The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-07-20
ORPET IS SET FREE
BY JURY's VERDICT
Story Of CIandestnle Love, De-
ception and Death Ends.
81 - ilsIH 3nS1s9gil4E no VI
YOUTH is HELD GUlLTLESs
Mrs. orpet Weeps as Twelve Men Ac-
quit Son--Defendant Sits as II
Stupefied When mot Guilty"
Rings Through Room.

Waukegan, Ill.,, July 1T.-Will Orpet
Is free.
The jury reached verdict of acquit-
tai after four hours and thirty-nine>
minutes deliberation and three bal
lots. The verdict means the young col
lege student was not responsible, in
the eyes of the law, at least, for the
death of Marian Lambert, his one-time
, sweetheart, February 8.
And thus ended the story of clan
destine love, deception and death which
began when Orpet and Marian were
high school students together.
Both. Pay Penalty.
She paid her part of the penalty by
death by poison within the shadows
Of the three oaks in Helms woods. Or
tpet paid his part by two months of tor
ture at the hands of the state in its at
tempt TO convict him. N
Judge Donnelly received the verdict
! from James c. O'Shea, the foreman
Of the jury. The stuffy little court
room was crowded. The verdict was
read. The words Not guilty" We're
heard. i s..aEr... -..
A woman screamed and several
startled cries from other wofhen were
heard. The baihff raped for order,
but the spectators swarmed toward
the defendant. Some left the building
ana carried out the cry that he was
free.
orpet Sits UnmoVed.
Orpet sat unmoved in his chair as
though he was In stupor. He was
not the same Will Orpet who had sat
In the courtroom for the last two
months-calm, cynical, sneering. Be
side the defendant were his mother,
Mrs. Edward Orpet, and Mrs. Edwin
Taylor, his landlady in Madison, Wis.
The mother of the boy burst into
tears when she realized he was free.
From the very first day Of his impris-
onment she has stood by him. And
each session of the court saw her seat
ed beside him.
She took his arm and led him from
the courtroom. from the throng of per-
sons who enclrcled him. In an ante
room she put her arms around him and
kissed him. She has believed in his
innocence from the start.
The youths father was not in the
courtroom Neither was Frank Lam
bert, father of the dead girl. He at
tended the closing argument to the
Jury, but went home when the jury re-
tired to deliberate. His wife Is ILL.,,
worn by the long anxiety of the trial.
orpet to Continue Studies.
In speaking of the verdict, James
Fl. WilkersOn, one of Orpet's counsel,
said:
such unanimity on the part of the
jury certainly shows how the evidence
impressed the jury. The finding ought
to convince everyone the boy is still
worthy of confidence.
"Orpet will go away for rest. Then
he will return and resume his studies.
He will take up his work and go on as
II nothing had happened. He is worthy
IF confidence and will go out and prove
il to the world, too. The black shadow
which hung over him has been swept
|, away. He should be accorded the
same chance any other young man has.
The jury has said he Is innocent, and
the world should receive him as such"
.. Judge Has Little to Say.
Judge Donnelly had little to say
about the outcome of the case.
81 have nothing to say either in
condemnation or commendation," he
said. 1T is the province Of the jury
to say-and the jury has said. have
nothing to add"
The trial cost Lake county $4,000.