The Telegram. — 1894-04-24 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

WILLIE'S RELATIVES GIVE EVIDENCE. VERDICT OF INAANITY. PRISONER SENT TO A LUNATIC ALUM.  The early adjournment of the Court on Thursday afterneou was caused by the absence if certain witrie ses for the prisoner whose tesinerny was expeeted to verily that of the Ii cots arid employer uf,Willie. The evidence presented had a percepttole influence upon the jury, and when the Court adjourned for the day the attorney fur the Fri:ismer expressed himself as having made very materiel prugress towards the acquittal of his client. The scene Maine the proceedings of Thursday wee unsually interesting. There were many ladies preseut, and the attention they gave to the ease was marked. The appearance of the prisoner's parents on the stand was a burr:else to the pullic, and their evidence was given with an wa nentness and in a manner tiset was most dramatic and impressive. Willie's mother, in reciting the history of her family, displayed great eneititin aud had the sympathy of the entire audience. Mr. May, the employer of Willie, gave his testimony in a comencing and forcible manner, asseniug Lis confidence in his employee, but ad witting a belief in his occasional irresponsibility. After the adjournment prisoner was conveyed back to gaol, and some of the witnesses for the defence went to the office of the defeudaet's attorney, where they were in conference for most uf the afternoon. The trial of Willie was resumed on Thursday evening, following the afternoon adjournment, and the day's proceedings were opened by the speech of the Fiscal, who, on the side of the Crown, attacked the teport uf the fifteen doctors testifying to the insane condition f the pi isoner. The proaecutor atgued that all the circumstances connected with the case proved beyond question the sanity of the prisoner and his absolute responsibility for his Crime. The speech of the Fiscal was brief and couched in a moderate tone; but his reasiming was clear and his argument was coldly analytical. There was very little effort at oratorical display, but in some passages he did full credit to his reputation for eloquence. The Fiscal was followed by Don Juan Sully Ortega, the fluent advocate of the private prosecutor, Mrs. Jose Refill, widow of the murdered man. The burden of his argument was similar to that of Fineal, end the object was likewise to demolish the stronghold of the defence—the report a the medical man. The advocate. in touching terurs, expressed his sympathy with the Lanny of the prisoner end the sad peeitieu in which they are placed, hut then, changing to a tone of severity, he dernauded that justice be done the Crown and the widow and faintly of the dead. The speech throughout was a noticeable and reinaritable one, and was not concluded until nearly midDon Jose Maria Valleely Rihot, advocate for the prisoner, rose to begin the defence, but the hour was so lace that the Court adjourned until Friday morning at ten o'clock* At the epenieg et the Court on Friday morning the ad vocate, Don J ese Maria ltibot, for the prigoner, took up his argument at the point where he had just begeu on the previous night when the Court adjourned. The weasel is famed for his eloquence and force, and his speech was one of his greatest efforts. He dwelt first upon the absence of any motive being shown for the crime, the excellent character of the accused, and the absolute improlethility of his being guilty of such an act if in the possesawn of his normal senses. With this introduction to the great feature of the defence, the learned advocate then took up the teetimeny of the parents, the employer and friends of Om prisoner, clinching the argument with a lengthy aualyis of the report made by the fifteen physicians and the result of the investigation by the counnissiou sent to Fmgland to examine into the *tweeters of Willie. Den Jose dwelt long upon the impregnability of the testimony given by Dr. Mendez and the entire failure Of the prosecution to impeach his evidence. Don Jose spoke for two hours oe more, closing his speech with a touching picture of the clouded condition of his client's mind, a remiuder to the jury of his aged parents, and with au earnest appeal that all the unhappy circumstances of the prisoner's net be fully considered and full allowance made fur him in the mind of the jury.