- DemoreaticAlla Terms, 82.00 a Year, in Advance, Bellefonte, Pa., November 29, 1889. P. GRAY MEEK, - - - Evrror. THE HOPKINS MURDER TRIAL. Damaging Testimony Against the Pris- oner — Evidence of How Bloody Murder Followed Abusive Treat- mene of His Family— Details of One of the Most dttroci- ous Deeds in the Crim i- nal Annals of the State. The trial of Wm. S. Hopkins tor murder commenced on Tuesday morn- ing at 9.30, the grand jury having | found a bill of indictment against him for having killed his mother-in-law, Mrs. Hester Wighaman. A bill of in- dictment was also found against him for killing his wife, Mrs. Maggie Hop- kins. It will be observed that the charge for which he was made to an- swer with his life in this case was not for the killing of his wife, who was the | victim of his murderous pistol at the Dinth juror selected. same time that his mother-in-law was slaughtered, and who was shot first. This may have been intended te avoid any plea that might have been set up in his defense on the ground of the al- leged infidelity of his wife, and which could not apply to the ruthless murder ot Mrs. Wighaman. The circumstances of the terrible act are well known to our readers, it hav- | ing occurred in the town of Philipsburg, on Sunday, 22nd of last September. Hopkins was married to the daughter of Mrs. Wighaman some two years and a half ago and had been living very dis- cordantly with her and her mother. Some | time before the murder he was charged monwealth. Jonathan Packer, of Boggs had formed an opinion and Was stood aside. R. O. Way, a Quaker of Half Moon, was opposed to capital punish- ment and accordingly challenged. T. F. Adams, of Milesburg, qualified, but set aside by defense. ‘Wm. Hopkins, of Howard borough, had formed an opin- ion and was opposed to capital puni:h- ment; challenged. W. G. Gray, of Philipsburg, had formed and expressed an opinion and was set aside. James Harris, of Bellefonte, was qualified, but challenged by defense. Joseph Schenk, of Howard borough, also qualified, but by commonwealth. G. R. Quick, of Boggs township, was the eighth juror accepted. Ienry Gentzel, of Spring township, was qualified, but was challenged. W. E. Irwin, of Phil- ipsburg, had formed an opinion and was opposed to capital punishment ; challenged for cause. Silas Dickson, of Burnside, qualified, but stood aside. S. 8. Chrissman, of Philipsburg and Henry Norris, of Pation, were chal- lenged for having formed opinions, and Geo. Wyland, of Patton, who had the qualifications, was also set aside. John Confer, of Shoe, the James Houser, of rejected Snow was Benner township, who had formed an opinion, and Wm. Ellenberger, of Fer- guson, who hadn't formed an opinion, were alike rejected, as was also James | P. Frank. of Miles, who had the quali- fications. exhausted. The panel had now become Abednego Stine was recall- ed and again rejected, as was also ry Vaughn and W. C. Farner. Upon being reealled Mark Mooney was ac- cepted as the tenth juror. W. Ellen- berger recalled and rejected, and Simon Wyland recalled and taken as the eleventh juror. After John G Uzzle [aud M. D. Mooney were recalled and with having beaten her, for which le | was arrested and afterwards discharged. He then went to Houtzdale, but return- | ing shortly after, he got stealthily into the house by way of the cellar early in the morning in question, and coming | 5 : oh A : > q 7 > | Gunsallus, farmer, Snow Shoo tp; 8, suddenly upon bis wife while she was | washing the breakfast dishes, shot her, | and then, proceeding upstairs, shot his mother-in-law, their deaths being the | immediate result of the shootine. His subsequent unsuccessful attempt to kill himself is well known. The prisoner was brought into court on Tuesday morning at the hour above stated, and appearing at the bar was or- dered to stand up, when the bill of in- dictment charging him with having murdered Hester Wighaman was read, to which he pleaded “not guilty.” Then came the drawing of the jury which was not attended with as much difficulty and delay as was expected. :The first one drawn was M. P. Holter, of Howard, who after stating that he guilt of the prisoner and had no consci- entious scruples against capital punish- | m ; 3 The second juror | or ; : J | the different grades of murder. ment, was accepted. drawn was Geo. Eckel of Pine Grove Mills, who although qualified substan- challenged by the defense. The third was Abednego Stine, of Half Moon township; he had no opin‘on in regard to the case and no Seruples agairst eap- ital punishment, but was set aside by commonwealth. Fourth, Henry Vaughn of Philipsburg ; admitted to beine hard of hearing; challenged by the com- monwealth. TF. B. Stover, of Belle- fonte, had formed an opinion about the guilt of prisoner ; set aside by defense. Geo. Gent el, of Spring Mills, the sixth drawn was the second accepted. third accepted. Andrew Glenn, ot Col- lege township; no scruples about hang- ing nor opinion about guilt of prisoner, | but challenged by defendant. Levi Stump, of Potter township. same im- pressions ahout prisoner and capital punishment, but challenged by defend- ant. W. C.+Farner, of ‘Potter town- ship; same impressions, but challenced by commonwealth. Cornelius Houtz, of College. was the fourth juror selected. Mark Moony, of Millheim, who was not opposed to hanging ard had no opinion as to guilt of prisoner, was neverfheles stood aside. John Gunsallus, of Snow Shoe, was the fifth sclected. Then came Henry Ellenberger, of Philips- bure, Wm. Harter, of Penn, Geo. Ocker, of Centre Hall and Simon Nihart, of Bogos, all of whom professed to have formed no opinion and had no seruples against capital punishment, but were set aside by either commonwealth or de- fendant. admitted to have formed an opinion and was accordingly stood aside by commonwesnlih. S. . Royer, of Pot- ter township, was the sixth selected. Balzer Weber, of Howard, was set Edward Moore, of Ferguson, aside hecanse Le was opposed to capital punishment. John Z. Uzzle, of Snow Show, was challenged although he wasn’t opposed to capital pnnishment and had no opinion in regard to guilt or innocence of prisoner, Joseph Apt, of Spring township, seventh juror ac- cepted. M. D. Moony, of Snow Shoe, had the necessary qualifications but was challenged hy commonwealth. John Meese, of Bellefonte, had the qualifica- tions, but was also challenged by com- rejected the second time, Jonathan Packer, of Bog twelfth and last juror. The jury as completed was as follows: M. P. Holter, carpenter, Howard ; Goo. was aceepted as the Gentzel, farmer, Grege tp; James Turner, farmer, Howard tp; lius Houtz, laborer, College tp.; John Corne- E. Royer, farmer, Potter tp; Joseph Apt, mine boss, Spring thy GB, Quick, carpenter, Boges tp. John + Confer, Tumberman, Snow Shoe ; Mark Mooney, farmer, Millbeim; Simon i Nybart, teamster, Bogas tp.; Jonathan Packer, blacksmith, Boggs. After the selection of the jury court adjourned until 2 o'clock, when the | trial was resumed by the appearance of i the prisoner and the swearing of the | Jury. Judge Furst then enjoined upon them the duty of keeping apart from i the world during the continuance of the trial and holding no communication with any one concerning the case. The Court directed the ttpstaves to exclude dl boys under 16 years of age from the | Court room during the continuance of d formed no opinion in recard to the | . 3 had fi ® BD gard ¢ i the trial. The case was then opened by | District Attorney Mayer for the com- iy ditated » ! ments o premeditate was James Turner, of Howard, and the | 1 " monwealth, who explained to the Jury | There was no question, he said, that the pris- : : | oner at tue bar had killed the party for tially the same as the first juror, was | 7 Cl ” D ? | whose death he was charged with mur- der. Ifthere was malice in a homi- cde it constituted murder 1n the first aegree aud it was for the jury to deter- mine whether there was a malicious motive for the act which the prisoner had committed. He showed the deadly Weapon by which that act had been done, the very character of whi:h weapon im- plied a determination to kill. He enter- tained no doubt that the homicide, which was not questioned, could be | proved to have contained all the ele- murder, and therefore Le could ask a verdict of oS from the jury. COMMONWEALTH'S TESTIMONY, The first witness for the comm on- wealth was W. R. Williams who show- ed a draft of the building where the homicide had been committed and the cellar window through which Hopkins | gained entrance. P. J. Myers showed from the draft the location of the rooms in the house, two down and two upstairs, and the lceation of the cellar stairs where the prisoner came up to do the shooting. He is a brother of Mrs Wig- haman and the last time he saw her was on Saturday before the murder, and the next time was dead. On Sunday morning he was standing on his back porch and heard two shots. He ran to Alport’s livery stable he Hopkins on his kn. es bleeding. Ie said he had shot his wife and mother-in- law. Then went to Mrs. Wighaman's and found Mrs. Maggie Hopkins lying almost dead on the kitchen floor. Started to go up she where SAW witness house stairs but came back and went to tele- graph to Robert Wighaman, Mrs. Wig- | haman’s son. tobert Wighaman, son and brother of the two murdered women, testified that the occupants of the house had been Mrs. Hopkins, Seely Hopkins, Mrz, Wighaman and himself. stated how on the Sunday morning of the murder his mother got breakfast for him and he started for Clearfield. "The train was stopped at Graham’s Station Tr, 5 where he got off and was taken back howe and there found his mother and sister dead. Charles Johnston testified how he had stayed at Mrs. Wighaman’s with Ro- bert all night before the murder, leay- ing the next morning. About half an hour after he left he was told that Mrs. Wighaman and Mrs. Mageie Hopkins had been shot. He went at once and found them both dead—both had been shot in the head. The wound in Mrs, Wighaman’s head was on the right side, She was lying on the flcor in the bed room over the dining room. Mrs. Mag- gie Hopkins was lying in the kitchen with a bullet wound in bier head. of them. Hen- | guilty of murder in the first degree | Dr. G. D. McGirk, practicing physi- There | was a pool of blood at the head of each | 1 : ! : ‘man ; Hopkins told me when in the ! yard digging post holes that he and his wife could not live with her mother as | | cian of Philipsburg, testified that in | | passing Mrs. Wighaman’s house on the ! morning of the murder he saw a man coms out bear headed, in his stocking feet, and without a coat, and he started [to run towards Alportes stable. Witness Idid not know who he was when he saw him come out of the house. Saw noth- ing in his hands when he came out. ! Saw this man snap a revolver at his | head and heard shots at the livery stable. Saw him try to shoot himself. Recog- | nized the prisoner as the person he saw | that morning. Hedropped on the pave- | ment after the third shot. After he fell down he grabbed for the revolver aguin, but some one took it before he got it. | {Saw him aim at his head and then dodge, John R. Aikens testified that Lis plumber shop is across from the livery stable and near the Wighaman house. He was in his shop on the Sunday morning of the murder. Yhen came out on the street he saw Hopkins Hopkins said “John, he on Laurel street. John, I have done the deed.” He was then in the Looked a revolver Witness ran away beennsa he was afraid of hin. ed to witness twice. livery stable. him have alley near the back and saw pointing it at his head Dr. J. H. Peirce sworn; Was standin | : : oe ’ > anything new. Macgie told her he invited man | 2 ps | at the door of my office. Saw a standing on the street with a revolver in his hand holding it to his head. I heard one shot and then I van to the livery stable and found Hopkins to have the head which were After fixing him up 1 Wighaman’s house und e on the floor almost dead froma wound in the head. TI went up stairs and found Mrs. Wighaman dead lying near the bed, one ball strack at the left angle of the jaw, puss- wounds in scalp wounds, ran to Mrs found Mi; Lia fl ing upwards ; the other wasin the head. This one must have produced death in- stantly. Myself and Di. Buckingham held a post mortem examination. The first most have been shot upward ; the second no doubt when she was on her knees. Dr. Buckingham in his testimony corroborated Dr. Pierce as to the exami- nation, testifving to the fatal character of the wounds. Mrs. Blanch Myers and Mrs. Pru- dence Henmes, neighbors of the murder- ed women, testified to seeing them lying dead in the positions in which they had fallen when they were shot down. | Sheriff Cooke's testimony was to the | effect that when the coroner's jury was held he took charge of the bull dog re- volver, No 93401, with which the "crime had been committed, and that he bad kept it in Lis custody until he handed it over to District Attorney Meyer. It contained when he received it six empty shells and one chamber i was entirely empty. District Attorney Meyer testified to ‘having received the revolver from Sher- tt Cooke and it was the one presented 'in evidence before the Court. At this point the court adjourned until 3.45 Wednesday morning. Upon its con- vening at that time Fred Land was ! the first to testify. Was at Alport liv- | ery stable on the morning of the shoot- (ing; saw the revolver and had it in his hands, but did not examine it. Samuel Rhule identified the revolver | which was handed to him at Alports 'stableand which he presented at the in- | quest, : wman—IHopkins told me he would kill Hester Wighaman ; toid me at wy house near Houtzdale; he showed a special ill will towards Murs. Wighaman. He told me this when he was at my house with his wife; she eft on the 2:27 train ; don’t know whee Le went; when he came back I toid him his wife had gone home; our con- versation was concerning their troubles ; they walked from the staticn ; he told me he would kill T. J. Myers, Esther | Wighaman and Miss Emiline Clarkson ; | I told him I didn’t want to hear that language in my house, that I preferred. him to stay away if that was the man- ner in which be carvied on; Mis. II 1 kins said she and her husband had some trouble; she told Hopkins abusing her and her mother, and asked me wis me what they should do; told her they | should move away by themselves apart from said her husband would not do it; he was sitting by the side of his wife, and when she said this he reached for his hip pocket and with an oath declared ho would kill Mrs. Wighaman, T. J. My- and handed him over to ers and Mis. Clarkson, or any other He call- | LioDh- | | i | | | f | | i | | | | i | | | | i | | | 3 | [their troubles; Mrs. Wighaaan Mrs, Wighaman ; Mus. Hopkins ! person who would interfere with him | and his wife; she also said he blamed her for not being true to him ; he show- ed special ill-will towards her when in my house looking mad or cross like ; so'far as I can rememter, this was the exact conversation that passed between us; he looked angry when he left. Hopkins told me at the same time that he would not go to housekeeping ; told me ke could not tind a house to suit him; told him I would help him if he did rent a house. Mrs. Jennie Wighaman sworn—Live near Houtzdale ; am wife of J. JJ. Wig- haman ; frequently visited Mrs. Wigha- she was mean and stingy ; these were their troubles; was there again latter partof July when Mr. and Mrs. Hop- kins and Mrs. Wighaman was there ; took dinner with them and they told me said Hopkins was ill-using both of them, that was Maggie and herself; whole sub- stance of ‘the complaint was that he was not treating them right; Hopkins went out for awhile and when he came back he grasped Mrs. Wigia- man by the throat and pushed her in the corner uttering an oath and asking her whether she had told me all about the fuss ; Maggie also told me in Hopkins presence how she had wo suffer at his hands; Hopkins then went out a second time ; after re came back he picked up the stove poker and threatened to use it; he also suid he would kill her— Mrs. Wighaman; he complained to me that the “old woman” was mean stingy and dirty ; he made no complaint to me against Macgie; said she was all right ; took Maggie away ; came I was afraid of him and with me went back the next day. when 1 Cross-Examined—Tt was in July when I was there that he o rasped Mis. Wighaman by the throat. ination of this witness did not bring out gentlemen to the house one evening after she and her mother were in bed they brought some beer with them ; next { evening Hopkins invited Mr. Hughes to come to his house; Hopkins went out | and told Maggie that if Hughes came before he (Hopkins)returned they should ask him to come in and wait for his re- tarn ; Hughes came, was invited in as { per Hopkins’ request, and in about fif- havi | teen ; minutes Seeley came back; tron waving | . that time on Hopkins blamed Maggie with being too intimate with Hughes ; it looked to me like a black-mailing scheme on the part of Hopkins to extort money from Hughes. | Mrs. Agnes McCulley, of Bellefonte, sworn—was visiting at Wighaman’s in | August last. Mrs. Hopkins and Murs. Wighaman were at Dorsey Meyer's Louse one evening while 1 was there; | Hopkins came in later in the evening | and asked Maggie where she had been all evening, whereupon she answered “why, in here ;” Hopkins then replied; “ves, like h Hopkins and Mag- aie then went home, afteewards heard | them quarrel in the kitchen of is own | house; heard him say he would shoot | some one but don’t know who it was he | meant. This was Aug. 2Istlast; when | Mrs. Wighaman and I got back Seeley and Maggie were quarreling in the kitchen ; he said he overheard some re- marks at the Passmore House earlier in the evening derogatory to Maggie's character; he made threats to shoot! some one bnt J did noi hear who was! meant. | Mis. T. J. Myers.—Live in Philips- | burg, am the wife of T. J. Meyers, | know Secley Hopkins whois 26 or 27 old; frequently visited Mrs, | Wighaman; heard Hopkins threats against Mrs. Wighaman; he would cut their hearts out ; several times | Mrs. Wighaman was chased out of the house by Hopkins; heard her beg of Seeley for G.d’s sake notto kill Mag- gie ; about every time he went into the house the result was a quarrel between | years make | a them; my house is only a lot’s breadth | from that of Mrz. Wighaman and could | hear all lond conversation between the | parties ; Hopkins and his wife never lived happily together. Robert Wighaman upon being re- called testified that three weeks before the murder Hopkins swore in bis hear- ing that he would kill bis mother, was very absive towards her, frequently threatening to sheot and kill her. Dorsey Myers: Went for constable Gortner on a sunday morning about three weeks before the murder, to have | Hopkins arrested for abusing his wife | and Mrs. Wighaman., When he came back with the constable, found Hopkins in the wood house, had no warrant for Tuesday following there | another fuss and I went to the at the foot of the stairs and as he attempted to escape, and afraid he had and waa trying to get away, I caught his arrest. was I met him housa, killed some one bim and gave him several squeezes, Mrs. Wighaman waz ont getting a warrantifor Hopkins arrest for abusing Maggeie and herself, but he got nway When arrested him Constable and remained several davs. lie came hack, cfiicer Glich Gortner, Cross-exam- York, who testified | ner Mrs. Dorsey Myers: Heard Hop- kins and Maggie quarrelling: live on the same lot with Mrs. Wighaman. During Summer Hopkins made fre- quent expressions against Mrs. Wigha- man, saying that he was thirsty for her blood, and that he would kill her, cut her heart out and similar threats ; he said that if it wasn’t for the law he would kill her ; then he said. d—m the law T will not hang anyhow ;” saw him choke Mrs. Wighaman because she would not use the butter knife to help herself to butter from the plate. Sever- al times heard Seely and Macwoie quarrel; went to the door but was afraid to enter for fear be would kill me ; knew he was hurting her because she screanied ; then went for my hushand and screamed “murder;” after T had my husband at the house T went in. Emiline Clarkson testified that she Leard Hopkins frequently make threats against Mis. Wighaman ; betcre the murder he threatened to kill her; Mrs. Wichaman was her sister; he threatened to ruin her and his wife ; he threatened to burn Mais, Wighaman’s Louse and also that of the witness, and would kill them all. Officer Glich testified to having ar- rested Hopkins on the Wednesday be- fore the shooting on a warrant and be- fore he could get bail handed him over to Constable Gortner, P. J. Laport, Justice of the Piece at Philipsburg ; When Hopkins brought to my office immediately after the murder I «aid “Seely, what have you done?” was fe answered “I have shot Mageie and Mrs. W ichaman.” When brought to my office he had no shoes or coat on; these garments were found at the house of Mrs. Wighaman. I had no trouble in getting Hopkins to make answer to all questions asked him. I committed him to jail. Dr. J. W. Dunwiddie testified that he heard Hopkins say, “Ishot Maggie and her mother,” and when asked what he did it for he said, “for satisfucti mi did it for revence. fn J. M. Glich's testim my he stated that when ‘Hopkins was lving in the public building at Philipsburg after the murder and his attempt at suicide, he heard him say how he came from Houiz- dale on Saturday : how he erawled in the cellar window; how he laid all night; how he shot his wife in the kitchen Sunday morning ; his wife said, “go out, Seely; then ho put his arm around her and shot her; then he went up aad shot Mrs. Wighaman while she was on her kinces; he” bought the revolver at Rochester, N. Y. ; stairs FOR THE DEFENSE, This was the close of the evidence for the W. ¥. Reeder, e:q , then opened for the defense. The first witness on that side was Dr. P. G. Udell, a physician of Spencerport, New that some fifteen commonwealth. [ Years ago hetreated Hopkins for a wound {in the head ; it was a scalp wound and not a fracture, and was not of a charac- to produce insanity. Frank Markz, express manager at Osceolo had been a friend of Hopkins ; | he was a joily fellow ; bug last Septem- der while working as a carpenter on the Davis building at Osceola he came into | the express office and was very quiet and showed some signs of trouble, but there was no appearance of insanity about him, John R. Aikens of Philipsburg ; Hopkins looked as if Le was bothered about something ; said he had got de- tectives out for bis wife and Mrs, Wigha- + man. Wm. Fergeson swore that he saw Hopkins at his stable the Saturday be- fore the murder; he looked strange and asked for a piece of bread; went to t the house and cot him something to eat ; he appeared to be in trcuble about his bail. Burt Hopkins, of Rochester, N. Y. isworn; Am a brother of the man on trial ; on the 13th of September W., Seeley Hopkins came to Rochester, | walked into the house in a peculiar’ man- the folks 777 He followed me around like a doo and acted very queerly ; he afterwards ran away and T had to get a horse and buggy and asked “How 13 hunt him ; I lived in Spenceport when | my brother got hurt in the planing mill, during his sickness he was delivions and the cov tx were hard to keep on bim dur. ing his sickness and he tore his mother's dress off ; he has an uncle and an aunt nan asylum in England and they have been removed to several of asylums on wccount of their bad condition. At four o'clock Wednesday afternoon the prisoner was put on the stand to V tell his own storv of the crime. Ie said he was 29 vears of ave last July. Y., where His father died in Rochesterabout 26 vears was born mm Spencerport, N. he lived until 21 years of age. ago: his mother is 3 ill living but al- most dead from crief resulting from the situation in which he: is now in. came to Philipsburg eight years ao he is a carpenter and worked for some Mag- ago; time building cars. He inarvied gie Wighaman about three vears they spent some weeks at Spencerport among friends, returned to Philipsburg and went to housekeeping which they tried about three months but couldn’t make things meet; then they for everal days, | | { about it.” | He didn’t moved into the honse with Mrs, Wicha- man; there they lived an nohappy life almost all the time, always having some family tronble. Gn one ocension he brought home some meat and his wife wouldn't cook it but threw it out of doors; they then bewin (uu ; and after the quarrel Myers came in, took him by the throat!and choked him. The trouble, he said, was caused by his wife and mother-in-law always picking at him. He denied ever hav- ing used violence towards his mother- in-law. Ile claimed that he paid rent to Mrs. Wighaman; she was dirty and stingy; she gave him no money and expected him to work for nothing for her; she did norassist in keeping up ‘he table; in the family quarrels he often broke a chair. He remembered a areat many things that happened before the the circumstances of the crime, deny- ing point blank that he had commited the offence with which he was charged, recollect ooing into the cel- lar of Mrs, Wighaman's house on the nicht previous to the kiiling of Mrs, Wighaman and his wite; he didn’t re- member Iving under the cellar steps all night; he said Le never kiew of the shooting of his wife nor did he recollect going up stairs and shooting his mother-in-law. When asked when lie lieard of the affair he answered, “I read 1t in the newspapers since I was in jail and hearing other people talk To the question whether he had not said that he wished he had killed more while he was at it, he re- plied, “I don’t remember saying any- thing of the kind,” and to attorney Spangler’s question, “what are von here for?! he answered, “I suppose I am here to answer your questions, that's all.” When the examination closed Lie was assisted off the stand by the Sheriff, ’ The evidence for the defense here closed, expecting two more witnesses from Rochester, N.Y, COMMONWEALTH'S REBUTTAL, One Thursday mornine the prosecu- tion called Paul McUnlley who testifi- ad that be had worked with Hopkins several years at the carpenter trade and never saw anything in his conduet that would in the st indicate insanity : Lie niwavs talked rational, : Neveral other witnesses in sucees- sion testified that they knew and had been with Hopkins previous to the murder ard saw no hine in him that indicated insanity, C Dr. Pierce, npon being vecalled, said that there is no such a thing 2s emo- ional insanity; he saw Hopkins the day re the crime and he as perfectly sane then, and he was the same on Sunday, the day of the hooting. Fle was positive that Hop- kins is perfectly sane, and has been so ali atony- Abraham Mills, one of the jail pris- oiers, testified that Hopkins told him that he was not one hit sorry for what he had done. A letter was handed in in evidence, written bv Hopkins at Fairport, N. YY. Sept. 9. 1889, in which he said that he “will live to eat the goose that eats the grass off the graves of his wife and mother-in-law.” The testimony an hoth sides was here closed, the two witnesses for the defense that were expected from Rochester having failed to make their appearance, hot For Meyer, the prosecution, Mr. District Attorney, summed up the case. Ho was followed by W. ¥. Beoder,' esq.’ ‘for the delonse J. L. Spangler, esq., closed for the Commonwealth. The speeches oceu- pied about seven hours. At eight o'clock on Thursday evenine the Judge began Lis charge to the jury, which was 2 plain presentation of the law ap- plicable to che facts, as presented by the witnesses, tobe judeed of by the jury. At 9 o'clock the jury retired. YERDICT, GUILTY, The jury went out to deterinine upon their verdict at fifteen minutes of nine, the Jud ge announcing that Court would remain in session until eleven o'clock to wait for their decision. The Court House was crowded, and but few of the andience lefi the room, as the im- pression was that a verdict would be rendered before eleven o'clock. The greatest decorum was observed auring the interval of waiting, conversation among the audience being conducted in alow tone. The Judge left the bench temporarily, and the prisoner was taken back to jail. There was the usual specnlation as to what the ver. dict would be, but the impression was general that it would be for murder in the first desree. About ten o'clock Judge Furst returned to the court room and resumed his seat on the bench. Shortly after, a stir was seen about the door of the jury’ room, and at fifteen minutes after 10 o'clock it was annonnced that the jury had agreed upon a verdict. The Judge no- tified the Sheriff to bring the prisoner into conrt, and requested the aud- ience to make no demonstration upon the rendering of the verdiet, whatever it might be. Very soon Hopkins, followed by the Sherifi, came through the back enerance, and at the same time the jury filed in. The prisoner looked a trifle scared, but he soon re- covered his usual stoicism. “Gentle. men of the jury, have you agreed upon vour verdiei 277 asked the clerk, “the foreman answered “we have.” and the paper containing the fateful decision was handed to the elerk who read from it the verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. A little twitching of the muscles of the face was all the emo- tion Hopkins dis ury was then polled, each one declaring the character of the verdict. Then “they were discharged, the court adjourned, the crowd quatetly left the room, and Hopkins was led back io his lonely cell. layed. The j murder, but was entirely oblivious of Jd. C. — —— —
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers