The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-23


and was admitted through "A private door.
Two minutes before the newspaper men
in the corridor were settling themselves
for a long wait They were EDssiping
about the probabilities, no two lu agree
ment. party was being formed for
early dinner
visitors were drifting through the cor
ridor. hungry for any scrap OF news
anything that might have been plucked
out OF the air. Miss Ethel Barrymore,
with her husband, Russell Colt--they had
sat through the charge to the jury In
the morning session and were too inter-
ested TO leave the bullding-wcre asking
II there was a chance for an early verdict.
whats the use to stay said Miss
Barrymore. They're going to lock up the
jury
Prophecy In IdIcr's shout.
And that was the moment that the
District Attorney fairly exploded from
the elevator. the moment when there was
"a sudden stir all over the building
chorus of excited voices. clstter OF
running feet. That was the moment too
when a very curious thing happened.
Down in the we'll Of the building. on
the main floor. voice broke above the
hubbub: Murder IN the frst"
II was a gu S. no doubt shot In the
dark The jurors hadn't left their room.
The Justice himself didn't know what
their verdict was. And yet before the
defendant was called to the bar and be-
fore For man Blagden answered the great
question the elevator men and the janl-
tors were anticipating the verdict.
The reporters, who leaped for the court
room at the signal OF Justice Seabury's
attendant--the Justice had sent out
merely the significant message THE re-
porters are wanted"--dld not know until
L. hat ,ha trtNfh a. h.A
guessed and was echoing through the
building. They swarmed into the court
room at 4 so u. VI. and took their usual
seats Except for them and the court
officials the room was bare. by order or
the court none save a newspaper man was
to he admitted.
Benches and chairs that had been oe-
cupied in times az lesser interest were
empty now tnat the supreme moment OF
the trial had been reached. Up At th1
clerks desk sat William Penny, strokihS
his white mustache and glanc'ng a little
nervously. for all OF his experience. ut
the distant clock.
The door leading 10 the Justices cham
bers and the witness room swung open.
Martin T Nanton Eecker's chief counsel,
who had led the case OF his client
with such skin ard ttnacity. who was sure
al that minute OF uoth'nr worse than dis
agrsement. walked rapidly In. his assoc
ciates. John T.. Johnson and Hartford T.
Marshall at his heels. There was Sc
rlousness IN their faces. hut not appre-
henslon. They dropped into their chairs
at the Becker table and whispered to-
gether. Mnnton tapped the table with his
percll--nervousness, no doubt.
Becker Enters 10 Hear Verdict.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway TO
he jury room. The door opened, capt.
lynch, his ham trembling vislhly as he
yesturcd FOR q clear aisle for the Jurors.
admitted the twelve. Mr. Rlagden. the
foreman, came on steadily, looking
straight In front OF him. his face Set Ike
stone His associates, almost treadins
On each Others heels, followed his rapid
lead 70 the Jury box.
Mantons keen glance swept over tnen
studying, appraisng, spcculatlns' lie
turned 10 his stan with "A whisper.
The Jurors seated themselves, squared
their faces to lnquisitive eyes and waited
for the Justice. This WAS at :54 p. ".
A minute later Justice Seabury vas
on the bench. The District Attorney ana
his principal assistant, James a. Dele
hanty, hurried TO their places. Clerk
Penny raised his rcsound!ng vo!ce-it had
duaver in It. though:
"Charles Becker 10 the barr
Once more the door that gives entrance
toward the Tomhs as well as 10 the jury
room WAS opened. deputy sheriff APP
peared. then Becker. then second deputy.
one glance was all YOU needed to see that
Becker had himself under magnificent
control. His iron nerve was not bending
lie swung with long strides around the
walls and came to stand NJ the railing.
Those who watched him did not see n
sign Of agitation. lie was breathing
sIowly--you could see that from the rise
and fall Of his powerful chest--he was
smiling slightly as he glanced toward his
counsel
Hope shining In His Eyes.
He looked for the first time toward the
Jurors. There was confidence and hope
shining IN his eyes. Conlly. without haste.
no studied the face OF every man In the
box. Not one ~ them met HIS eye. Fore
man Blagden gazed at the floor. Frederick
G. Barrett, ST., Juror No. l:, studied the
ceiling The others gazed into space or
turned their glance toward the Justice,
There was the most perfect silence IN
the court room The movements Of trolley
cars IN Centre street made noise like
rolling thunder. pneumatic riveter al
work on a building close by set up tre-
mendous din.
And yet such sounds and annoyances
were forgotten, ceased to be OF conse-
ouence when Clerk Penny bent toward the
mn "'S"'g i'' N''S .
question.
Gentlemen OF the jury. have yol
agreed upon your verdict
Mr. Rlagdeu's reply was barely audible
---'uany Ia the room sensed It's IT, port. bu,
failed 70 grasp the actual words. II was
obvious that the foreman. having to ex'
press the will Of his associates, wa'
stirred by such feeling as seldom come,
TO any man,
"Guilty," Says Foreman.
Guilty as charged In the indictment,
he hreathed more than spoke.
necker's right hand was than grippe'
10 the railing. He held his straw hat II
his left hand, which. as his arm wa
tSnt BACKWARD and upward, rested agains
the small of his back, II is the plall
truth that he took the blow without
CULVER After second, It may he, h,
coughed, just a little; "A mere clearing O
the throat. But his mouth was firm. II,
dark face lost no Nestiso OF color. II.
l. black eyes turned toward the jurvmen
J who stll avoided hts glance who locke
everywhere hut AT the man they mad con
Gemned. Those who watched Becker 70