A Jury in Colville Wastes No Time on a Wife Poisoner
George Pepoon showed no more feeling at his murder conviction than he had through the whole trial — the jury reached its verdict in 67 minutes, on a single ballot.
COLVILLE — 'Guilty of murder in the first degree' was the verdict returned by the jury in the case of George Pepoon, on trial for poisoning his wife at Northport, Wash., August 29, 1909.
The prisoner heard the announcement with the same calm demeanor he has manifested throughout the trial. The jury retired and 67 minutes later, after taking but one ballot, brought in the verdict.
Attorneys for the defense will move for a new trial.
“The jury retired and 67 minutes later, after taking but one ballot, brought in the verdict.”
Poison was the quiet weapon of the era, and a spouse's sudden death could take months to unravel into a charge. What lingers here is the flat calm of the condemned as a rural county court moved through a capital case without a flicker of doubt — a courtroom scene that would still stop a room today.
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