Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-07-22
ORPET IS SET FREE
BY JURY'S VERDICT
Story of CIandeStnie Love, De-
ception and Death Ends.
YOUTH IS HELD GUILTLESS
Mrs. Orpet Weeps as Twelve Men Ac-
quit son-Defendant Sits as If
Stupefied When "Not Guilty"
Rings Through Room.

Waukegan. H., July 17.-Win Orpet
Is free.
The jury reached verdict of acquit-
tai after four hours and thirty-nine
minutes elaboration and three bal
lots. The verdict means the young coll
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
pet paid his part by two months of tor
ture at the hands of the state in its at
tempt to convict him.
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 mot guilty" were
heard.
woman screamed and several
startled cries from other women were
heard. The bailiff raped for order,
but the spectators swarmed toward
the defendant. Some left the building
and carried out the cry that he was
free.
Orpet Sits UhmoVed.
Orpet sat unmoved in his chair as
though he was in a stupor. He was
not the same VIII Orpet who had sat
in the courtroom for the last two
months-calm, cynical, sneering. Be
side the defendant We're 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 encircled 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-
To oil av-sat1 Fir Sc
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 viii go away for rest. Then
he will return and resume his studies.
He will take up his work and 90 on as
If nothing had happened. He is worthy
of confidence and will go out and prove
1t to the world, too. The black shadow
which huns 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.
Il have nothing to say either in
condemnation or commentator" he
said. ut is the province of the Jury
to say-and the jury has said. 1 have
nothing to add"
The trial cost Lake county $4,000.