The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-11-14
Tuesday, Noqember II 1905
THE MUTINY TRIALS.


schooner Berwind have been convicted
and sentenced to be hung. Because of
these cases the town has been in
much excitement for some time, and
this excitement has been increased
since the jury in the indictment OF
Scott was given the case. The long de
lay in rendering a verdict in this case
caused much comment. The public
could not see why there should be
any doubt in his case if it was so con-
elusive in the minds of the other jury
that Adams and Sawyer were guilty.
So there was a feeling of relief and A
relaxation OF the mental tension when
yesterday afternoon the jury in the
Scott case rendered a verdict of guilty
with no recommendation to mercy
These two trials were new expo-
riences on the part of the federal court
officials. No man connected with the
trial had ever before had such a l2se
to handle We do not suppose anotn
er such case has been tried in the fed
eral courts within the last hundred
years-certainly not within the official
life Of a single man now connected
with the federal court of this district.
Considering this fact it is remarkable
that all the court officials from Judge
Purnell down should have been so cool
and collected and have managed the
case with such tact and should have
cases with such ract and should have
We think it is due to District Attor-
ney Skinner in this connection to
make mention Of the consummate skill
with which he handled the case for the
government. 1t has been a trying week
for him-one he will never forget so
long as he lives. But he has the sat
isfaotiOn of knowing that in the opin-
Jon of the public he did his work
we'll. While he made every thing out
of each case that was to be made for
the government, he at the same time
acted With that degree Of fairness t.
ward he defendants which could not
but attract the attention of those VINO
witnessed the trial. In his conduct of
ination Of the defendant witnesses, he
showed that he had made thorough
preparation Of the cases and that ne
was master of the situation. Again
in his arguments to the jury he made
another demonstration of his ability rs
e. a prosecuting attorney. In his speeches
he made no attempt at f1owery speech
making or high flown oratory; but he
hammered the facts He brought out
all the facts as testified to by the wit
neSseS IN a clear and concise manner
His deductions were clear and lucid;
his arguments based on the testimony
were convincing While Mr. Skinner is
by no means a stranger to the people Of
Wilmington he has in the manner OF
his conduct of this case given them a
clearer knowledge of his ability as Il
lawyer and especially of a prosecuting
attorney under trying and difficult cir
.cumstances.
In reviewing this case we must not
pass over the heroic efforts made By
Messrs Peschau and Bellamy in the
the defense of these three men That
their clients were convicted and SEN
fenced to hang was no fault Of theirs
Neither one left any stone unturneG
in his efforts for his clients. 1t
was their misfortune that the facts in
the cases were against them. They
had grave responsibilities placed upon
them. They met them like. men and
they displayed great legal ability and
much manly courage in the conduct OF
the cases. While they naturally regret
that they did not succeed they have
the satisfaction of knowing that they
did their full duty and that they cid
it we'll
The trials are over. The men have
been sentenced to hang In SCOTS
case there has been no appeal taken
to higher court. He, we suppose
will be executed On the day designated
by the court. The other two defend
ants will, perhaps, take their case up
Should they do So the appeal will hard
ly do more than postpone the fatal da,
for them. So we may say that thi
public mental strain caused by ihi
case is over except that natural excite
ment which the execution in our mids
OF the three men will cause. That they
have been proper convicted and hav,
the trials can question.