Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-30
DEMANDS JURY
DECREE LIMIT
: OR NO PENALTY
states Attorney Beg in Closing Ar
guments Says Manslaughter
Verdict Out of Question.


this morning in supreme court AMI
fate of the man on trial for the mu--
der of Sheriff Jake Wigers may be
placed in the hands of the jury be-
fore tomorrow noon or. perhaps
earlier
States Attorney Bell was first ID
address the jury this morning. At
d noon he was only fairly started On
his arguments, aimed TO obtain a
4 verdict of guilty on the charge of
murder. He will be followed ny
one of the attorneys for the de-
Tense. When all arguments are
n concluded. the court will occupy an
our, at least, in reading instruc-
ms to the jury.
Mr. Bell pointed out that the
ate has not relied on circum-
initial evidence, but direct evil
uence, to secure a conviction. He
said: Il told you that the state
would prove that on Dec. 80, 1918,
and while people we're celebrating
peace and hoping for safe return
of those boys who had crossed the
Atlantic, this gang of desperate,
dastardly assassins went forth
with murder in their hearts and
shot an officer of the law while in
the performance of his sacred
trust.
The sheriff and his force went
out on the Coaltowu road that night
prepared to apprehend robbers. It
was at q time when several hun
dred paroled convicts had been let
loose on this community. These
cities we're then in a reign of ter
} ror as result of hundreds of hold
ups and other serious crimes, but
up to then none of the eyiI-doers
had been caught.
That night the sheriff's force
met one Of those gangs. They were
not local boys; they were toughs
from Chicago. They were boys
with a criminal record who cared
nothing for the life of another if it
meant freedom to them.
You have heard of the meeting,
the after results, the arrests and
the subsequent confession.
There is only one thing on Gods
green earth that this defendant
fears and that is the rope. His at
tornevs have directed their efforts
towards saving him from expiating
will ask you to find him guilty on a
charge of manslaughter.
Not Manslaughter.
There is nothing to justify man
slaughter as the verdict. If it isn't
murder. then it is nothing. If you
can't find him guilty of murder,
then acquit him"
Court Crowded.
Throughout the trial, the court
room has been filled with specta-
tors, the majority of whom are
merely curious. Others are there
because they were warm, Personal
friends of the murdered sheriff.
None in the crowd has ever dis
played evidence Of favoring the
man on trial.
For the first time since the case
was started, Mrs. Jacob Wigers,
widow of the murdered man, her
daughter and small son were in the
court room yesterday afternoon.
This morning Mrs. Wigers return
Hed. accompanied by her oldest son,
Allen. The little family group dis
plays no more emotion than that
most casual spectator in the as
semblage They sit among the
rest; the jury does not get a
glimpse of them.
More Composed.
At this stage in the drama III t
may mean death to him, O'Riley is
showing greater composure than
was the case when the testimony
was started. His poise at once
suggests a fatalistic feeling. If he
feels himself as the cynosure of a
thousand eyes behind him, he does
not show it. He listens intently
to every word spoken, but for all
that his attitude is languorous in
the extreme.
He made a wonderful witness for
himself There are none to say
II hat he didn't. But it was not IN
Expected. O'Riley is so unlike the
common conception of bandit thug
that no comparison exists. Rather
it is the contrast that makes him
an interesting character. Through
all his testimony. his voice and
language carried that refined touch, |
which many college men have fail I
ed TO acquire in years of effort and
study. 1t was not stilted or put on !
fOr effect; it was natural and 3p-
parently devoid of effort. The words /
played upon his tongue in a free /
and easy manner. The listener |
could not help but take note of his /
Difference in referring to those Who /
testified against him. Always the |
Mr." preceded such allusion.
Question His Statements.
Cross examination of ORiley /
was continued when court resum- /
p ed at o'clock yesterday afternoon. !
States Attorney Bell endeayoTed /
to bring out weaknesses in the tes-
timony OF the defendant to show /
that the man was falsifying in /
stating that he confessed only to /
shield his pal, Tommy Walsh. /
whom he said he thought might |
have been mixed up in the shoot |
ing Of Sheriff Wigers.
In a few instances O'Riley found !
it difficult to remember certain .
things he had said while on the 1
stand during the morning session. !
He failed to remember exactly |
what conversation took place be
tween Sheriff Fleming of Aledo and /
himself while he was confined in .
The Mercer county jail. That is, !
re was not certain Of having made .