The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-06-20
MAYOR SCHnYFz
FOUND GUILTY
ONE HOURS DELDERATIo1
BRINGS VERDICT OF GUILTY.
oNR JURYMAN CONFUSED
First Voted For AcQuittal Because He
Did Not Understand Form Of Yer
dict. Schmitx Asked what i
It." When Verdict Was Rendered.


San Francisco jury Of twelve Of
his people has declared Mayor Eugene
E. Schimtz guilty Of the crime Of ex-
tortion as charged against him by the
grand jury. The jury was out jus.
one hour. It elected Charles E. Capp
foreman, and at once proceeded to
take ballots. This was cast verbally
and stood eleven for conviction, one
for acquittal, Juror Burns, shoe
maker, casting the dissenting vote.
Then the twelve men began a dis
cussion Of the evidence which lasted
for nearly an hour At the end Of
that time the first formal ballot was
cast. 1t was written ballot and
was unanimous for conviction.
The jurymen issued this statement
to the Associated Press Immediately
after their dismissal by the court:
In justice to Juror Burns it should
be explained that he did not vote for
acquital because he vas dissatisfied
with the evidence or because there
was any doubt of the defendant .
guilt. The two forms Of verdict were
given to the jury and the consecutive
reading Of these momentarily confus-
ed Mr.. Burns. AS soon as he under
stood the matter he cast his vote with
the other eleven and the verdict was
accomplished.
Mr.. Burns approved this statement
rs correct.
When the verdict IVES announced
Schmitz did not seem to understand
and asked: What is it,
"Guilty," said Barrel.
Schmitz's hand dropped to the Ia
BILE, but he showed no other signs Of
emotion.
Even before Judge Dunno reached
the synagogue, hurried thither by re-
eeiving word that verdict had been
reached, nearly a thousand men had
gathered in Bush street and were
clamoring at the doors to be let in.
They were kept out until the twelve
men had been brought in and seated.
Jas Judge Dunno entered his cham
bers by rear way, the crowd surged
into the building from the front.
Judge Dunno took the bench at
once.
"Let the jury be polIed," he said
quietly.
The jury was polled and on being
asked for the verdict, Foreman Capp
said:
Guilty" very slowly and very
low. The silence was broken, in a
places at once. A long drawn "ah,"
ran through the crowd.
Then, "good," "good," cried q
voice in a far corner. "Good,'
good" echoed another SPECTATOR far
Their in front.
Rudolph Spreckles, whose wealth
made possible the whole bribe-graft
prosecution, was walking swiftly down
the aisle as the sentence fell from the
foreman s lips. He sank into near
by seat as though arrested by some
sharp command. AL over the house
people were jumping up and some Of
the turned to strangers at their ell
bow and thrust out their hands IN the
enthusiasm Of long-looked for mo.
ment and said: "Shake. -
Mr.. Nelson, Of counsel For the de-
Tense, spoke: Eve ask that the jury
be poiled,'' he said, "and so one by
bne the names Of the twelve were
sailed and each was asked: Ills that
your vsrdictf'' and each replied, "It
g."
"The judgment Of the court viii
be pronounced on Wednesday, June
81" said Judge Dunno.
The court will at this time listen
to any motion that may suggest it
self to the prosecution.
District Attorney Langdon rose
1--WE will ask that the usual way be
pursued" he said.
"You mean" questioned Judge
Duane, sfthat you desire that the de-
PENDANT be taken into custody pend
Ing the pronouncsment Of SENTENCED
ssYss. Your honor, we think that
should be dons," responded the state.
ssThs sheriff will take the defend
ant into custody pending the further
order Of tho eourt" said the judge,
who abruptly arose and omit the
bench. It took the bailiff and Elisor
Biggsy's deputies all Of half an hous
TO drive the crowd out Of the syna-
gogus.
Mayor Sshmitz at first declined TO-
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