The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1911-06-28
Murder In First Degree.

At 3:45 p. IN. last Thursday the jury in
the Amann murder trial reached ver-
dict, finding the accused, John M. An
drews, guilty of murder in the first de-
gree. But one ballot was taken, that one
being unanimous among the twelve jury
men, after less than two hours delibera-
tion. Counsel for the defense, Attorney
Arid and Scarlet, Immediately moved
for an arrest of judgment pending a mo-
tion for new trial, and Judge Hinckley
granted the motion. The defense have 20
days In which to present their argument.
When 1t was announced that a verdict
had beed reached the defendant was
brought from the Jail into the court room.
He was outwsrdly calm, although his
counsel showed visible signs of anxiety.
There we've few present in the court room
few in the community believing that a
verdict would be reached in such a short
time. When the paper was handed to the
clerk of courts, Homer M. Putnam, and
by him to the Court, Judge Hinckley
cautioned the audience against making
any demonstration, and then turning to
the ury asked, "Is this your verdict2"
AS one man the IL answered, "Yes."
When Andrews heard the verdict he
stood upright and gazed steadfastly at the
judge and his associates on the bench,
with his chin in the air, which Is his
characteristic poise. The jury was dis
charged with the thanks of the court, and
the prisoner was returned to jail.
1t is said the defense, in asking for a
new trial will now seek to show, first,
that 1t was impossible for the accused to
have fair and impartial trial in COM
munity where the sentiment was strong
against him, and, secondly, that there
exists after r-disOovered evidence indicat-
ing the innocence of the accused. II is
said now to be the aim of the defense to
rake over the past history of Amann,
with a view to discovering some enemy
who might have killed him. During the
trial the defense did not try to show that
any person else had committed the crime,
and that was one of the weak points of
Andrews case. 1t is said that start has
been made already toward showing that
some person besides Andrews killed
Amann.
OF the verdict the Warren Evening
Times of the 23d inst. said editorially:
Naturally enough the populace is to-day
reviewing the Amann murder trial which
was brought to a sudden end yesterday
afternoon with the verdict that John M.
Andrews was guilty of murder in the
first degree. 1t Is hardly necessary to
state that in the case of many residents of
this city and of Warren county, the ver-
dict was deemed just one, based on the
evidence as submitted. 1t is
firmly believed that John NJ. Andrews
was given fair and impartial trial, that
the jurors sitting in the case we're hon.
orable men and that they reached ver-
dict after thoroughly and justly weighing
the evidence. AS Attorney Cochran re-
marked to-day, it is not necessary for
jury to spend hours deliberating in case
after retiring, if they are intelligent men
and have duly weighed the testimony as
produced. But to the contrary, quick
verdict should be returned as in the
Amann trial. The men serving on the
Amann jury decided the fate OF John M.
Andrews, many citizens believe. fairly,
honestly and justly"