The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-04
SLAYER DID NOT
PETITION COURT
FOR new TRIAL
After Hearing Sentence, With
Low Sob He Asked Attor-
neys y Appeal to Court for
Prompt Sentence.
Jury REMAINED OUT
for THIRTEEN HOURS
Mrs. GriswoId a Daughter OF
Judge Gilmore and Highly
ReSpected- Insanity Plea
Was a Failure.

Eatons o., Sept. AT 7:1O this
morning. when County Clerk Jones in
solemn tones read the verdict of the
jury. which sends Harry Rife, slayer
of his sweetheagx, Mrs. Ida Griswold,
to the electfieschair at the Ohio peni-
tentiary, the murderer, his face livid.
and his eyes wild and hopeless, watch
ed the court officer, as he slowly read
the verdict, like on fascinated.
When the reading of the verdict had
been concluded there was an absolute
hush over the room for few seconds,
then the few spectators to the grim
melodrama heard the victim Of the
laws vengeance moan. and saw him
convulsively grip the arms OF the chair
in which he was seated and turn to his
attorneys, Wilfred Jessup of Richmond
and WI b. Marsh OF Eaton.
The three held brief consultation.
and greatly to the surprise Of the at
torneys, Rife informed them that he
did not desire to make an effort to Sc.
cure another trial and that he wanted
to be sentenced Immediately. Attor-
rney Jessup then informed the court
that the accused waived his right to
appeal for new trial and that he was
ready to stand before the bar and re-
ceive his sentence.
Pronounces Sentence.
Judge Fisher, after q pause pro
nounced the death sentence, required
under the first degree verdict, with nc
recommendation for leniency, return
ed by the jury, and fixed January 10
1910 as the date of execution. Aftal
pronouncing his sentence, Judge Fisher
complimented the jury for its efficien'
services and then dismissed 1t.
Judge Fishers pronouncement O
sentence again moved Rife to emotion
but he fought it down stubbornly. i
ia expected that Rife will be taken t.
the penitentiary within few days.
The case went to the jury yesterda.
afternoon about 4 o'clock after hear
ing eloquent pleas by both attorney
for the state and for the defense
About $40 o'clock this morning tn
fury announced that It had reached I
verdict. At 6 o'clock Judge Fisher
the attorneys and the court attaches
were ntlified and at Z o'clock Judg
Fisher took his place on the bench.
Was Hoilow-Eyed.
Rife. haxgard and hollow-eyed fror
d night Of torturous suspense. wa
brought into the court room and b
shot q questioning glance at the twelv
men who held his fate in their hands
when they filed into the room. May
be the grim faces of the jurymen toll
the murderer OF the decision they ha
reached, for he caught his breath ant
with a nervous movement, droppe
despondently into the chair provide
for him.
Owing to the fact that nearly ever
one thought the jury would not reac
q verdict until late today, there wer
but few persons in the court ROOF
when Judge Fisher pronounced ser
tence. None of the members of Rife
family were with him.
History Of the Case.
The murder Of Mrs. Griswold. daugl
ter OF Judge Gilmore. and public |
brarian at Eaton, was one of the mos
cold -blooded In the history of Preb
county. About 5 O'Clock on the afte
noon Of July 8. Rite, who had bee
reading in the library, walked over
Mrs. Griswold, pulled revolver an
in the presence Of her twelve-year-ol
son. shot her to DEATH He ",
promptly arrested. Rife was nati'
OF Boston, Ind. and for several yea
had been employed as hostler or
q lineman.
AT the trial. which started last Mo
day, the defense made an effort to 9
tablish the fact that Rife was an
tionally insane when he coz.mitted
crime. An effort was made to pro-
that Mrs. Griswold's refusal to mar
RIFE. after he had been attentive to h
Tor some time, had effected his min
n making his argument yesterday. z