The Trial of A. Wilcox
A jury reaches a verdict of manslaughter in the 1883 murder of Mrs. Charlotte Felting, ending a seventeen-hour deliberation.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A. Wilcox was convicted of manslaughter for the murder of Mrs. Charlotte Felting on the night of September 4, 1883. After seventeen hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter, likely based on the theory that Wilcox did not intend to kill the woman, but rather used force while attempting to rob her. His attorney, Mr. Coiner, announced he would apply for a new trial. As Wilcox was led to his cell, he expressed surprise at the verdict, maintaining his innocence and grieving the impact on his mother in Michigan. The courtroom was packed with spectators throughout the trial, reflecting the high public interest in the case.
“The verdict was a surprise to me. I was satisfied I would be acquitted. I could stand it all right myself, but my poor mother in Michigan is nearly dead as a result of my arrest.”
Courtroom reporting in the 1890s often humanized the accused in ways that feel jarring today, contrasting the 'miserable man' weeping like a child with the tragic, often ignored reality of the victims. This case highlights how early Seattle courts navigated sentencing and public sentiment before modern forensic standards were established.
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