Newspaper Clippings
from
Moultrie County, Illinois

Decatur Herald

Decatur Herald  1931  March  4

 SAM KESTERSON

WINS ACQUITTAL

IN RECORD TIME

Jury’s Verdict Surprises

Court After Witness

Admits Shooting

KNIFE EXHIBITED

(Special to The Herald)

SULLIVAN, March 4— In the briefest murder trial ever held in Moultrie county, Sam Kesterson was acquitted Tuesday afternoon of the murder of John (Tuck) Shipp.  

The trial opened at 9 o’clock Monday morning in circuit court here and a verdict of not guilty was reached by a  jury at 3:05 o’clock Tuesday afternoon. The jury deliberated an hour and 35 minutes.

Only 12 hours were taken, five of which were required for the selection of a jury. Three of the jurors were women. The verdict came as a surprise to the spectators in the crowded courtroom. Kesterson walked from the court house whistling. Considerable dissatisfaction with the verdict was expressed on the street. Popular sentiment went in favor of conviction, it is said.

Shot to Kill

Shipp was killed on the night of Oct. 25th (1930) a climax to a drinking party at the home of  H. J. Barker here. On the stand, Kestorson admitted that he shot Shipp with the intention of killing him, but claimed that he did so with the object of protecting his wife and two children.

Nine witnesses were called to the stand Tuesday morning to testify to the good character of the defendant. A closed knife with which the slain man was alleged to have struck Kesterson was exhibited by Coroner W. R. Robinson. The knife was found on the body of the murdered man.

The character witnesses were Jim Moore, Charlie Hall, Homer Johnson, Henry Cummins, V. D. Grote, Frank Wood, Walter Boley, Guy Butt and C. W. Neaves.

Other Newspapers:

The Lovington Index

The Lovington Reporter

The Weekly Enterprise

News Progress
 
Newton Press