The
Beecher Trial
Grand Jury throws out the
Bill in Murder Charge
and Returns True Bill in that of Manslaughter
-- A Verdict of Guilty brought in by Jury
-- Lad given freedom on suspended sentence.
As the Reformer is getting
ready for press on Wednesday evening a large crowd in the court room
is listening to an impassioned appeal to the jury on behalf of the
lad, Beecher, by W. E. Kelly, K.C.
The Crown is represented by
T. F. Battle of Niagara Falls, and His Lordship Mr. Justice Clute
presides.
Sir William Mulock was to
have taken the court, but illness prevented him from getting here.
Judge Clute was deputed to take his place, but was unable to reach
Simcoe until the last train on Tuesday.
The result was that court did
not open until 9:30 Wednesday morning. The only cases on the
calendar were those against the boy, Robert Beecher, who shot and
instantly killed an old man named John Simmons at the residence of
Miss Carr near Forestville.
The grand jury was composed
of the following gentlemen:
Albert Swinn of Middleton, foreman;
D. F. Aiken, Simcoe;
Delmer Blayney, Townsend;
B. B. Baillie, Simcoe;
Dwight Deming, Charlotteville;
John House, Middleton;
E. W. Hyde, Townsend;
Wm. Holloway, Woodhouse;
W. E. Johnson, Townsend;
Jas. Linn, Charlotteville;
Peter Schilz, Charlotteville;
Aquilla Sandham, Middleton;
H. A. Sanderson, Waterford.
On the indictment for murder
they recorded "No Bill," on that for manslaughter they
said, "True Bill."
Later the grand jury returned
a very brief report to the effect that they had visited the county
home and the jail and found conditions at both places very
satisfactory. They recommended that the judge's sitting room off the
court room be equipped with a toilet.
The trial of Beecher for
manslaughter was heard by a petit jury composed as follows:
C. W. Buck, Simcoe;
Jas. W. Misner, Woodhouse;
Harvey Culver, Windham;
William Law, Woodhouse;
Freeman Cousins, Middleton;
Ward Woodley, Townsend;
John G. Booth, North Walsingham;
W. B. Thorndyke, Simcoe;
J. O. Field, Windham;
H. M. Fisher, Middleton;
Walter Pettit, Simcoe;
T. A. Ferris, Middleton.
The taking of evidence lasted
through the day and was similar to that given at the magistrate's
court.
Suspended
Sentence
At half-past nine the jury,
which had been out for about half an hour, brought in a verdict of
guilty, with a strong recommendation for mercy. His Lordship
directed that Beecher be given his freedom, two sureties in $500
each guaranteeing to produce him for sentence when called upon.
The bonds were furnished
promptly by Miss Carr and the Superintendent of the Barnardo Home,
and the proceedings were over. The jury's verdict and the judge's
disposition of the case are alike generally approved.
