Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1906-02-06
SHERMAN CONVICTED
jury finds Accused Murderer of Samuel StudzinSki Guilty
Of Second Degree 0ffense. Will be Sentenced
Thursday Morning at 10 O'clock.

But once throughout the weeks trial
did young James Sherman, who was
murder trial ever held in Montana,
come any way near losing his nerve
and consummate cQmposure. He sat
as stolid as an OK while the most dam
aging Of testimony, stories of his own
confessions and other damaging cir
cumstances, were going in against him.
He was unmoved by the unavoidably
scathing arraignment by the attorneys
for the state when they We're deliver
ing their powerful appeals that the
law be vindicated and the defendant
punished: but when the twelve jurors
filed in, holding in their hands his
fate, their faces giving no intimation
whether it should be the gallows or
freedom for the young man, then for
the first time did James Sherman lose
for moment that uncanny nerve
which had sustained him during the
seven hard days he had spent and he
became visibly agitated. He shook
from head to foot and an anxious ex-
preston passed over his face as he
carefully scanned the face of each
juror as the twelve man filed in.
There was little surprise expressed
throughout the city when the verdict
was announced. When it was known
from the instructions Of the court that
such verdict was possible, it was
generally predicted that second degree
murder would be the conclusions Of
the jury. Generally speaking, there 10
satisfaction expressed with the ver-
dict. The belief that the young man is
solely guilty of the crime very gener-
ally prevails in this city. The splen-
did fight put up by Attorney Huntoon
brought some doubt to the minds of
many as to whether or not he was
alone in the deed. Many even began
to doubt that he had, with his own
hands, committed the horrible offense.
There are varying opinions as to his
sanity, the greater number of people
holding that he is not sufficiently in
sane to justify his being confined in
the state insane asylum. There is a
possibility of an appeal. Attorney
Huntoon has not yet definitely decided
upon that point. He believes that
\
and the parents of Sherman are will
ing to abide by the judgment of their
attorney
The Democrat news gatherer saw the
defendant in his cell this morning.
There was little, if any, change in his
appearance. At times it appears that
there is look Of infinite relief on his
face, but in his voice is that same in
explicable quality, a combination Of
sadness. hopefulness, defiance, indif-
ference.
II don't think got square DEAL"
said Sherman, in response to a ques-
ton by the reporter as to how he felt
about the verdict.
But" reverting to his usual man.
ner of carelessness," it is all my own
fault. I should have kept my mouth
shut
When asked as to what he look ed for
in the future. he said:
Il do not know what my attorney
will say or do. l do not wish to say
much before consulting him, as too
much of this kind of talk has already
got me into a lot of trouble. thought
that would be acquitted-confidently
expected as much. OF course, it could
have been worse. If I am sent to the
penitentiary, I shall make no fuss
about it, but go along, behave myself
and take the chances of getting out
some day on record for good be-
havior."
Wasn't the trial a pretty hard or
deal to go through, Jamie?" was
asked.
"Oh, 1 don't know. OF course,
knew all the time as to my guilt or in
nocence. I looked for them to be pref
ty hard on me and did not bother more
than was necessary. Physically, was
feeling fine all the time. I was anX-
ious for moment when the jury came
out, but that did not last long
The 80 long, Tom," with which
the young man turned from the prison
bars after the conversation was closed
was spoken in the same tone that the