Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-01-21
Case Against Former Hamilton County
Physician, Charged With Murder,
May 60 to State Supreme
Court.
STRONG SENTIMENT AGAINST
Richmond Paper Graphically Describ.
cs Pleas to Jury on Final Day
Of Trial.


Convicted on the charge of killing
his brother, following one of the most
remarkable murder trials in the his
tory of Virginia, DR.. Asa w. Chamber
lain. the aged ,Goochland county physi-
clan. who has been sentenced to pass
the rest of his years in the state pen
itentiary, is. today prisoner in the
Henrico county Jail, pending further
action in the legal contest which may
be carried before the supreme court.
The verdict fixing the punishment Of
the physician at life Imprisonment
proved surprise to the people Of
Goochland county and to most who
followed the trial.
That verdict of guilty would carry
with it the order that Dr.. Chamberlain
should eXpiate his crime in the electric
chair had been confidently expected.
1t was learned afterward, however,
that only three Of the jurors stood out
for the death penalty, and they sub
mitted to the compromise saving the
prisoner from the electric chair, after
a deliberation of about forty-eight
minutes.
Preparing for Appeal.
While Attorneys James c. Page and
Conway Sands, counsel for the defense
have declared they expected to con-
test the verdict before the supreme
court OF Virginia in the hopes of Sc
curing a new trial and reduction
in the penalty, 1t is now believed that
the contemplated fight will not be car
ried far and that the convicted man
will abide by the verdict. DR.. Cham
berlain remains firm in his denial of
guilt. He displayed remarkable stoi-
cism throughout the trial and received
the verdict calmly, declaring that he
had nothing to say.
Sentiment of the country people
throughout Groochland county had
been strong against him and convicted
him OF the murder of Judge Albert
Putnam Chamberlain from the time of
his arrest. The nature of the public
attitude, especially in the community
where the doctor and his brother
lived, was Of such nature as to threaten
the safety of the accused, who was
quickly brought to Richmond and plac-
cd in Henrico county jail
One of the prospective jurors among
the large venire summoned apparent
ly was so deeply convinced of the guilt
of Dr. Chamberlain that he had practi-
cally. decided the nature Of verdict he
would render in the event he was
drawn for the panel "Are you oppos-
ed to capital punishment" asked
Judge Rutherford in pronouncing the
formal questions to this particular
juror. Not in this case" was the
reply.
Father and Son.
Probably for the first time in the
history of many celebrated murder
cases heard in Virginia courts. a father
and son were members OF the panel
which adjudged Dr. Chamberlain gull
ty. they being A. s. Mosby and Charles
p. Mosby, both of whom are prominent
farmers Of Groochland county. The
trial of Dr. Chamberlain provided the
first experience in jury service for
both father and son.
Argument of counsel. especially the
unheralded, but effective attack of At
torney Sands against Senator Wenden-
burg, who was called into the case to
assist the prosecution at the request OF
Goochland authorities, was striking
feature OF the trial. Prefacing his re-
marks in a quiet speech in which he
irtimated fear that sickness would
prevent him from completing his
speech. Attorney Sands suddenly
turned upon Wendenburg and cried:
"Who brought you here?" The reply
of Wendenburs did not soften the at
tack Of Sands. II know this Louey
Wendenburg. gentlemen of the jury"
continued Sands. ale comes before
you, gentlemen. with blood in his eye,
seeking 10 fasten this crime upon this
poor, unfortunate man."
Admittedly. the strong attack of the
defense attorney had its effect in pre-
pairing the jurors for the closing argu-
ment delivered by Wendenburg, who
subjected the prisoner to caustic
"The law of the land
demands that you proclaim the
strength of the Virginia judiciary in a
verdict fixing the punishment OF this