Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-01-26


fed i'm killing the invader of his home,
and these were in the majority. They
dwelt on the enOrmity of Trask's of
Tense and reviled him for not permit
ting a blameleSS wife and mother to
pursue the happy way Of her life in
peace. 1t is TO be said to the credit
of mankind in the great city that very
few doubted her story.
Those who found it in their minds,
If not in their hearts. to condemn
Strickland dwelt on the enOrmity Of
murder even when committed in the
heat of passion. Nothing can excuse
or eXtenuate the killing of man, they
argued, and to uphold the law Strick-
land should be compelled to pay the
utmost penalty despite his wife's story.
To these the majority made answer:
"Of what use can it be to kill this
man? In the heat of passion he killed
another, it is true. But would it not
be far better to say to him, Go and
sin no MORE restore him to his dearly
beloved wife and child and let him
take up his new life in Cleveland as
carefully planned? 1t is certain that
Robert Strickland will commit no more
murder"
The matter of the missing money
held the attention of but few. The
great majority of the city's residents
were sure that Robert Strickland was
no thief. But it was just that very
point that kept the jury out.
The decision was very long in coming.
The jury had been out for hours. IN
their room the jurymen discussed every
phase of the noted case; but, as they
told afterward, from the very begin
ming there was unanimous agreement
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:
Not guilty.
The eleventh man had hesitated be-
fore pronouncing the words, and his
vote was acclaimed by cries of "GOodr'
That's the stuff"
But one juror said: wait a moment
Mr. Trumbul 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-
quittal and one for conviction!'
His decision against Strickland evok-
ed eXclamations 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, TrumbuIl!" 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
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 blot upon her name
that she'll never be able to wipe out.
What's your idea? Why do you want
to convict him?"
II don't want TO convict him.
don't want to be instrumental in send
ing any man to his death. | 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. ''Stricklands
no burglar" said one man. and another
declared. Zone 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 circum-
stances woven around Strickland that,
to my mind. would damn the Angel
Gabriel. Just consider the facts.
Strickland was hard pressed. He paid
Trask the $4,000 in cash. Why did
he pay 1t in cash? He was the only
one besides Trask who knew the COM
bination of the safe. And he was on
the spot when the safe was opened.