New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1914-05-02

=. CIaverie, bride Of a. local
druggist, collapsed. Women
tried to revive her. but she lay
limp. The proceedings halted a
moment while Chief Deputy
Charles Chachere carried Mrs.
Claverie from the court. Then
the jury was polled, and each
stood by the decision The crowd
was held by Judge Pavy until
Walters was silently removed, a
prisoner facing life servitude.
The judge then turned to the
jury and thanked each member
tor patriotic service. He said its
conduct had been perfect
The crier announced adjourn
ment, and for the first time the
crowd moved. AS if by common
consent, women and meh dashed
through the gate and hemmed in
the jurors, wrlnging the hands
of the real judges of the great is
Sue in congratulations. The
jurors relaxed into smiles.
fingered while. despite their
two weeks confinement, and
then made their way to the
commons. where they were held
popular heroes until they escap
ed to waiting homes.
What really happened was
that upon the very first ballot it
looked like an immediate agree
ment. Juror after juror voted
for guilty without capital punish
ment. When Juror E. Fishers
name was reached, he almost
paralyzed the others by announc-
ing that he was for hanging.
Three men almost collapsed.
There was still more of a stir
when A. P. Collins and Frank
Oliver voted for hanging. At
1890 o'clock the jury startled
the court by a knock on the door,
but it was only a request for
dinner.
It returned in about an hour.
and another ballot was taken,
with Messrs. Collins and Olivier
Voting with the majority. That
left Mr.. Fisher alone. He is also
famed for determination. and he
was appealed to individually and
collectively. Finally he came
over. and the courthouse bell
tolled for the news. 80
Mr.. Fisher is a former rice
planter and. now a-city--pay;na
contractor. He moved into town
about a year ago. He once lived
in Alexandria. Three years ago
he assisted Sheriff Swords in ar
resting a desperate negro, and re-
ceived a load of shot in the face.
He said the jury had carefully
considered the evidence and the
law. and were unanimous in de-
Gliding that the child was Bobbie
Dunbar and that Walters had
Fidnaped him.
The only difference was as to
the punishment for the heinous
crime, the jury being determined
70 contribute its influence to-
ward deterring others from re-
peating the act. The other elev-
en- thought tbest to give Wal
ters his life because the child
was alive. He finally consented
not to keep his colleagues longe"
or TO risk a mistrial.
Under the circumstances the
verdict was probably The most
satisfactory that could have been
rendered here. Bobbie is safe in
the nndisputed nossession of an
ideal mother: Walters is spared
tn fight on; bu+ the main mystery
is not vet settled
The trial was conducted at a
special term Of the Sixth Judicial
District Court. Judge Pavy will
ask Mr.. Dubuisson TO file his mo-
tons this week. He will hold
court in Evangeline next week,
and upon his return he will hear
argument. That means that do
cision and sentence are two
weeks off. Meantime. Walters
will be virtually in solitary con-
finement.
The contrast tonight was at
the home Of the Dunbars. Friends
rallied in droves, kilograms piled
up, and the long-distance phone
was constantly ringing. Bobbie
was kept busy. He knew some
thing unusual had happened
though he did not appreciate the
full icport Of the decree upon
his future life. Ali he knew and
-. vr.JAa.c ~r,o,,1l c% a u