Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-23
SHAFFER is Gull TY
So Declared by Jury Of His
Peers Today.
SCENE VERY DRAMATIC
PRISONER SHOWS NO SIGN OF
EMOTION, THOUGH AFFECTED.
Motion Made for Another Trial-Legal
Grounds Cited by
Attorneys.
SCENE VERY DRAMATIC

Guilty of murder in the first degree, as
indicted"
This announcement was made by the
foreman of the jury shortly after 10 O'Clock
this morning in the case of Augustus L.
Shaffer, who had been on trial In Criminal
Court No. since the 18th inst. for the kill
ing of his divorced wife, Catherine lVey
Shaffer.
I'VE ask that the jury be polled." Attor-
ney D. W. Baker of counsel for the defense
quietly said.
Guilty of murder in the first degree. as
indicted" repeated each juror as his name
was called by Clerk Smith.
Gentlemen of the jury. l thank you IN
the name of the public for the careful and
painstaking manner in which you have per-
formed your duty in this case. gustice
Wright remarked "You are discharged
I'VE now give notice of the fling OF a mo-
ton for a new trial. Attorney Henry E.
Davis of counsel for the defense said to the
court.
Very WELL" replied Justice Wright In
the meanwhile the prisoner Is remanded.
The reading of the verdict was dranatic.
The court room was crowded to the walls
long before 10 o'clock for the news hao
spread that the jurors. who retired shortly
after o'clock yesterday afternoon. had
finally reached conclusion.
Messrs. Davis Baker and Wilton j. Lam
bert were the first of those directly inter-
ested in the case to put in an appearance.
They were followed by the defendant
three brothers, and then Assistant United
States Attorneys Turner and Keigwin, who
conducted the prosecution, entered the
room Next Justice Wright assembled the
bench. and the crier formally opened court
Shaffer, looking haggard and weak. was es-
corted in by a deputy United States mar
shall. moment later the jury was sum-
moned and the finding made public.
No Sign of Emotion.
Although he gave no sign Of emotion, the
defendant was apparently deeply affected
by the announcement that meant death by
hanging for him. and he leaned on the back
of a chair for support The verdict was also
a severe shock to Skaters brothers. who
have been loyal to him throughout the trou-
BILE. None of the women members of either
the Ivey or Shaffer families was In court
when the verdict was given.
Counsel for the defense say they will
fight the case through the court of last re-
sort. if necessary. and they add that they
have by no means given up hope of saving
Skaters life.
court room as late as o'clock last night,
but at that hour the jury sent down word
that agreement had not been reached. 1t
was learned that on the first ballot the vote
degree and one for manslaughter. The
Juror who originally voted in favor Of a
verdict of guilty Of manslaughter, 1t Is I'M
derstood, explained today that he did SO for
the reason that there were several young
men on the jury and he desired them to
sleep over the matter. No difficulty was ex-
perienced in reaching an agreement this
morning. .-...r
Motion for New Trial Filed.
Later in the day the motion for a new
trial was filed. No time has been fixed for
the arguments thereon. A new trial is
asked upon the following grounds:
1.-The verdict is against the evidence and
against the weight of the evidence; because
of errors of law committed by the justice
presiding In admitting and excluding testi-
nony; because of errors of law by the JUS
tice presiding in granting prayers for IN
structiOn in behalf of the United States;
because of errors of law committed by the
Justice presiding in refusing to grant pray
ers for instructions in behalf of the de-
PENDANT: because of errors of law COM
mitted by the justice presiding in his charge
20 the jury. and upon exceptions taken by
the defendant to rulings and instructions
or the presiding justice during the trial"
The motion is signed by Henry E. Davis,
D. w. Baker and Wilton ]. Lambert coun-
sci for the defendant.