Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1910-04-28

William G. and Roy Trompeter, who
were charged with the murder Of Al
bert Gordon, sheep herder on July l2tl
of last year near Edgemont, after ,
fair and impartial trial, we're acquitted
of the charge last evening Thursday
after two hours and forty five minute.
deliberation by the jury.
Their trial started Wednesday ol
last week since which time large
number Of witnesses have been ex
amined by both the defense and the
prosecution and the evidence listened
to with the utmost interest by each
and every juryman acting, with the
result that the accused men we're pro
nounced, mot guilty"
The arguments yesterday lasted
from 1:3O in the afternoon until 1880
last evening with short recess for
supper. Attorney Ed L Grantham for
the prosecution was the first to make
his plea before the jury. He summed
up the evidence, going over it minute
ly, and stated why in his judgement q
verdict of guilty should be rendered.
c. 8. Eastman, for the defense, then
took the floor and made one of the
most eloquent pleas that has ever been
heard in the Fall River county court
house. He summed up the evidence,
bit by bit, stating that each action on
the part of the defense was merely
done in the natural course of the days
work on the fatal day instead of being
of q suspicious nature Their actions
prior to that time were merely those
of hundreds of interested men on the
range. In concluding he stated to the
jury that he was as much against the
crime of murder as anyone but the
facts in this case did not warrant a
conviction. After Mr.. Eastman's speech
short recess was taken for supper
and the jury instructed to be in their
places at 7:15 when the arguments
would be resumed
After supper w. B. Dudley further
argued the case for the defense He
dwelt chiefly on the strong points used
by the prosecution in trying to convict
and oonbated their arguments by
showing the inconsistency of some of
the evidence given. He stated that
the jury must, before returning YER
dict of guilty, be sure that every reason
able doubt had vanished and that they
must be certain in their own minds
that the defendants we're guilty, other
wise 1t was their duty to acquit. He
made very strong plea and one that
no doubt carried much weight with it,
States Attorney 8. E. Wilson was
the last man to argue the case. AS a
public prosecutor he is the equal of
any man in the business. In his in
troductory remarks he impressed the
jury with the fact that in prosecuting
this case he was doing it with malice
toward no one and merely doing his
duty. II guilty according to the evid
ence then he asked for a verdict to
that effect and in acquiting the de-
PENDANTS he wanted it borne in mind
that they should act according to the
testimony and not from sympathy or
any action tending that way. He
dwelt at some length on the manner of
the crime charged and the penalties to
be meted out to the guilty parties.
Altogether it was one of the best
speeches of it's kind ever made before
a jury. It was impartial, strictly with
out bias, only asking that verdict be
rendered on the merits of the case.
At the conclusion Of the arguments
Judge McGee instructed the jury as to
its duty and did so in q very able
manner.
Following is q brief review of the
case according to the testimony Of.
fered:
Last Thursday, April 2lst, after two
days in which time over one hundred
men were examined as to their fitness
to serve as jurymen. q full panel was
secured to act in the trial in which
William G. and Roy Trompeter we're
charged with the murder of Albert
Gordon, the sheep hsrder, on July 10Th
of last year near Edgemont. Following
are the names Of tho members OF the
jury: Fred Calder, Sid james, W. j.
Mcgowan, John Gross, William Hender.
son, Ed Blskely. George Mahaffy,
Henry Davis. N. A. Robbins, c. O..
Wood. Chris Hendricksen and r. v.
Hstnxsrling. Eastman 4 Dudley ap.