The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-06-14

The above is the verdict of guilty !
returned by the jury at 200 o'clock
this morning in the Samuels murder
trial. 1t means that Joseph Samuels !
will spend the remainder OF his earth
" days in prison unless higher trib- !
unal reverses the findings Of the lower
court or a state executive extends a
pardon. This Is the flnality of the
shocking tragedy that was enacted on
the Seventh street bridge on the night
Of March 8, when Essie Samuels, the
wife of the accused was shot unto
! death and her poor body was riddled
with bullets. The verdict undoubtedly
meets the demand Of public sentiment.
MANY there were who believed that
the jury would either disagree or re-
turn verdict of insanity at the mo-
ment that the crime was committed.
The conflicting nature of the expert
testimony, in a measure, justified the
! entertaining of this expectation. Cen
orally speaking. public sentiment
seems to approve the finding of the
jury, which deliberated for period
Of about six hours and required only
three ballots to reach the verdict that
was returned. The case went to the
jury al half past 500 o'clock Tuesday
afternoon and unanimous conclusion
was reached at l o'clock. In accord
ance with previous understanding
and arrangement, Judge Hamilton and
Attorney Hartzell for the defense and
County Attorney Craig were notified
by bailiffs and shortly thereafter ap-
peared in the courtroom. Defendant
Samuels was brought forth from the
gloomy and foreboding depths be-
meath the courthouse, and when
ne took the seat assigned him he dis
played the same physical attitude that
ne has constantly maintained since
the initial day of this trial now noted
and historical in Lee county criminal
1nrisnrudence. After the reading of
he verdict of guilty he offered no
comment to his counsel. His seeming
" stold and philosophical and physi-
cal Indifference, due according to the
cefense to both mental and physical
regeneration, was not violated in the
Slightest degree There was not even
q ,emote indication of tremor or
mental agitation. He was returned to
his lonely cell in his habitual physical
and mental state.
How the Jury Stood.
Three ballots were taken 1t was
ascertained from members Of the
Jury that on the first ballot there
We're nine for conviction of the crime
Q! murder in the first degree, and
Tree Tor conviction of the crime OF
murder in the second degree. The
second ballot was replica of the first
one On the third ballot the twelve
Jurors ot the defendants peers found
MN guilty of the crime of murder In
the first degree and directed that his
punishment be fixed at Imprisonment
for life.
Judge Hamilton announced that he
would affirm and pronounce this iudg
ihrht al o'clock next Monday after
noon
May Take An Appeal.
attorns Hartzell, counsel for the
defendant given leave to file mo
IONS for arre( of Judgment and fol
new trial in the intervening time
until sentence is pronounced. Address
ing representative of The Gate CITY
mis- morning. Mr.. Hartzell said:
am rather inclined to show fgh
and II the motions for arrest of iudg
hent and new trial are overruled
ueileve that / will take an appeal tt
me supreme court of Iowa thinl
can find reversible error and d.
uot believe that the evidence justihe'
me verdict returned
The Jury Ratioenation.
!, "hlie the jury reached the convic
.on' undoubtedly so in contemplating
.ne verdict, that Samuels was of sount
''no at the time OF the committing o
ne crime, 1t is stated that it reasoned
wal the defendant ought to be convict
~ On the evidence in the case ant
II should be that he was insan'
NV NV or should become SO In the futur
ae 'he case would come within tn
''Yiew of and would be CONSIDERS
+ me Iowa board of parole. Shouts
~ al'uels at some later period be foun
Nv mentally defective the stat
80, SO could transfer him to one of tn
ate hospitals for the insane. Whel