The San Francisco call., 1910-11-05
'DR. GRANT FOUND
GUILTY OF MURDER
Second Degree Verdict Returned
Against the Slayer of
Eva Swan
MaIpractitioner Liable to ANY
Term From Ten Years
TO Life

A verdict Of murder in The second
degree was returned yesterday after
moon by the jury that tried Robert
Thompson. alias "Dr. James Grant"
for the murder of Eva Swan But an
hour and a half was consumed by the
Jury in its deliberations The verdict
renders the young stenographer's slayer
liable 10 Imprisonment to any term.
from 10 years TO life, in the discretion
OF Judge Dunno The case went over
10 Monday next for sentence, but un-
ooubtedly q motion for new trial win
be interpOsed. thus delaying the pass
Ing OF judgment
Murder in the second degree was the
extreme verdict the jury could have
FOUND, following the instructions Of
the court. Some OF the jurors held out
for manslaugfrter at the beginning of
the deliberations, but after lunch were
won over by those who insisted upon
2 murder verdict. Six ballots were
taken.
Thompson heard the verdict un-
moved His demeanor. was even more
markedly stolid than il had been dur
ing the trial. The convicted mans ged
father, however. who has sat beside
him during the entire trial. was not
able 10 hide his grief Among those
IN court were a number OF men who.
the police say, make a practice of
performing Illegal operations such as
the one that brought about the death
Of Eva Swan. These men followed the
closing scenes Of the trial with deep
Interest and attention.
Assistant District Attorney Brennan
concluded the fnal argument for the
people yesterday morning. speaking an
hour and half Judge Dunno then
charged the jury. his instructions being
without special feature except that he
said a verdict of murder in the first
degree could not be returned.
Brennan in his argument urged the
sury by their verdict to stamp their
disapproval of the terrible crime
against nature and civilization of per-
forming illegal operations. Eva Swan.
lie pointed out was a homeless and
helpless girl, and he said that she was
one of those who We're particularly in
need OF protection against men of the
Thompson type. The prosecutor made
much OF the testimony of Marie
NesserscImidt. the nurse, that Thomp-
son had tried to Teassure her by say
sng This viii he considered another
appearance case by the. police No
hody VIII find the body. This was
strong corroboration of the nurses
story, Brennan argued. and tended to
prove the commission of the crime
The prosecutor also dv-elt on the evil
dence of Ben Gordon. who testified that
Re said TO Thompson, Willie Saacke
told me all about you and am liable
70 fool vou," TO which Thompson re-
piled. You know what the san Fran
cisco police VIII do for money. Trac-
ing the testimony step by step, Brennan
said that he had established conclusive
confederation of Nurse Messerschmidt
testimony. as required by law.
g rr-l4f 4fffrH
convicted yesterday was chiefly re-
rnarkabie for the cold bloOded deliber-
alton with which the doctor" disposed
OF the body Of the unfortunate victim
OF his malpractice After her death
which occurred in his fat at lZ9'
Golden Gate avenue. on April 20 or u
1910. following period OF 10 days
during which she had suffered tht
keenest agony. Thompson sawed or ael
legs so as TO he able TO force the body
into a trunk, and then had the box
conveyed by an express wagon TO Z
cottage he rented at 32T Eureka street
where he buried Il in the cement ol
the cellar. The gins disappearance
was reported TO the police, but lnVesti-
cation of The mystery was abandoned
affc-- q few weeks Nearly six months
after the murder Ben Gordon, formerly
a. emploEe OF Thompson. made state
znent To She police which led TO the
arrest of the malpractitioner and ms
conviction Marie Messerschmldt the
nurse. who saw Eva Swan come TO the
Golden Gate avenue fat on three occa-
eions, and prepared her for the oper-
alton. was the strongest witness
egainst Thompon.