Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-08
DRUM VERDICT OF
MANSLAUGHTER IS
] GREAT SURPRISE
Jury Makes Known Finding
/: After Two Hours Delibera+
tiOn-McDermit Silent.


After celebrating less than two
hours late yesterday afternoon jury
IN the Court of Oyer and Terminer,
fudge Harry V. Osborne presiding
Found George F. Drum, former county
Engineer, guilty of manslaughter in
connection with the killing of John L.
Mcdonald, a policeman, on July r.
last.
: The verdict of manslaughter came
as an entire surprise TO the large
crowd that had waited in the court
room until $3.50 o'clock for the verdict
as from the strong evidence adduced
81 the State a verdict OF murder IN
the second degree was the least eA-
spected by anyone. Most of those VINO
had followed the evidence closely pre-
eicted a verdict OF murder in the first
fegree, as the case built up by the
State appeared to be an impregnaple
one OF deliberate murder
! Drum, 1t is understood, is not salts
fled with the verdict of manslaughter
and will insist on application being
made for a new trial. He insists that
be acted in self-defsnse and should
bot be required to go to prison for the
Staying of Mcdonald. Frank M. Nc
Dermit, his counsel, will not discuss
the probability of new trial being
asked for until after sentence has
been imposed, which will probably be
on Monday, January IL, Judge o.
borne's next sentence day.
The penalty for manslaughter OF
Which Drum was convicted is any
where from q fine Of $1,000 to ten
years at hard labor in the States
prison at Trenton, or both the fine
and Imprisonment, at the discretion
of the court.
Jury's Quick Return Surprise.
The fact that the Jury arrived at its
verdict in such a short time was also
a surprise to those in the court room'
as it was generally expected that the
Jury would be out for several hours,
while many looked for an all-nignt
session. When the verdict was re-
eeived Judge Osborne discharged the
Jury without any comment, emitting
TO thank them for their services, as
Is customary in murder cases.
Drum made no sign Of how the YER
nict affected him when it was an
nounced by F. ]. Purssell. foreman OF
the jury. He turned to Mr.. McDermit,
his counsel, with a half smile and
Shook hands with him and then
quickly left the courtroom with his
guards, James Clark and James Mel
lon.
Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Van
Blarconn, who conducted the case for
Che State and who apparently built
Ip an unassa,lable case Of murder
IN the first degree, refused to COM
6aent on the verdict of the jury ex-
cept to remark. you never can tell
Mat a jury will do. I would like to
know how the twelve men arrived at
their verdict"
Jurors Are Silent.
This could not be learned, as the
Jurors quickly left the Court House
after being discharged and refused to
discuss the happenings in the jury
loom. Drums escape with man
Slaughter verdict Is due to the able
arguments advanced In his behalf to
the Jury yesterday by Mr.. McDermit,
his counsel. McDermit played on the
syrnpathies Of the jury and pointed
out to them that 1t would not be
light for them to send Drum to his
death in the electric chair.
Z Mr. McDerrnit based this plea on
the fact that Drum had testified that
Mcdonald had tried to strike him
With his right hand, while with his
left he was Juggling at his coat
Socket. where, according to Drum,
Mcdonald carried a revolver. Drum
declared that all this took place be-
fore he pulled his revolver and fired
the fatal shots.
Drum had testified that ne was in
rear of his life when he fred. Mr..
NeDermit kept pounding this fact
home to the Jurors, and although 1t
was uncorroborated by anyone and
lad been denied by eyewitnesses of
che shooting that Mcdonald had
made any effort to pull a gun, the
argument. of McDermit seemed to
carry weight with the jury.