The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-11-14

Representative of The Messenger.
Sawyer SAYS if They Were Guilty
Why Did They Not Kill Scott. the
Only Evidence of Their Guilt.
| The nutiny trial is over and three
mortals are confined in the county Jail
of New Hanover under sentence OIL
death, the fatal day to be Friday, jan
uary, 26th. Scott is the last 10 be
! found guilty and the verdict in his
case was returned after the jury had
been oat nearly two days.
1t was shortly after IL o'clock yes
terday when the jury informed the
bailiff that they had agreed upon a
verdict He at once busted himself to
get the judge, attorneys and prisoner
At 1:25 the jury entered the court room
and filed into the jury box. There was
! intense silence when Mr. w. T. Mer-
GER, as foreman, arose to announce the
verdict. A look of hope was upon the
! face of Scott, but in few seconds this
hope was shattered. In response to
| the words Of the clerk, "Gentlemen of
| the jury, have you agreed upon your
verdict ," came that awful word, 'Guil-
| ty." The jury was polled and each
juror promptly responded Guilty"
Scott was then commanded to stand
up. He was asked by Judge Purnell
| if he mad anything to say and once
more lid he declare. that he was inno-
cent. He said he had been given a fair
| trial by the court but not by the pub
| lie.
| In his remarks in passing sentence
| Judge Purnell iold Scott it had been
said that he did not believe in God.
To this the condemned man uttered
| that he had not made such state
ment. While the judge was alluding
to the horrible crime on board the
Berwind Scott interrupted him again
| with a declaration of his in
nocence. At one time Scott spoke
| in very LOUD tone Of voice and to
emphasize his words pounded upon the
railing Of the prisoners box
The day of execution was named as
Friday, January 26th. Judge Purnell's
charge was very impressive. In the
course of his remarks he paid high
compliment to Mr. William ]. Bellamy,
who so ably defended Scott
The Hung Jury.
| If the jury bad returned a verdict
Immediately the public would have ex-
pected nothing but a erdict of guilty
| with no recommendation but when
they remained out so long the publi :
expected nothing but a compromise
verdict In capital cases where the jury
it &c "a
those who desire capital punishment
| to turn to the side of mercy than 9TH
erwise, but this case proved the ex-
ception.
The jury had a rough time Of it on
Friday night very different from the
previous night They remained in the
court room all night with no sign Of
a bed, cot or anything other than the
usual furnishings in the court room.
The judge did not order that they tie
kept in the court room but left it With
them He told the bailiff he could car
ry the jury to the hotel whenever they
wanted to go. Some of the jurors were
for going to the notel, but the majo-i-
| ity ruled and they said they were going
to remain in the court room until Il
verdict was reached Or the judge or
dered a mistrial 1t is said to have
been very amusing to see the twelve
men lying around on the floor or on
tables. Had their slumbers been un-
interrupted it would have been another
matter, but no, it was voted that bal
| lot be taken every hour during the
| night. This rule was strictly follow
ed and it is said that some of the jur-
ors became verv angry when aroused
| from their slumbers.
| When the jury first went out there
were seven for guilty" and five for
! "guilty, without capital punishment
They remained divided this way for q
while and eventually the fifth man de-
serted his side and Joined the majori-
ty. When the jury asked for instruc-
tions and came into the court room on
Thursday night tney stood to 4, as
was stated at the time in The Messen-
ger They remained this way until
yesterday morning when two more de-
serted the minority. The jury stood
| 10 TO during all of the morning and
the hour of II was near at hand when
| the last two agreed to a verdict Of
guilty The bailiff was at once called
and notified of their decision.
The Prisoners Interviewed.
A representative of The Messenger
visited the Jail yesterday and inter-
viewed the three men who are under
sentence of death. They stick to the
same story as told in court, all main
| tanning that they are innocent The
more one sees Adams and Sawyer and
talks TO them ihe more doubtful they
become about the prisoners guilt Saw
yer asked the reporter this question,
IF we are guilty,as Scott says we are.
would We have kent alive the only per-
SON on this earth who could tell OF
that g,.ilt? We had Scott tied and