The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-06-14
Walton and MCGiH
Turn Against Pike
Triple Rape Case
Jury Says Guilty in First Degree for Walton, Change Of
Venue for Pike to Hyde County, McGil Jury
Says Guilty in Second Degree"
Results In Kramer Case

) Results In Kramer Case :
Terry Walton tried and found
guilty. Minimum sentence 10
Years. Not yet sentenced. I
George Pike, change of venue
to Hyde county. Trial set for June
26 mt HighmOre, special term, be-
fore Judge Hughes. !
Grin McGill, trial began Tues
day, Sensational change I'm testi-
mOny Of defense, as McGill and
Walton break with Pike.
Large crowds gathered at the court
house last week to witness the trial
of three men charged with breaking
into the farm home of John Kramer,
in York twp, and committing rape
upon the person of his Is year old
daughter, Mary Kramer. Alone, and
friendless, this unfortunate family,
living their simple lives, were sud-
denly thrust into the community's
limelight in a court of justice, asking
for protection under a constitution
that guarantees to it's humblest citi-
zen the right of life, liberty and pur-
suit of happiness.
Women Attend Trial
Drawing a charge of immodesty and
the customary criticism of morbid
curiosity, twenty married women at
tended the trial to give visible evil
dence of their sympathy and protec-
ton to the unfortunate child of their
sex who was forced to her unpleasant
position in a court room crowded
with men. 1t was a courageous, a
humane act of these women, to thus
give aid and comfort to a member OF
their sex K whom fate had been so
unkind.
Chain of Evidence Damaging
AS Judge Hughes announced the
trial of Terry Walton, a tense silence
in that crowded court room disclosed
a human interest deeper than the
possible modicum of curiosity to be
expected.
The jury was secured in less time
than expected, and the states attor-
neys introduced a linking line of tes-
timony from some eight or ten wit
nesses duplicating the defendant in
acts leading up to the crime, which
was climaxed by the testimony Of the
father, John Kramer, and his daugh-
ter, Mary Kramer, as to the crime
itself.
The defense was very weak in its
witnesses, which consisted mainly of
testimony from the defendants, who
admitted being or a drunk, but the
last thing they remembered was that
their automobile had been stopped
a quarter of a mile or so away from
the Kramer home, They knew moth
ing from that time until they "came
to" next morning.
Pleas for the prosecution were
made by the states attorneys, F. r.
Fisher and Harlan Bushfield, and for
the defense by attorney John Pusey.
The Judges instructions to the jury
were plain and forcible, covering the
law and their duties in the case.
The twelve men retired to their
room to weigh the evidence, and de-
termiEe the guilt or innocence of the
accused. In twenty minutes they
filed back into the jury box and the
foreman handed in a verdict Of
guilty in first degree"
The minimum sentence for this
crime is ten years in the state pen
itentiary. At time this is written the
Judge had not yet pronounced sent
ence.
Men Near Breakdown
On Saturday after the trial of Wal
ton, 1t is reported upon good authority
that McGill and Walton were ready to
come through with a clean breast Of
the whole affair. because they be-
lieved that they were being made
the goats" But later 1t was report
ed that McGill had applied for an at
torney and decided to make a fight.
The Judge appointed 8. v. Christ to
defend him.
Change of Venue to Hyde Co.
The next case called for Monday
was that of George Pike. Attorney
Pusey asked for a change Of to
some other county, on the grounds
that public sentiment against his
client wal so strong he could not get