Year: 1879

(


Chicago Times.


The trial of Peter E. Stevens for the MUIR |
der Of his wife, which has occupied the un-
divided attention Of the criminal court for
the past eighteen days, was brought to a
close on yesterday morning, the jury, after
being out twenty hours, bringing in a verdict
of manslaughter and fixing the penalty at
fourteen years in the penitentiary. An ex-
citing and almost tragic episode marked the
closing scene of this remarkable trial, and
came within the thickness of cambria
handkerchief of furnishing it with climax
that would have made it stand out alone as
the most tragic case in criminal history-a
case marked at the beginning with the blood
of a murdered wife, and at the close with that
of the murderer, shed by the avenging hand
of the mother of the woman whom he had
wronged, in the very presence of the court
which had just determined the degree of his
guilt and it's punishment. Few people who
watched the pale, care-worn woman, who,
during the entire time of this long and ex-
citing trial, occupied chair Immediately
behind the States attorney, would have
thought her capable of the fury she exhibited
on yesterday morning, when, as the prisoner
was led past her chair on his way back to
the jail, after the verdict had been read, she
sprang to her feet,


Cooked SMALL REVOLVER,


which up to this time she had deftly kept
concealed under handkerchief carelessly
thrown across her lap, and, placing it al
most against the head of her murderous
son-in- law, made determined effort to exc
cute penalty of death which many thought
ought to be inflicted. Yet she did it, and
when she was seized by tho jailer and pre-
vented from making second effort, she
made resistance SO desperate that she was
only disarmed after severe struggle.
| The scene in the court room from the
hour of half-past 10 o'clock, when Judge
( Rogers first made bis appearance, up to the
time sketched above was an exciting one.
the excitement, though sufficiently intense
at first, as would naturally be expected at the
close of case which has attracted so much
attention, kept increasing until it


ILLUMINATED IN THE GRAND CLIMAX


which caused most of the spectators, and
many of the more prominent actors, to
beat hasty reatreat. Men and women alike
who had secured available positions seem
ed determined to keep them, and did so.


MRS. YOUNG,


who had come in with the others and taker
possession of the chair which by common
consent had been hers during the trial, die
not leave it. She was dressed as she hai
been every day during the trial, in a plair
suit of black, and her face was covered
with the thick mourning veil which she hat
sometimes drawn over it when overcom,
with paroxysms of grief, as she OCCASIONAL,
was during the trial, especially when refer
ence was made to the events of that, to her
ever memorable 30th of June. Nobod
suspected that she was carrying in the sabl


folds of her garb of mourning deadi
weapon-the same revolver with which sh


swore, when on the witness stand on Tues
, day last, the prisoner at the bar had ono
threatened the life of her daughter and hi
wife-or that there was ranking in he
breast fixed determination that she woul
exact blood for blood if the law failed I
: do it. But all this was true, as snbsequen
. events fully proved.


Ten minutes wore slowly away until moo
was reached, when suddenly the welcome il
telligence was received that


VHE JURY HAD AGREED.


Everybody interested seemed to hear tt


news at once and were soon in their place


Judge Rogers ascended the bench, the prison


or was sent for, the attorneys for the Sta
e and the defense took their accustomed plac,


and q bailiff was sent to escort the Jury
their seats. Soon they came filing in, lool
a ing weary and worn after their long deliber
+ ton, though no doubt secretly exhulti1
d that they were about to be released fro


their long imprisonment. The prison
/ came in looking as though the anxiety
I. waiting had not affected him much, ar
e dropped into his accustomed chair at NJ
= Trude's left. The bailiffs raped for ord
y and the room suddenly became so still th


the slightest whisper could have b,en hea1


in any part of it, and then came the long Q
II p acted and grateful question: "Gentlem,


of the jury, have you agreed upon
vERDICr?'


Quietly, Foreman Riley answered. 'V
II have'' and narrow slip of paper was pass