Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-01-19
VERDICT OF MURDER
IN FIRST DEGREE
Is the Fate of Jasper Jennins-
Dora Jennings now on Trial .
for Murder.


life for the murder of their father,
Newton NJ. Jennings, who was shot
while asleep in bed in his cabin at
Granite Hill, ON the night of Septem-
Der Z, 1905, has aroused public interest
in all Southern Oregon, and since the
beginning of Jasper's trial the circuit
court room has been packed to the
point that not another person could
even crowd into the aisles And this
crowd, whose morbid curiosity drew
them there and to stay from the time
the court house was opened in the
morning until the closing hour arrived
bringing their lunches least they might
not be able to again get in, was largely
made up of women. And this aggre-
cation of sensation seekers was not
of the ignorant or vicious class, but
was largely made up of people who are
of the better class.
The trial of Jasper Jennings began
on Thursday of last week with II. d
Norton as his attorney and District
Attorney A. Il. Reames representing
the state. Owing to the limited
number of challenges made by the
was secured the first day and was made
up of George Wells, Ed Wade, II. L
Tolin, A. f. Knox. G. Messenger,
Frank Swaoker, W. @. Smith, a, N.
MoVey, W. B. York, @ L. Swinden,
Frank Payne and William Turner.
Friday the jury was taken by Sheriff
Lewis to Granite Hill to view the
premises where the murder was COM
mitted. The attorneys in the case
also made the trip with the jury,
Saturday the trial began and con
tinued until Tue sday evening" when
at s $50 O'Clock the closing argument
was made and the case went to the
jury, Attorney Norton conducted the
defense with mastery skill, made the
most of the evidence that favored his
client. Young Jennings though made
IA poor witness in his own defense, for
he told too many versions of the crime.
He said he knew nothing Of the killing
of his father, then he said his sister
may have killed him TO avenRe the
ruin that her father had brought on
her, and he said the shooting may have
been done by some one hired by his
mother to do the crime. Trying to
shift the crime to his aged mother,
who sat near him throughout the trial,
her mother love causing her to return
a month ago from North Carolina
! yhere she went to her former home 4
wear ago when she separated from hei
husband, aud seek to help her way
ward son out of his desperate trouble
caused a revulsion Of feeling agaius
him and made his conviction all tn,
more certain, While he had only cir
cumstantial evidence District Attorn
ey Reames made every point coun
with the jury aud when the argument
Of both defense and the prosecution
We're completed aud the jury had re
tired to their room'it took them but al
hour and 10 minutes to reach verde
Of murder in the first degree.
Judge Hanna had gone 10 his roor
at the Josephine and young JouninP
had been again placed in the jail
where he has been confined since hi
arrest early in September, when th
jury announced that they had reache
a verdict. Judge Hanna was sent fo
aud Sheriff Lewis brought the prisonC
, before the bar 10 hear the verdict. u
was really the most composed perso
in the court room, and he showed II
:, more emotion than an Indian, as I'll
a verdict was read by Judge Hanna th'
q meant death ON the gallows TO hin
His mother, Notwithstanding h
!, terrible charges against her 10 shiel
himself, was by his side aud shed bi
er tears as she realized the awful eu
Of her Oldest son. This closing n
was quickly over aud Jasper JenninI
, was locked in cell 10 await his sci
ten ce, which Judge Hanna will prob
bly, give some time next week aft
which he will be taken to Sale
y where he will be hung in the pen
tentiary, unless the governor IL i
duced 10 commute his sentence
life imprisonment
Wednesday. Sheriff Lewis went
10 jacksonville to get Dora Jenning
D. where she had been in the Jacks
! county Jail since her arrest at {
time that her brother was arreste
o. She like her brother Is absolut,
emotionless and inside no demonsti
H. tioh when told That jasper was
hang She WIS brought 10 Graz
Pass and Sheriff Lewis has had /
- kNAlh'A AlA hAh AAbiAA' NN Nh' NRAAA
'h jail was full and no suitable, pll
in which to keep woman Thu
C. day the jury WAS selected, sher
u Lewis having on the courts ord
ch secured yenire Of men from dist.
parts Of the county who were
Of familiar with the details Of the ca
This Friday the jury and the shei
and attorneys have gone 10 Cir n
.or Hill 10 view the house and room
which Jennings was ut the time
was shot The state as before
Of represented by District tttorney
m. +. Reames Dora Jennings il defen,
by w. N. Colvg Of jacksonville
pq q. II. Durham Of this city
Fine Map OF Northwest.
49, Through the courtesy Of G.
Teatar gouthern Pacific ag,uf