The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-28
H. C. Ericsson and Corey Black
Are Convicted.
e. C. Wilcox Freed by Jury in
District Court.
MRS. BLACK CREATES SCENE
DenOunceS County Attorney ST.
mon for Results of Trial.
Case Will Be Appealed to SUI
preme Court.

One of the most dramatic scenes wit
messed in a Shawnee county court room
in many months, marked the conviction
late Thursday evening of Corey Black
of Council Grove, and Detective H. c.
Ericsson of Topeka, on a charge OF
criminal libel In the same verdict
the jury acquitted County Attorney
f. c. Wilcox of Anthony. Harper coun-
ty. held as a co-conspirator in an at
tempt to defame Judge Preston B. Gil
lett of Kingrnan.
1t was after o'clock when the cleo
trio buzzer near Judge Whitcomb s
desk was heard. Everyone in the
court room counted the alarms-one'
two, three-and knew It meant YER
dict All day the three defendants and
their wives had sat in the hot, stuffy
court room. They tried to appear hap
py. But as the long day brought nc
news from the jury room, the smiles
and jokes became more forced and the
six people most interested in the YER
dict began to show the effects of the
ten days of nervous excitement. Then
came the climax. Less than 90 people
were in the court room when G. ID.
Wellman, official court reporter, reao
the verdict.
As the reading of the verdict was
concluded, Mrs. Black and Mrs. Will
cox were greatly moved. Both were
sobbing Suddenly Mrs. Black gave
vent to her feelings and her hysterical
sobs and screams penetrated every
corner of the big building.
Mrs. Black BIames Simon.
My God, my God" sobbed the at
tractive young woman, who is a leader
in Council Grove society circles, you
have convicted an innocent man.
Then Mrs. Black in all her wrath and
fury turned on County Attorney Simon
%1,A 1ca1i f1Ia1
There, there's one of the men who
did it." screamed Mrs. Black, she
threw her arms about her husband and
sobbed as though her heart would
break. Her agony was pathetic and
there were damp eyes among the idle
loungers in the court room as they look
upon the tender love scene being en-
acted in the court room.
Although he himself was pale and
trembling from the shock of a convic-
ton and from nervous excitement
Blacks first thought was for his young
wife and he exerted every effort tc
comfort her. Other women in the court
room rushed to the woman's side and
as soon as the jury was discharged.
she was taken from the court room.
Wilcox Says It's Unjust.
Perhaps of the three defendants
wilcox himself showed the greatest
feeling concerning the force of tbs
L.
thought that he himself had been freed
and that others mustA suffer for a
crime, which the lawyers argued was
committed only that he might profit.
For a minute Wilcox seemed unable tC
move. His face was colorleSs and his
hands trembled from excitement. Then
he saw Mrs. Blacks condition and has |
tened to her side
Beside Wilcox and Black and their |
wives, sat Detective H. c. Ericsson and |
his wife. Perhaps of all the people IN |
the court room. Mrs. Ericsson displayed |
the greatest self control. Both Ericsson
and his wife displayed a GOODNESS that
the greater with the appar-
ent narrowing shock to the other de-
PENDANTS and their wives.
Its an unjust verdict was all that
Wilcox would say concerning the find
lEgs of the jury.
Not until after the II jurors had been
from further service in the
case and dismissed from further at
at the April term of court, did
the defendants leave their chairs They
were among the last to leave the court
room.
Up stairs the II jurors had spent
seven tedious hours in arriving at Z
verdict. On the first ballot. nine men
voted for the conviction of both Erics-
son and Black and three stood for ac-
luittal. As for the guilt of Wilcox, the
Jury was divided-Six and six. At the
afternoon session, the men voting for
the acquittaI of Ericsson and Back
vent over to the state. Then those
Toting for the conviction of Wilcox