The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1920-03-23
Jury Returned The Verdict
At 500 O'Clock Thurs
day Evening
ONLY FEW SPECTATORS
HEARD THE VERDICT
Branch Unable To Under
stand Action OF The Jury;
Fees Jurors Received

At 500 Thursday night, the jury IL
the case Of the State of Ohio VS.
Thomas Branch returned a verdict
finding the defendant guilty Of mur
der in the second degree.
The verdict carries with It life lin
prisonment in the Ohio penitentiary
with a possible chance Of pardon.
Quite Il large number of spectators
were present in the court room wher
the jury returned its verdict
Defendant Unconcerncd
The defendant was brought into
court by Sheriff Mosholder shortly
before the jury reported. He was un
concerned and his.-face was void o
any expression. This attitude the
prisoner assumed during the entire
progress of the trial.
Judge Blair assumed the bench
and the jurors filed in and took their
accustomed places.
Silence Falls
a strange silence fell over the
court room as Clerk of Courts Walter
G. Burris arose to read the verdict.
Clerk Burris started 10 read: we
the jury find the prisoner not guilty
of murder in the first degree" BE.
fore he could finish reading tho YER.
dict. several colored women jumped
up from their seats and commenced
to applaud and shout. Court Bailiff
Purcell raped for order and the
clerk continued, I'VE do find the pris
oner guilty of murder In the second
degree"
The verdict was signed by Roger
p. Roberts, foreman of the jury.
Branch Was Unmoved
Branch was unmoved when the yer.
dict was read Owing to his deafness
he probably did not hear the reading
of the verdict OF the jury.
Upon request OF the attorneys for
the defense the verdict WAS then
'polled. and each juror declared upon
his oath that it was his tru verdict in
the case.
Attorneys for the state and the dc
Tense and the usual court officials
were present when the jury made Its
report. 1t was just five hours from
the time the jury received the cast
until the verdict was returned
New Trial Wanted
Immediately after the verdict ha(
been read, the attorneys for the de
fense announced that a motion for s
new trial would be filed immediatcl,
in the court of common pleas. Judge
Blair stated that sentence would no
be passed upon the defendant unit
after he had. heard the motion for ,
new trial and had acted upon tn,
motion.
Tho prisoner was ordered back t,
tho county Jail.
Branch Feels Bad
Sheriff Mosholder stated Frida!
morning that Branch was restless al
night and Friday morning was feel
ing bad over the verdict of the jury
Branch was unable to understand
the sheriff said, how the jury coult
find him not guilty OF murder In tn,
first degree and then find him guilt,
of murder In the second degree. Th,
prisoner, according to the sheriff
thought he should be freed II the jur,
did not find him guilty of murder il
the first degree.
No Views Expressed
While the members of the jury di,
not publicly express the result of tn,
deliberations relative to the degre,
of the crime, 1t Is understood tha
/ several of the jurors were IN favor o
manslaughter and that one was il
favor of acQuittal. However, thes,
Jurors later laid aside their opinlon
and We're unanimous in the verdict o
murder In the second degree. II re
qulred the unanimous opinion of tn,
II Jurors to return II verdict.
Just as soon as the jurors had beel
excused by the court, those living il
Mt. Vernon left Immediately for thei
homes, Several left for Frederick
town ON the 1915 train, while six re
NAMED all night ut the Hotel Curtis,
What Jurors Received
The Jurors IN the case drew tn
following amounts as fees Frida
morning; Clyde Ashcraft $22,7'
John II. Payne S22,05, John Robinson
S22,,O. Roger u. Roberts S22.5O. l.. i
fidler $22.i0. A. u. Stokes 'S20.05. r
5. Dcyoe $50, Ira ". Ross S20,1i. /
- I.nrl.. SIS "a L,rnnL Il IInll SIN :.