The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-06-30
Official City, State and County Newspaper
TURNED INTO A SPECTACLE

Press reports of the disorder the Chicago court
when the Shepherd verdict announced reflect to VIVA
engths morbid curiosity will carry crowd Before the jur,
reported the court srewn with newspapers
remains night lunches squad of photographers
chairs with flashlights hand ready to make drive to-
pictures soon the verdict was announced.
One press report gives the following vivid story Of wha
took place in the court room scene impossible in any cor
any country but America where murder trials have be
come spectaces to feed the morbid desires of the mob
I'VE, the words were lost in the uproar,
'fnd-not guilty"
Shepherds big shapeless bulk slumped forward
and young Stewart put his arm around him and
held him. Smoke almost hit them, the dropping
figure could be seen only now and then through the
drifting clouds as one sees bjects for a moment
wildly by lightning flash. In those moments his
face could be seen, shining gray as his head
dropped on his chest and MIR. Stewart cried encour
agement which could not be heard few feet away.
The spoutng, swirling volcano OF
flame and smoke. There at least fifteen photog
raphers in the place and every one of them was in
action. They abandoned the least semblance
of respect for the court and leaped mady to the
best positions, climbing on the rail of the jury box,
as jurynen ducked from their flashes. Wherever
one turned to escape them spouts of
white light and in their haste, the photographer
used extra large charges of POWDER the booms were
deafenng
A man jumped up on chair in front of the jury
box another behind him, another on the counsel
tables directly in front of the Judge. They yelled
at Stewart and at each other
Get him in 'front.', Get out of the way, Jim,
For the love of Mike, give chance"
Crash, roar, more flames and smoke, till it was
almost impossible to the room. Chairs
were overturned and women who had rushed for
ward were pushed and showed aside until in terror
at the inferno they cried out in fright and strOve
desperately to get out of the jam
Judge Lynch, who last week elected Chief
Justice of the Criminal Court, raped or twice
for order and laughed heartily at the excitement.
He was standing in full view of the flashes
Shepherd, who had recovered in few moments
and had shaken hands with the jurymen, cambered
up behind the bench and shook hands heartily with
Judge Lynch, who said something to him, sm-
ingy.
"Thats it, gust minute, hold it," yelled the
photographers, fighting to get this unusual picture
and the flashes roared again. For fully ten min
utes, and it seemed hour, this mad uproar lasted
until everybody in the was busted with the
fine ash of the fashght powder and eyes were
singing from smoke. At last Judge Lynch
could stand more, and when photographers
started to climb into the jury box, pushing the
jurymen aside in their eagerness to get last snap
at Shepherd, disappearing toward the jury room
he raped loudly and ordered the photographers to
keep quiet. They needed him for moment, and
then banked again Shepherd left.
The Shepherd affair probably sets record for circu
tactics in the trial of criminal Other nations marve
at the purge made by officials in the handling of murde
trial The crowds that pack the court become erc
partsans They have their favortes the wltnesse
for the defense and for the state. Sentimental r
to approach the accused with flowers and Tn
Shepherd trial shows what frenzy of excitement cou1
audience can rise 1t sad commentary upon the
in which some trials conducted.
When the Judge, too joins in the celebration the mo
feels justified and the festivities complete:
Nursing AN IDEA