The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-09-19
HOMER LEQUlRE BFOUND
MI l,i191)EIII DEGREE MURDER
Jury Returns Verdict After Little More Than Two Hours Delhi
Grafton Tuesday Afternoon Man Accepts Yer
dict Phosophicy But Maintains In His Cell at The Coun
ty Jail That He Is Innocent of the Crime.
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Homer LeQuire was convicted on an
indictment charging him with murder
in the first degree for the killing Of
Louis Fernie at Wadman's Point, Lake
Vermilion, by the jury which heard the
evidence in the case against him after
elaboration on it's part Of little more
than two hours last Tuesday AFTER
noon. He was remanded to the Gus
tody of the sheriff and will receive
sentence later. He will receive an in
determinate sentence in the state peni-
Tertiary. Unless he secures a new
trial and a second jury fails to convict
him he will probably spend the re-
mainder of his days behind the walls
of the Minnesota prison at Saltwater.
He is without funds and if his case is
reopened relatives must come to his
rescue.
LeQuire accepted the verdict philo-
sophically. He had borne up we'll dur
ing the trial and he betrayed no dis
appointment when the findings Of the
jury were read in the court room.
When the case went to the jury at
1920 Tuesday and he was led back
to his cell in the county Jail by a dep
uty sheriff he discussed the case
briefly. IF they find me guilty they
will convict an innocent man." he said
to the sheriff who had him in charge
as the door of the cell room closed
behind him.
County Attorney Warren E. Greene
conducted the prosecution personally.
Before returning to his home at Du-
luth Tuesday afternoon Mr.. Greene
said he was satisfied with the verdict.
II believe it was in accordance with
the evidence" he said.
M. H. Mcmahon, who defended L.
Quire refused to discuss the case. He
had not expected a conviction Of muir
der in the first degree, however.
The verdict of the twelve men who
found LeQuire guilty was the result
of fabric Of circumstantial evidence.
The prosecution was especially ably
handled by County Attorney Greene.
Over 20 witnesses testified for the
state, including several physicians.
Among them were the deputy coroner
at Tower, the doctors who assisted at
the autopsy over the dead body of
Fernie, and a Duluth doctor.
Other witnesses included practically
all the people on the island when the
crime was committed. The states
theory of murder was clearly proven.
Sections of the fractured SKULL Of
the dead man removed when the
autopsy was conducted were used in
evidence by the state. They clearly
indicated that the skull had been frac-
tured by blow from blunt instru-
ment.
LeQuire was the only witness to 60
on the stand for the defense. He told
of meeting Fernie and Of going with
him to the tent at Wadman's Point,
Of the drunken orgy that followed and
how he had lost his senses from ex-
cessive drinking and remembered
nothing until he was reused by the fire
at the tent where the body of Fernie
was found. He told his story in a
straightforward way. While there
were many ramifications summed up
it was simply that he was in such a
state of intoxication that he remem-
bered nothing.
LeQuire was a steady and at times
an eager witness. His story was lit
tie shaken after hours Of rigid cross
examination by County Attorney
Greene.
The pleas of both County Attorney
Greene and M. H. Mcmahon to the
jury were able efforts. Mr.. Greene
reviewed the evidence at length fol-
the jury. He asked the jury to re-
turn verdict in accordance with the
evidence, indicated its responsibility,
but not once during his plea did he
clamor for conviction.
Mr.. Mcmahon made an impressive
plea for acquittal. He met and an.
swered every point made by the state
in its case, and while admitting that
Louis Fernie had been murdered he
declared that his client could not have
been the guilty party.
The case has been closely followed
over the range and the state. The
verdict Of the jury was a surprise tt
many who had expected LeQuire would
be acquitted or found guilty of first
degree manslaughter.
TRUSTEES OF PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH GIVE SOCIAL TONIGHT