THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

March 10, 1899

 

STATE VS. IRVING P. LORD

Jury out all Night.  Ten for Acquittal, two for Conviction.

 

            State vs. Irving P. Lord has been on since Wednesday afternoon.  Case brought by Alfred Keene before Justice Devens in Weyauwega about a year ago on alleged ‘iway robbery in which parties had an altercation on the street.  Mr. Lord knocked a pocketbook out of Keene’s hands and took it up to his office and then gave it back.  F. F. Wheeler was district attorney at the time.  There are many who censure Mr. Wheeler because he did not stop the case from going any further than Squire Devens’ court.  But Mr. Wheeler being an uncle to Mr. Lord was over sensitive in the matter and simply pulled out of it and Judge Webb appointed C. D. McFarland special attorney for the state in this case.  Mr. Lord has felt keenly the notoriety which has been given the matter by the allegement of a crime which he and his friends know he was not guilty of perpetrating.  He admits that he was exasperated over Keene’s actions and perhaps done what he ought not to have done, but he had no intention of keeping the man’s money and did give it up as soon as demanded by Mr. McNaughton, with Keene’s consent.  We fail to see the justice of the charge of robbery under the circumstances and believe that an assault case is the only charge that should ever have been considered in justice court.

            The following jurymen were selected in the case:  Wm. Platz, Ed Morgan, J. G. Raisler, C. C. Boyce, H. O. Lea, Adelbert Custard, C. C. Poland, Ed Glocke, John Jennings, J. Carew, F. G. Schoenicke, A. K. Tressnes.

            The case went to the jury just about five o’clock Thursday afternoon.  At nine o’clock Judge Webb called the jury in the court room to inquire if they desired to ask any questions as to whether there was some points in the testimony or his charge they did not understand.  If not they could retire and if they arrived at a verdict the same could be sealed and given to the foreman and then they could go to their rooms until morning.  If they could not agree they would have to deliberate until further orders.  It was evident this morning they had not agreed as the officers took them from the jury room to breakfast.  When court convened the jury was brought before Judge Webb and announced that they were unable to agree on a verdict.  The last poll of the jury showed ten for acquittal and two for conviction.