Gilpin observer., 1920-12-23
JURY FINDS WILLIAMS
NOT GUILTY OF MURDER
FOrman Skaters Precedent When
He Delivers Sermon With
the Verdict.
(Steamboat Springs Pilot

| NolediiiDoal springs fllOC)
Court opened Thursday morn
ing and Immediately got down to
business. Calling the docket and
setting cases for trial took up
much of the forenoon. In the af-
ternoon the case of the people
against Bruce Williams was call
and before adjournment jury
was secured. All day Thursday
was taken up with the testimony.
OnFriday morning the jury re-
tired about o'clock and by 6
o'clock were ready to report. They
found the defendant not guilty.
A rather unusual feature of the
verdict was that the jury delegat-
ed its foreman, Elmer Brooks, to
express their ideas to the defend
ant. Judge Bouck readily grant
ed permission and after the ver-
dict was read Mr.. Brooks address,
ed the defendant in what was as
good short sermon as was ever
heard from the bench or bar in
the state. He said that while the
jury had returned verdict of not
guilty on the charge of murder it
did not mean that they approved
of the things they had heard from
the stand. He drew moral and
lesson, pointed out the newt
able consequences of bad company
and admonished the defendant to
be guided in the future by the ex-
periences he had been thru.
Judge Bouck said afterwards
it was the first time in his exper-
ience in a count room that a juror
had thus addressed a defendant,
but that if it were done oftener
and with the same eloquence and
conviction employed by Mr.
Brooks, it would have a good eff
feet.
Mr.. Williams thanked the jur-
ors for their verdict and his at
torney, w. G. Reilly, also a few re-
marks in appreciation.
The court room was crowded to
capacity during the entire trial
and especially during the argu-
ments standing room was at a
premium. C. R. Munson assisted
District Attorney Delaney in the
prosecution, while Ex-Governor
George Carlson and w. C.. Reilly
conducted the defense. The case
was splendidly presented to the
jurors by these various attorneys.
The prosecution traced the ac-
tions of that day, an auto trip to
Oak Creek by party of which the
defendant was member, and of
gambling, quarrels and threats
lasting well into the night at the
home of Ora Neighbors, colored.
Woodfork, the man who was kill
ed, was shown to be especially pro-
ficient in rough language and
abuse.
Toward morning Woodfork
stepped out the back door, to be
followed a few minutes later by
Williams. There were three shots.
Neither of the parties could be
found after diligent search. The
next morning the body of Wood
fork was found with bullet thru
his body and Williams was later
arrested in Curtis gulch. 1t was
admitted by both sides that the
shooting was done with weapon
belonging to Woodfork, which had
been placed in a pocket Of the
auto and later disappeared.
The plea was self defense, Will
Jams admitting the shooting. His
story was to the effect that as he
stepped out Of the house he was
confronted by Woodfork with
gun in his hands and the state
ment that he was going to kill.
He says he wrested the gun away
from the negro and as the latter
backed into the shadows he
thought he reached for another
gun and he shot.
Aside from the testimony of the
defendant, the defense relied
mainly on character witnesses,
showing the good character and
reputation of Williams thru many
years. Among these witnesses
were Jenkin Davis of Central City,
assessor of Gilpin county, and E.
w. Davis, recently elected treas
urer of Routt county but formerly