The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1907-06-22
MAYOR SCHMITZ
FOUND GUILTY
ONE HOURS DELIBERATION
BRINGS VERDICT OF GUILTY.
One JURYMAN CONFUSED
First Voted For AcQuittal Because He
Did Not Understand Form of Yer
dict. Schmitz Asked What Is
It." When Verdict Was Rendered.

faohCu ~
It." When Verdict Was Rendered.
San Francisco-A jury of twelve of
his people has declared Mayor Eugene
f. Schimtz guilty of the crime of ex-
tortion as charged against him by the
grand jury. The jury was out juSl
one hour. 1t elected Charles f. CappI
foreman, and at once proceeded to-
take ballots. This was cast verbally
and stood eleven for conviction, one
for acquittal, Juror Burns, a 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 a 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 ~dS dissatisfied
with the evidence or because there
was any doubt of the defendant s
guilt. The two forms of verdict were
given to the jury and the consecutive
reading of these mOmentarlly contus-
ed Mr.. Burns. As soon as he under
stood the matter he east his vote with
the other eleven and the verdict was
accomplished"
Mr.. Burns approved this statement
as correct.
When the verdict WIS announced
Schmitz did not seem to understand
and asked: What is it'll
"Guilty," said Barret.
Schmitz's hand dropped to the Ia
Bile, but he showed no other signs o.
emotion.
Even before Judge Dunno reached
the synagogue, hurried thither by re
ceiving word that verdict had beel
reached, nearly a thousand men ha'
gathered in Bush street and wer
t--i----..;-o or she uoUiS 40 De IeL 90
They were kept out until the twelv
men had been brought in and seated
, As Judge Dunno entered his cham
bers by a rear way, the crowd surge
into the building from the front.
Judge Dunno took the bench a
once.
"Let the jury be polled," he sal
quietly.
The jury was polled and on bein
asked for the verdict, Foreman Cap
said:
I "Guilty," very slowly and yer
: low. The silence was broken, in
; places at once. A long drawn "ah,
ran through the crowd.
Then, "good," "good," cried
voice in a far corner. "Good,
t good" echoed another SPECTATOR fl
It ther in front.
: Rudolph Spreckles, whose wealt
d made possible the whole bribe-gra
n prosecution, was walking swiftly dow
e the aisle as the sentence fell from Il
II foreman's s lips. He sank into a nea
|, bv seat as though arrested by son
i sharp command. Al over the hou
= people were jumping up and some
g The turned to strangers at their
IS bow and thrust out their hands IN Il
v enthusiasm of long-looked for m
l. ment and said: "Shake."
n Mr.. Metson, Of counsel for the d
D. tense, spoke: "We ask that the ju
be polled," he said, "and so one
one the names Of the twelve we
called and each was asked: "Is tn
a. YOUR verdict" and each replied, q"
ld is"
n "The Judgment Of the court W
il be pronounced on Wednesday, Ju
ol 27," said Judge Dunno.
III The court will at this time list
7. to any motion that may suggest
T. self to the prosecution.
~ District Attorney Langdon re
ne "We will ask that the usual way
ia pursued" he said
n "You mean" questioned Jud
Dunno, "that you desire that the
he fendant be taken into custody pei
hs ing the pronouncemsnt Of sentence
il "Yes. Your honor, we think Il
he should be DONE" responded the sta
III "The sheriff will take the defer
ant into custody pending the furtl
order Of the court" said the Jud
who abruptly arose and quit
W bench. 1t took the bailiff and Eli
i'll Biggey's deputies all Of half an h
he to drive the crowd out of the sy
&C. gogue.
Mavor Gchuitz at frat declined