The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1909-11-26

w e, tne jury, lllu lue HtleuudHt' >
Milton Golden, guilty Of murdt. IN
the first degree, as charged n The
indictment, and assess his Hrnish-
ment at confinement in the peniteu-
tiary for terra of life-6 B.
Reeves. Foreman"
Such was the verdict that Milton
Golden heard read by District Clerk
Carothers in the district court We'd
nesday night at 10 O'Clock. There
was small group in the court room
at the time the jury brought in its
verdict. Golden sat just inside the
bar with Sheriff Forbes and several
deputies close to him. To all appear
ances the announcement of the jul
rvs decision as to his fate did not
cause the slightest twich of a mus
Gle He made no comment on the
verdict further than to say he was
glad he did not receive the death
penalty.
The courts charge was read to
the jury Wednesday afternoon ABOUT
O'Clock and it was nearly six
hours before verdict was agreed
upon. After retiring to the jury
room the jury organized by elect
ing r. Is. Reeves of Midlothian fore
man. The jurors then spent few
minutes discussing the facts ua de
yeloped by the evidence, after which
a ballot was taken as to the defend
ants guilt The result of this ballot
was nine for murder in the first de-
gree and three for murder in the
second degree. On the next ballot
another juror dropped down 10 mur-
der in the second degree. Then roll
lowed long discussion and much
parleying in which the eight jurors
who voted for murder in the first
degree insisted that the death pen
altv should be assessed against the
defendant. The other jurors would
not agree to inflicting this punish
ment and the verdict as above given
was finally decided upon.
All the facts and circumstances
surrounding the killing of Constable
Conger of Red Oak by Milton Col
den are too familiar to the readers
of this paper to be repeated here
Golden went on the stand in his
Iown behalf Tuesday afternoon and
on direct examination testified as
follows:
was 40 years old the 29th OF
April. Was raised in east Texas.
was living on Mr.. John Houses
place in June, 1908, about foul
miles from Red Oak. | had beer
working for Mr.. House off and or
for four years, doing farm work.
| had been arrested in some gaming
cases and had given appearance
bonds in each of three cases and
had signed the bonds and Mr.. Hous'
also signed the bonds as my surety
This was some weeks before TN
killing took place.
! wasn't to say personally ac
louainted with Mr.. Tom Conger
had seen him once or twice. 1t ha'
been a very short acquaintance
could have been six months but no
| Ilonger that | knew him. | had neVe
had any business at all with MI
| Conger. Mr.. Rush Hickman had ar
! rested me on the gaming charges
| Mr.. Conger and ! had never had an
difficulty at all, no trouble at all
That Saturday morning | was a
nv house, not anticipating any trou
Bile with anybody. | suppose II wa
about 8 o'clock that morning whe'
Mr. Tom Conger came up TO m
Ihouse I had eaten breakfast Mans
lSpencer was at my house at Tn
time I was not aware that Mr.. con
ger was coming to my house to tax
me into custody. | did not kho'
what Mr.. Conger was coming 10
when he came. l had no dislike 10
or animosity toward Mr. Congei
previously. Mr.. Conger came to m
lhouse walking; he came from Tn
west We were sitting south or tn
house toward the west end or Tn
house, when / first saw Mr.. Congel