East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-05-01
Jury Returned Verdict of
Guilty for Second Degree
Murder Of Jepson Killing.
VERDICT CARRIES
LIFE IMPRISONMENT
No Decision Has Been Made
by Defense Attorneys for
Appeal of the Case.

That a new trial will be asked for
Charles Won Derahe who on saturday
night was found guilty OF murder III
the second degree for the murder o.
Matt Jepson, was the statement oil
counsel for the defense when the YER
dict was rendered in circuit court. In
the event this formality results in no
new trial being granted by Judge G..
w. Phelps 1t is probable that an ap-
peal will be taken to the supreme
court.
The jury had the case slightly more
than five hours before verdict was
returned. One return was made to the
court room to ask the court for fur
'ther Instructions on penalties for tho
different degrees of murder Follow
ing this another ballot was taken with
the result that secvond degree ver-
dist was returned 1t carries with it
the penalty of life Imprisonment.
Thursday Sentence Day.
Judge Phelps announced Saturday
night that he will pronounce sentence
Thursday. The defense will have un-
til that time to move for a new trial
Sixty days is allowed during which an
appeal may be taken.
Attorney Fred Steiwer said today
that no decision has been made yet a.
to whether an appeal will be made
He indicates that several days NIGH
pass before any action is taken.
Charles Won Derahe, defendant, Il
very nervous and depressed as a result
of the jury's verdict. Saturday nigh
after he had heard the verdict read hi
went back to Jail in the custody o.
Deputy Sheriff Dave Lavender ant
threw himself on the cot. He refuse
to see members Of his family. He re
mains nervous and morose today. ac
cording to attaches Of the sheriff's Of
flee,
The verdict read Saturday night wa
secured after trial which lasted on
whole week.
\ The two concluding arguments t
the jury were made Saturday after
noon Immediately following the moo
recess. Fred Steiwer in behalf of tn
defense and Judge J. A. Fee close
with an appeal in behalf of the state.
Steiwer's argument was one of tn
most impassioned pleas to jury tina
has beer, heard in the courtroom fl
many day. He dwelt at length 0
the possibility that there is reason
able doubt that some other maA tina
the defendant committed the crim
He also devoted quite a lot of his tim
to scoring the conduct Of the state
case. M
He reviewed the testimony take
which had to do with the chase aft'
Fred Patterson and his arrest and d.
tention for several weeks as a suspe
in the case.
Isn't there an idea in your min'
that it may be possible that Pattersc
did the killing" he asked the jury
''If there is a doubt in your minds, ca
you convict this defendant"
Jepsor, Man OF Mystery
The defense attorney also dwelt
length on the mystery connected WI
the life of Matt Jepson. Formerly
the business of handling intoxiean
he later purchased his ranch a
moved out on the mountain. Why
did this no one knows. the speaker q
clared.
He pointed out the fact that
murder Of Jepson was an atrocic
crime and called for a big passion
its motive. This motive was not civ
BY, the state. Steiwer said
Would man fined $500 run
risk of murder?' he demanded.
He also scored the state for its c.
duct of the case,
Fec Talks For State
Judge Fee in his argument DIV
on the weight which the testimony
the different witnesses should be
titled to receive. In this respect
called attention to the testimony
seven or eight witnesses who testii
that the defendant had made thr,
Ia them. The threats were denied
yon Derahe when he took the sts
In Weighing the testimony in con
Grafton of the case. the speaker po
ed out that the defendants intc
in the case is such that little creds
could be given him in the light OF
fCoHtinued on page So