Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-20

Ernest G Stackpole, on trial for the
murder of Joel Scheck, was yesterday
found guilty Of murder in the first de-
gree by jury in department one Of the
superior court. His punishment was
fxe at life imprisonment in the state
penitentiary.
At just twenty-five minutes before
o'clock yesterday afternoon three sharp
taps sounded from the door of the
jury room.
In a flash all was commotion, half
dressed bailiff who had been taking a
well earned nap after his long weary
struggles of the past many days stag
gered to his feet and walked quickly to
the door. With the exception of one
newspaper man he was the only one
present in the court room.
Cautiously the bailiff onened the door
and received a whispered message.
Then he locked the door and made a
bolt for the judges apartments, NUT
tering in a half joyful way, They've
got a verdict"
Tired Jurymen Appear
Twenty-Five minutes later the jury
men staggered into the court room,
fairly worn out with their exertions and
many OF them IdlilL IrOlIl lHe lOHS Hdrd
grind OF the jury box and twenty-eight
long hours in the jury room.
The jurymen were awakened early
yesterday morning by Deputy Sheriff
Tom Strohm who had them in charge.
For many days Strohm had watched
those men and he had kept careful
guard over them. Early yesterday he
told them to get up. and then he took
them out to breakfast. Following that
the long line of elderly men were sent
back to the jury room. Every express
sion told of their set determination to
hold to their opinions to the bitter end.
For sixteen hours they had been
closeted in small room toward the
west side of the court house building.
They had sent for ice water and cigars
and then more cigars and less ice
water until the cigar bill had run we'll
up in the dollar marks and the jury
men declined invitations to drink ice
water.
Ready for the Verdict
At 10 o'clock Judge James arrived at
the court house and went to his apart
ments to await the decision of that
jury. During the morning many anx-
ious spectators true to the last, re-
quested admittance to the court house.
Some were admitted and they sat in
the court room during the long hours
of the morning. but finally most of
them became tired and left.
Deputy Strohm and Bailiff Ira Her
rington took turns in watching the jury
room, until Strohm, fairly worn out,
went into an adjoining room and went
to sleep.
Hour after hour went by and the low
voices of the jurors could be heard as
they argued, and finally even that
sound died out and all was still as
death.
Suddenly. like pistol shot came the
quick, sharp raps on the jury room
door. Outside of the court house
building Clerk Jack Wright Of depart
ment one was waiting to be called to
the court room. and even he heard the
signal. One Of the iurymen called to
him from the window and informed
him that verdict had been reached
and Wright made dash for the court
room door.
Deputy Strohm was hurryng into his
clothes, while Deputy Harrington mad
ly telephoned for attorneys and stem
ographers.
staekpoIe Appears
At ten minutes before o'clock
Stackpole marched into the room. He
was heavily handcuffed and under the
care of Deputy Harrington. but Under
Sheriff Henry Yonkin and Capt. White,
manager of the county jail, marched
directly behind him.
Stackpole seemed cheerful and he
said good morning. to the newspaper
men present. A number OF clerks in
the building who had heard the COM
motion occupied few Of the specta-
tors chairs In the big room, but there
were not more than ten people present.
Stackpole walked over to the table
and sat down. He talked with Attor-
ney Noelman for awhile and then At
torney Thompson walked over to him.
well, Wen stay with the ship till
she sinks" remarked Thompson. and
he patted Stackpole on the back.
The youn. mans nerve was superb.
over at the county Jail Stackpole's fell
low prisoners look up to him. They
speak respectfully OF him for they
know his caliber During the long
wearlsome days of his trial he has
never uttered a complaint During the
still longer nights when the dread fear
of darkness and the unknown knaws
like rat at the tortured heart of the
Continued ON mage two.