Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-17
PUBLIC SENTIMENT ON VERDICT

PUBLIC SENTIMENT ON VERDICT
Much Dissatisfac elton with the Return
of the Jury.
II am much discouraged" said County
Attorney Slabaugh after the jury had re-
turned its verdict. II am not only discour-
aged at, the outcome of the case, but be-
cause of the effect the verdict will have.
1t is bound to WELD its influence. In the
first place it will injure Omaha's reputa-
ton. Abroad the knowledge of Groves
written confession that he and he alone
planned and executed the kidnapping of Mr..
Cudahy's boy, demanded the ransom and
then offered to return SCI 900 OF it as the
price of peace-I say abroad this informa-
ton has gone; it has been carried to every
remote corner of the globe where the story
OF this crime has gone and it could not but
have created the general impression that
Grove was guilty. He said he was guilty.
Yet in the face of his confession. made to
a friend. this jury comes and says We
will not convict him even if he is guilty
l say it is a discouraging sign and a bad
thing for Omaha.
And then it will serve to draw others
younger men and boys. perhaps, with a
leaning toward waywardness. into crime
IL rat OTOWc tdl commit SuCn u nelnOuS
crime and go free. why cannot To- many a
youth will ask himself. It's bad on this ao-
count.
1T seems to reflect very accurately the
growing sentiment Of disregard for the law
when the interests OF rich man are at
stake. That is dangerous tendency and
instead OF checking it, such results this
verdict only serve to accelerate it,
Chief of Police Donahuc was surprised
when he learned of the Grove verdict Elk
pressing himself on the subject. he said:
II am so surprised | do not know what
to think Of It, do not know what the YER
dict was based on. 1t certainly was one of
the strongest case" ever put up in this
county and am, indeed, sorry such a YER
dict was rendered. The outcome OF the case
will have the effect of making other Grim
inas feel like all they have to do is to
make of themselves heroes in the estima-
ton of a certain class of people and then
they will be above the reach of law. One
consolation is, the county attorney, his as
sistants and the police department did their
full duty in this case, and we will have to
abide by the verdict rendered: but we GER
tainly feel like II is somewhat of a dis
grace, in view OF the evidence offered and
the instructions OF the court, to have to
submit to such verdict.
1T is poor encouragement to a police de-
partment that has been working for years
getting the facts and the absolute evidence
connecting Grove with having been the
principal in the kidnapping OF Eddie Cudahy
and the robbery of s25,O0O from his father
The verdict is a slam on the community. 1t
will place a premium on crime and will
produce an effect that will take years TO eff
face"
English Has Little TO Say.
Attorney J. P. English chief counsel for
| Grove, did not care TO commit himself at
! length on the result Of the trial. --.
| II do not know that it is necessary for
me to comment on the outcome OF the
trial, except TO say am not surprised at
the result. My ambition was to give my
client the benefit of my best services and
| to see that his defense was conducted
along reputable and legitimate lines. The
| counsel for the defendant insisted in the
| arguments to the jury that the state had
! failed to make case that would warran Mt
a conviction, and the jury seems to have
taken this view OF the evidence" stated
Mr.. English.
| Yellow Journals Responsible.
1.-THE acquittal Of Grove In spite of his
own confession of guilt is to be charged uI
20 yellow journalism, said one well known
business man i'm disgust. These papers
have made him out to he a hero and opened
their columns wide to his ingenious pleas
for sympathy and PROMISES of reform. They
are chiefly responsible for building up a
sentimental worship of this highwaymar
through which he will escape punishment
for one of the most dastardly crimes OF
| record
Good Citizens DeplOre Verdict.
Not for many years has any court trial
| In Omaha aroused such general interest
as did the Grove trial The case Itself
! having startled the world at its inception
and rekindled interest TO a high pitch al
it's recent revival after lull OF several
years, II was only natural the trial al
last, after FIVE years. Of the man whom
the public everywhere regarded as the
| kidnaper OF a millonaire's son and the eX
torter OF a millionaire's thousands, should
have created such profound interest. Thu
better citizens were interested I'm il be
cause they wanted to see the ends OF
justice met and a monstrous crime pun
ished, the fair name OF a good city re
deemed and the law indicated. That clas
which Graves sensation from morbid taste
was interested because IL found in thi
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