Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1908-07-29
Takes Outcome
Calmly; Asks
for Tobacco.
MANY THINK HIM INSANE
Trial One of the Most Speedy on
Record Jury Did Not Take
Long to Reach a Verdict
Justice Sentenced
Him at Once.
speotaI to tAe EVHNINa NEws.

Special to the EVENING NEWS
New Brunswick, July 29:-Despite
the fact that Archie Heron was con-
victed yesterday by a jury of his
peers for the murder of Rev. s. B. d.
Prickitt at Metuchen on July 15 and
sentenced to pay the death penalty at
Trenton during the week commenc-
ing with Labor Day, September z,
there are some who still believe he Is
insane and unjustly convicted.
~ They tell me that / have been
found guilty of MURDER" said Heron
to Warden Rogers upon being taken
back to jail after sentence had been
pronounced, five officers surrounding
him that he did not escape. II don't
know what they will do with me.
Give me another paper of tobacco,
am all out"
This statement and the fact that
when he stood up at the direction OF
the court, that sentence might be inn
posed, he appeared unconcerned as IL
unaware of the fact that he was be-
ing sentenced to death, tend to
strengthen the belief of some that he
Is of unsound mind. Heron said
nothing when on the way back to the
jail but chewed hard upon the to-
bacco he had In his mouth.
Heron will probably be taken to
state prigan tomorrow.
Charles A. PrickItt's Statement.
Charles A. Prickitt, son of Rev S.
B. D. Prickitt, the victim of Herron's
bullet, declared after the verdict had
been rendered made this statement:
II can only say that am well
pleased with the verdict rendered and
1t is an evidence that justice can be
obtained in the Jersey courts. 1t is
entirely better than the lynching that
Is so common in many states to sat
isfy murder when often the wrong
man is hung. The trial of Heron
has been well conducted and the muir
derer Will pay the penalty for the
crime he committed"
Record of the Trial.
!, The trial was an example of swift
Jersey Justice. Thirteen days after
the day of the murder and almost at
the hour that the murderer was COM
miting his dastardly crime the jury.
brought him in guilty.
1t was about $50 o'clock that Her
ron shot Mr.. Prickitt in front Of his
home at Metuchen on July 15. An
hour later he had been captured and
was being rushed in an auto to the
Middlesex county Jail here where he
arrived t5.15 o'clock.
The next morning the autopsy was
conducted by County Physician j. Il.
Suydam. 1t was decided that an in
quest was not necessary. Prosecutor
Berdine then hurried to the home of
Justice Bergen and upon stating the
facts 1t was decided to summon the
grand jury to hear the evidence the
next Monday at 1 o'clock. Foreman
Albert Leon, of Perth Amboy, sent
out the summons and the case was
presented at the time arranged. That
afternoon at o'clock Justice Ber-
gen received the grand jury, took
Herron's plea and assigned Judge
COwenhoven to defend him.
Monday morning at 10 o'clock the
trial started. The jury was drawn
In twenty-five minutes. The state
had presented it's case at $40 o'clock
Monday afternoon. Yesterday noon
the defense had finished and the af-
teinoon session was devoted to sum
ming up the case, charging the jury
and taking of the verdict. The trial
had lasted eleven hours and twenty
seven minutes from the start to the
sentencing of the prisoner deducting
the time of the recesses at noon and
over night.
Heron still hopes to see his wife
before he goes to Trenton prison.
Lawyer O. T. Cowenhoven, counsel
Jr Herron, said today he has not yet
decided whether to appeal the case
or not. He will consult with his
client first.
Heron was placed in a cell by
himself last night Heretofore he
has been at large with the other pris-
oners. The cell had a window In it
and Heron said this morning that
he slept better last night than he has
any night since he has been in GUS
tody because of the window. He de-
clared that he did not think the
prosecutor had been very severe with
him. He said his counsel also made
good plea. He declared he does not
believe his wife has deserted him;
that the reason she Gid not appear
in court yesterday was because she
was nervous. He asked If the people
were satisfied with all the trouble
they had put him to.