The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-13
MOST REMARKABLE
 TRIAL Is ENDED
Argument Is Completed Before
 Jury In SorSby Trial
DEFENDANT IS SToLlD
Attorneys for the Defense Stick to the Insanity Plea and Trace Malady Through Various Mem
 bers of Family.

Jackson, Miss, April 12.-(Special.)- With tonight's session closes one of the most remarkable murder trials that was ever heard in Mississippi. Never before in the history of the state was a court house crowded with ladies to hear q T.ur- der trial. They have flocked to the trial in great droves every day, but on this the last day there were four women to every one of the four or five hundred sea-s in the room, and every man present no mat ter how old and decrepid he might be, was forced to stand up from morning tlll late in the night.
 The prisoner was a study. During the trial he has been fairly at himself, hut today while District Attorney McNeill was painting him in the blacl1est of col 'ors he lost his nerve and trembled from head to foot. His pretty little wife, who has the heartfelt sympathy of the com- rnunity, and who has received every ros- sible social consideration during her so 5ourn here, sat all day with her arms around his neck. and directly in the limelight, being about six feet from the jury and in the middle of space inside the bar. Mrs. Sorsby carried a magnifi- cent bouquet of roses when she entered the crowded room, but soon handed them one of the lady members of her party, and devoted her time and attention to smoothing the way for her unfortunate husband. She appreciated the situation to tn efullest extent and showed it, while he did not Sitting squarely in his chair with his head resting on the back he gazed ixedly at the high ceiling for hours, never once glaneing at the twelve men who will decide his destiny.
 The attorneys for the defense devoted their entire time to a review of the case to show that the witnesses who testified to the insanity of the grandfather father and even the great-grandfather of the de- fendant, were crazy when they died, and that Sorsby naturally was insane; that he had inherited insanity from his fathers side of the house for generations back, and that-his mother was insane few months before his birth. They de- nied that the testimony of the experts was to be taken instead of that or physi- clans who knew the defendant and his fathers and attended them in their last illness.
 So far it is not believed either side has  any great advantage. but there is no doubt a powerful sentiment has been built for the wife of the dependant in the com munity, and it is freely predicted that there will be no verdict of guilty of mur- der unless with a penitentiary recom- mendation for life.
 The night session found the courthouse packed with men and women like sar- dimes in box.
 R. N Miller of Hazlehurst, for the state was the only speaker. In the midst of his argument a terrific storm of wind and rain came up, beating in the upper windows and drenching half the audience to the skin. and there was ten minutes delay The people were packed in so they could not move out of the way, nor could they get out of the building.
 Mr Miller hurled invectives and bit terest sarcasm at the defendant. He spoke nearly three hours and closed with a beautiful tribute 10 the memory of Charles Fitzgerald, scores in his audience being in tears before he finished.
 Shortly before Il o'clock the case was given to the jury, who retired, the court taking recess till morning. No verdict is expected tonight.