Amador ledger., 1906-07-13
THE STAPLES MURDER CASE.
Judgment of Death Reversed by
Supreme Court---A New Trial
Ordered

Wednesday morning, W. j. McGee,
the attorney who has had charge of
the case of F. N. Staples, on appeal
before the supreme court, received
telegram from the clerk of that
tribunal announcing that the court
had rendered decision reversing the
judgment of the lower court, and
ordering new trial. The case has
been pending before the higher court
since November last. Ii was argued
and submitted in the early part of
the year, aud parties interested had
been expecting a decision at any
moment tor several weeks. The long
delay created an impression that the
case was anything but a clear one
from the prosecution standpoint, and
that reversal was more than pro-
bable. Other murder cases submitted
even after the Staples case, had been
decided, and in every instance the
judgment OF the trial court was
upheld. The changing fire. in this
particular case was taken to mean
that a contrary decision would be the
outcome in the Staples matter.
On receiving the telegram, W. j.
McGee repaired to the county Jail.
and was at once admitted to the pre-
sence OF the prisoner under sentence
of death. The document announcing
lhe glad tidings that the life of the
defendant was relieved, temporarily
at least from forfeiture to the majesty
of offended law, was read to him.
He was glad of course, but made no
demonstrations of Joy such as might
be expected of one in his predicment
lie simply remarked, "That's pretty
good. " The attorney said, "Well,
let US shake on It," and the two
grasped hands cordially.
Staples was not surprised man at
the good news. Indeed, he would
have been greatly surprised at any
other outcome. He stated, that it
was only what he had expected all
along when the matter was looked
into by disinterested and impartial
men. He was asked if he wanted to
send word to his friends, and be
answered yes. Two kilograms we're
written out, announcing merely that
the court had granted a new trial
One was sent to defendants father,
IN Pennington, Maine, and the other
to Mrs Emily Maud Hoxie, who was
indicted with the defendant for COM
plicity in the murder of Mrs Staples,
for which the husband was convicted.
This was sent to PIacerville, where
Mrs HoXle is engaged IN the millinery
business.
1t was circulated around that the
defendant held a sort of Ievee in Jail
in the evening, and received con-
gratulations from visitors, male and
female. We are able to say that moth
ing of the kind occurred. Staples is
quite handy as a sketch artist. He had
made some pictures and given them
to parties in town. He also promised
samples OF his handicraft in this line
to others. According to prior ar
rangement three ladies called We'd
nesday evening for these pictures.
The meeting had nothing whatever to
do with the appeal proceedings, and
had no bearing on the news of the
granting of new trial.
The reversal of the Judgment of |
conviction was fully anticipated by
most people. Notwithstanding, it
was one of the longest and costliest
trials ever held in Amador county,
any other decision by the appellate
court would have proved a sore dis
appointment and surprise to the
people generally. The feeling was
abroad that Staples ought to have a
new trial That the crime had not
been fastened upon him to the extent
OF warrarting the taking of human
life.
The full text of the supreme court
decision has not been received. We
Will print it at the earliest possible
moment. 1t is of much interest to
know on what particular ground the
reversal of the Amador court is based.
1t is generally supposed that the
inherent weakness of the evidence to
support the verdict is the main
stumbling stone.
If this should prove to be the point
on which the reversal hinges, it is
the prevailing opinion that it Will be
conclusive of the whole matter. 1t
would be useless to go to trial again
in the face of such decision, unless
other and stronger evidence can be
produced, which is not probable
George Peterson, of Sutter Creek,
was brought to the county hospital
last Thursday, suffering from broken
jaw, caused In some manner unknown.
He was subjected to quite an opera
tion at the hands of the county physi-
clan yesterday, to secure the tractur-
ed bone in place SO as to unite
properly.
Word was received by Mrs GIavino.
vich yesterday that her sister, Miss
Cody Spagnoll, daughter of S. q.
Spagnoli, was severity injured bv be-
ing run into by a street Car. She was