The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-12-15

State OF Indiana, versus Lawrence
Edwards, burglary:
We, the jury in the above cause
fnd the defendant is guilty of burg
larry as charged, and find that he is.
years of age"
Shortly before 6 100 o'clock Friday
evening, the jury In the Edwards
burglary case, returned with ver-
diet finding the self-defending prison
er guilty. AS consequence he must
serve g. term Of from ten to twenty
years a the Jeffersonville prison.
Unmoved by Verdict.
Edwards, who has stood alone dur
ing his trial, refusing the aid of a
lawyer, was present when the verdict
was read, and betrayed no emotion.
Just after be concluded his argument
Friday afternoon, he thanked the
jury and Judge Bernetha for the fair
ness with which he had been treated
during the trial. Judge Bernetha re-
piled that such were his intentions to
give the defendant a fair trial. Ed
wards will be given an opportunity
to make q motion for new trial, be-
fore sentence pronounced. AS the
prisoner was given all Of the advant-
ages during the trial, this of course
will not be granted. After sentence
is pronounced, and as soon as COM
mitment papers arrive, he will be
taken to the penitentiary.
Time Was Surprise.
The fact that the jury was out over
three hours, was the greatest surprise
of the entire trial. 1t was thought
that a verdict would be reached with
in a very few minutes. As stated in
the Tribune, tine prisoner-attorney
4aslsd mieerably to makes even the
.semblance of a case, and the finding
Of the jury was foregone eonciu-
sion-
The prisoner, accompanied py
sheriff Daniel c. Voreis, entered the
court room at 9 :05 Thursday morning
The self defending prisoner was OF
good appearance. Well dressed IN
a black suit of clothes cleanly shaved
with a neat collar and tie, he might
have passed for an attorney.
After he had seated himself at a
table near the railing of the court
circle, Judge Bernetha addressed the
prisoner as follows: "Mr. Edwards
as this is an important ease, SO far
as Won are concerned. will ask you
If Won still desire to defend your
self''. Eyes Sir" instantly respond
ed the prisoner. "f you care TO have
an attorney ] will appoint one.
SsNo thanks, ! will act as my own
attorney.
The court then inquired if the de-
fendant had any preliminary motions
70 make before the jury be impannei,
led. to which the defendant repled
"May it please the court, your honor
have no preliminary motions to
make at this time and am ready to
proceed with the case proper.
The jury was in its place at S:Is
and after an examination by Prose
cutting attorney Harry L. Unger was
accepted without single ehallange
Edwards replied to the question o1
the court, that the ''respondant" II
v,.,fe~t,v satisfied with the qualifiea
>>fions Of the jury.
Here il became apparent thai
while Edwards seemed to be some
what familiar with the proceeding
Of court. he was No attorney, else M
would have questioned the jury, fol
on the jury alone. his case depends
Instead he was content to address
few remarks to that body, aftel
Upger had outlined the states ease
Edwards in a prepared talk gave
short dissertation up on the idea o.
two sides TO a question, how ne hopet
for an impartial trial. and that i
treated fairly the jury would no
convict him, unless it was prover
bevond the shadow of doubt tha
he was guilty of the offense OF burg
lary. The jury as accepted to tr'
the case is composed Of the follow
ine-Freds Myers, John Kline
lincoln Croker. William Herbster
BENJAMIN =. Snyder, John Rentsch
Ter Christian Fisher. Robert Erwin
Paul Logan, Ora E. Ellis, Norman {
Carothers, and Louis C. Dillon.
The passing of the jury, withou
the challange of single man, D.
either the state or defense, Is an un
usuai. inci1ent, but as the Who'll
trial was unusual. from beginning =
end. this point did not attract partic
ular attention.
Twenty Three Witnesses
After the jury had been lmpan
nelled, accepted and sworn, the lis
of witnesses was called, first by tn
state, and then by the defendant
Twenty-three names were called .
both. several Of whom however ha'
been subpoenaed both by the state
and by Edwards The wlfnesse
named for the state were the follow
;ne-Sheriff Daniel C. Voreis, Mar
shal Daniel Jacoby, DR.. h. P. Pres
ton, Mrs. H. p. Preston, z. D. Fan