Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-16
COODELL VERDICT IS NEAR
Jury Considering Destiny Of Edna
Kennett's Assailant.
ENGLISH PLEADS FOR HIS DEATH
County Attorney Utters scathinG Ar
raianment of Prisoner and Judge
SIabaush Argue at Length In
sanity OF Defendant.

The Jury Is considering the destiny OF
Van Wilson Goodell. 1t was given the case
at $50 yesterday afternoon after listening
TO the instructions of Judge Sears and to
one OF the most scathing a~rraignments of a
prisoner at bar ever uttered In the Douglas
county court house. County Attorney Eng
fish urged the death penalty for Goodell,
saying:
Let It be not said that a jury of men
who love and revere their mothers, who
love their sisters and have their safety at
heart. failed to administer the severest pen
atty of the law"
ut has been a grave task. this case for
the prosecuting attorney, 1t is a graver one
for the jury-since in my recollection there
has been no murder case in this county
possessing the atrocity and brutality that
this one does, and I hold that this man de-
serves death and nothing else"
Refers to Thaw and attn Cases.
Speaking of the defense put up English
referred to the Thaw and Hams cases and
the 'unwritten law and pointed cut the
difference between a husbands avengin
his honor and the shooting down of a girl
in cold blood. With regard to Judge sla-
baugh's frequent references to Goodelrs
love for the girl the county attorney grew
grimly sarcastic. Counsel does not need
to argue the attributes or characteristics Of
love, We know what 1t means. We shall
not be fooled by any sickly stimulation.
Does he take us for a lot of mawkish
school boys2 A strange love is the defend
ants, as the result of which this girl has
been in her grave six months. This man
may sit in front of this jury and shed
tears, but a whole ocean of tears will not
wash from his hands the stain of Edna
Kennett's blood.
When 1t came to the attack upon Edna
Kennett his purpose was definite; his hand
steady. Did he kill himself? Why in Gods
name is he not dead! A scratch on the
forehead! He held the revolver close
enough to her to make sure. Powde burns!
There were no powder burns on him."
Goodelrs narrative on the stand Of his
engagement to the girl when she told him,
he said, that she had given birth to a child
this was characterized as the work Of "a
ghoul, who not content with taking the
girls life, dragged forth her body from the
grave and paraded II in the market place."
Calls II BlRckening Character.
WAS it necessary for him also to
blacken her character after he had killed
herr"
In closing English again urged the
moose as the fit punishment for Goodell.
The county attorney began speaking at
3:46 and concluded at $40 o'clock. Before
him Attorney W.. w. Slabaugh had used
all the time Of the defense, and his assoc
ciate. Charles Foster. did not speak. The
insanity of the prisoner was argued at
length by the senior counsel for the de-
PENDANT, and to this question the county
attorney also devoted considerable time.
The courtroom was jammed throughout
the addresses, which began with that by
Assistant County Attorney Louis Piatti in
the morning.
Attorneys for the defense received a let
ter after they had closed their case from
a mar in Trip county, s.. d. saying that
who knew Edna Kennett, should be sent for
and that he knew a great deal about the
case. The letter concluded with the some
| what large promise that this witness could
clear Goodell. In the event of conviction this
newly discovered testimony will be pleaded
as cause for a new trial.
Five Possibilities.
There are five possibilities with regard
to the jury's action, as follows:
A verdict of guilty with the death penalty
recommended.
A verdict Of guilty with life imprison-
ment favored.
A verdict of murder in the second de-
gree
"A verdict of acquittal.
Disagreement.