favor OF McD,,nald. but sener-
ally were regarded as impartial
returned with its verdict sthree and a half
hours later.