Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-06
VERDICT OF GUILTY
JAMES M. A. WATSON CONVICTED
OF EMBEzzLEMENT.

A verdict of guilty was rendered at 4:15
O'Clock yesterday afternoon by the jury in
the case of James M. A. Watson. tried in
Criminal Court No. on the charge of err1-
bezzling funds from the District of Column
bia. Although the indictments charged the
endorsement of total of $12,S26, the
amount of money taken by the defendant,
1t has been officially announced, was about
s73. 1000. '!~9
When the verdict of conviction had been
recorded Attorney D. w. Baker. of counsel
for the defense. asked that the prisoner be
remanded to jail, and gave notice that mo-
lions for new trial and in arrest of judg-
ment will be filed within the allotted time,
four days.
The two indictments, consolidated con-
sist of seven counts. The limit Of the law
on each count, provided by the statute of
1878, under which the defendant was tried,
is Imprisonment for not more than five
years, or a fine not to exceed s., 600 or
both. 1t is possible, therefore, for the court
to sentence Watson to Imprisonment, on
the seven counts, for total of thirty-five
years and to pay a fine as high as $35, 600.
The summing-up arguments of counsel to
the jury, as stated in The Star, were con-
cluded shortly before 3 o'clock yesterday
afternoon. Justice Wright then delivered
his charge to the jury which consumed
twenty minutes. Before the jury retired
the defense noted several exceptions to the
courts charge.
The general opinion of those who had fol-
lowed the proceedings was that the jury
would not remain out very long, so large
number of persons waited in the court
room.
Jury Announces Verdict.
At the expiration of just one hour the
jury announced that it was ready to report,
and within few minutes thereafter the
court, counsel and the prisoner were in
their places.
Watson arose from his chair as Clerk
Frank w. Smith inquired:
Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed
upon verdict?'
1--WE have" Foreman D. William Oyster
replied
"How do you find. guilty or not guilty?"
was the next query of the clerk OF the
court.
Guilty" ....
Watson did not more muscle, nor did the
calm expression on his face change. He
had evidently nerved himself for the worst
and received the verdict with absolute COM
posture. Mrs. Watson was not in the court
room when the verdict was rendered. She
remained in the cell room below. having
joined her husband there Immediately after
the Jury retired to consider verdict. A
large number of officials from the District
building were present at the climax of the
trial.
Appeal Probable.
In the event the motions for a new trial
and in arrest of judgment are overruled 1t
is the intention of the defense to prosecute
an appeal to the Court of Appeals particu-
larly from the order of Justice Wright over
ruling their motion that the jury be directed
to return a verdict of not guilty on the
ground that If any crime had been commit
ted by Watson it was larceny and not en-
bezzlement as charged in the indictments.
Attorneys Baker and Mcnamara We're
congratulated on all sides In view OF the
excellent showing they made against over
whelaing odds, while United States Attor-
ney Beach and his assistants, Messrs. Tur-
ner and Keigwn, were complimented on
the clearness and dispatch with which they
presented the proof.