Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-12-16

OTIS all been cleared up" said another
juror, rising.
| that here if ever was case in which
the "unwritten law" had jurisdiction.
Not voice was raised in doubt of May
Strickland's story. Her manner had
convinced the minds of the jurors that
she had told the truth the whole truth
and nothing but the truth,
The natural adherence of all right
thinking men for the deliberate home
breaker spoke in the voices Of the jury
men when they mentioned the name Of
Gerald Trask. And the mention of the
name of Robert Strickland brought
forth generally only sympathy.
That is. so far as May Strickland
and his little daughter were concerned.
But there were other matters to be con,
Sidered.
Eleven times were the names Of
jurors called, and each time the name
was followed by a different voice, say
ing:
mot guilty!''
fore pronouncing the words, and his
vote was acclaimed by cries of "Good!'
THAT'S the stuff
But one juror said: wait a moment.
Mr.. Trumbull hasn't voted. How do
you vote, Trumbull?"
Trumbull. foreman of the jury, re-
piled to the question indirectly:
"Gentlemen, We stand eleven for ac-
quitta and one for conviction.''
His decision against Strickland evok-
ed EXPLANATIONS of dissent and indig
nation. He was besought to change
his vote. to restore Strickland to his
wife and child The jurors thronged
about their recalcitrant foreman excit-
edly. demanding to know why he want
ed to send Strickland to the chair
They asked him to put himself in
Strickland's place. Would he or would
he not defend his home in like case?
The argument was heated. Listen to
reason. Trumbull.' one juror exclaimed.
The foreman replied: whats the
good of sending Strickland to the
chair? You don't bring Trask back to
life, do you? All you do is kill off a
good, clean. straightforward chap who's
a valuable asset to the community.
And who suffers most? Strickland?
Not he His wife and his little girl
they're the sufferers. You throw a
sensitive woman out on the world and
give little baby a blot upon her name
that she'll never be able to wipe out.
What's your idea? Why do you want
to convict him."
81 don't want to convict him. l
don't want to be instrumental in send
ing any man to his death. l agree
with you all that Strickland had cause
for killing Trask''
But still you vote for conviction
Yes" replied Trumbull. Because
I'm not sure that Strickland went to
Trask's house because of his wife I'm
inclined to think he went there to rob
the safe
There was immediate dissent almost
if not quite unanimous ''Strickland's
no burglar said one man, and another
declared. ''One look at Strickland ought
to convince you that he's not a safe
cracker
Il grant you all that. gentlemen"
said the foreman. 'but you can't dodge
the facts. There's a chain of circilm
stances woven around Strickland that
to my mind. would damn the Angel
Gabriel Just consider tn 'lcts
Strickland was hard pressed Irai
Trask the $4,000 in cash y ,lil
he pay it in cash? He was the only
one besides Trask who knew the com
Dination of the safe And he was on
the spot when the safe was opened
Looks pretty bad. don't you Think"
"Of course it looks bad. but it's ali
been cleared up said another juror.