Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-10-19
Trial Judge Orders Jury to
Acquit Clinton Banker and
His Wife
SUICIDE THEORY is UPHELD
Result is cheered by Spectators =
State Failed to Produce Evidence
Showing Murder Had Been Commit
ted-cIosins Scenes Are Pathetic -
The Courts Ruling.

Decatur, Ill., Oct. 19.-F'red Fl. Magil
and his wife, Faye Graham Magill, las:
night were declared innocent Of the
murder of Mrs. Pet" Magill. Judg.
w. G. Cochrane, after q day of argu-
ment by counsel for both sides, issued
instructions from the bench for the
jury to return verdict Of mot guilty
He declared the state had not pro-
duced sufficient evidence upon which a
verdict of guilty could be found.
The jury obeyed his instructions
gladly. When they came back from
the jury room Judge Cochrane asked
them If their verdict would have been
the same had he not instructed it.
YES, yes" said the jurors. nodding
their heads vigorously.
rs there dissenting one among
you?" asked the judge.
Not voice was raised.
Magill and his wife. who were In
dicted last August by the Dewitt coun-
ty grand jury for the murder by
chloroform of Magilps first wife, We're
happy last night for the first time since
their marriage last July. With Mar
guerite Magilrs daughter by his hrst
wife, they will go west In few days
and leave forever the "slanderous gos-
siping neighbors and relatives, VINO
forced their arrest and Indictment. and
who, according to Magill, forced Mrs.
pet" Magill to commit suicide.
Last Scenes Are Pathetic.
Deeply pathetic scenes were wit
messed in the last hours of the trial.
Arguments were begun at O'Clock IN
the morning and lasted until after .
o'clock in the afternoon.
The old court house rang with the
pleadings of the lawyers. Crowds
packed every inch of space all day.
Nothing else was talked of in Decatur
but what was going to happen to the
Magills at night.
Attorneys Griffin Herrick, and Red
mon talked in the morning. States At
torney Redmon attacked the Magills
with the ferocity of a bulldog.
Attorney Griffin. speaking for the
defense, dwelt upon the shame that
had been cast on the name of Faye
Graham Magill, a shame black. I'M
lust. and ineradicable. During this
speech the sobs and means of Mar
ruerite Magill and Mrs. w. w. Gra-
nam mother of Mrs. Magill. almost
the voice of the lawyer
my daughter. o, my daughter crled
Mrs. Graham, throwing her arms
around the young wife's neck Maglll
got up from his chair and kissed Mar
guerite.
Attorney Lemon moved at the close
IF the morning session for the judge
10 instruct the jury to return YER
lict of not guilty, but Judge Cocchrane
said that the arguments could go on.
He wanted the people of Clinton, Ma
silHs home town, to hear what the
awyers had to say, he said. Attorneys
lemon, Fuller and Miller took up the
afternoon session. Colonel Lemon was
severe with the "long-nosed,
gossips,'' who had testi-
led against the Magills.
States Attorney Miller in the clos
ng address demanded that both the
defendants be "put away where the
yes of decent men and women would
lot have to look upon Them"
"Find these defendants guilty" he
.ried, Gin the name of motherhood, vir-
ue, and purity. Put sentiment aside.
Remember that they thrust a human
oul over the brink to face her maker
demand verdict of guilty"
Marguerite Magill wept. Magill |
ooked on with his usual stolidity. Mrs. i
Iagill leaned forward, her chin on her
ands and surveyed the jury curiously, |
ut without trace of fear in her face. |
1rs. Graham sat with one arm thrown
round each girl. She too was cry
ng.
The jury stirred and shifted. The
oft lazy sunshine, fast dying away,
rept thru the old fashioned latticed