Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-27
A VERDICT Of arson
Guinness Jury Ignores Murder
Charge in the Ray Lam
phere Case
SAYS BODY WAS MRS. GUINNESS
New Trial Not Believed Like'y--Lam-
phere Pleased at Verdict But Still
Maintains His internationally is
Two to Twenty two Years in States
Prison.

LaPorte, Ind, Nov. 27.-Ray Lam
phere was found guilty of arson last
night after the jury had been out TWEEN
ty-six hours. Judge John c. Richter
Immediately sentenced him to the peni-
tertiary for an indeterminate term of
from two to tWenty-one years and as
sessed fine of $4,000 Lamphere prob
ably will begin serving his sentence at
Michigan City today.
The verdict was in the nature of a
compromise, ten of the jurors having
held out from the first for verdict of
murder in the second degree, with a
penalty of life imprisonment Two
stubborn members all day contended for
a verdict Of arson and not guilty. re-
spectively.
Following the sentencing of Lam
pher4 81 the Jurors signed a statement
that they were convinced by the evil
dence at the trial that the adult body
found in the ruins with the bodies
| of the three children was that of Mrs.
Guinness.
| Lamphere Now Thinks Woman Dead.
Lamphere expressed a similar belief
in the first extended statement he has
made to other than his attorneys since
the trial began. He said he considered
himself lucky, in view of the evidence
produced, in getting off as easily as he
has. He maintained his innocence,
however.
The news that the jury had reached
an agreement was flashed from the
court house at 7:15 p. M. and within
ten minutes the court room was
crowded with an audience which had
come on the run to see the close of
the sensational case. The jury filed
in. and Foreman Hery Mills a gray
haired farmer, informed the court that
| he desired to make statement on be-
half of the jury before the reading of
the verdict by Judge Richter. The
court ruled such a proceeding would be
| irregular, and read the verdict as
follows:
| 1--WE, the jury, find the defendant
guilty of arson, as charged in the in
dictment, and find the defendant =
years Of age
Makes No Statement at Sentence.
| Lamphere sat in his chair while the
verdict was read without displaying
emotion. His attorneys, Fl. w. Wor-
den and Ellsworth E. Weir, leaned
over him and Weir said:
| "The instruction about arson is what
!. did it, Ray, 6t it is wrong, and you
will come out Of it all right"
| Lanphere paid scant attention. Ir
the meantime. the court determined
that Lamphere was SO years of age, o,
old enough to go to Michigan City pen
itentiary instead Of Jeffersonville
which is for criminals under 80.
Ray Lamphere, stand up" tn,
court commanded Have you any
thing to say why sentence should no
| be passed upon you?"
II don't know that l have at thi:
time" mulmured Lamphere after {
pause.
| Judge Richter then pronounced sen
tence and Lamphere was marched
back to Jail.
Judge Richter thanked the jury 10,
I its services to the state and county
Prosecutor Smith, in thanking tn,
jury, said the county of Laporte hat
incurred a debt of gratitude on ac
count of the verdict.
New Trial Is Not Likely.
Contrary to expectations, Lamphere'
attorneys made no motion for a new
| trial Unofficially, however, they ex'
/ pressed such intention, but in view o
! La1npheres light sentence in compar
j ison with the heavy punishment which
! another jury might bring in We're th'
| new trial secured there is' little likeli'
| hood of his being tried again
While in the jury room prepator,
to starting for the courtroom the jur-
ors signed the following statement:
/ "We,. the undersigned jurors, impan-
eled and sworn in the case of the state
of Indiana VS.. Ray La1ngohere, hereby
say that it was our judgment in con
sideration of the case that the adul
body found in the ruins of the fir
i was that of Belle Guinness, and tina
the case was decided by us on an en-
| tirely different proposition"
! A Ton of Gold
could buy nothing better for female
weaknesses, lame back and kidney
trouble than Electric Bitters. soc. Nc