Horatio Nelson Winspear (1839 - 1905)

Born 3 Feb 1839 in Lancaster, Erie, New York, USA

Ancestors

Biography

Horatio served on the Jury that convicted Leon Czolgosz for the assassination of William McKinley, Jr..

GETTING THE JURY.

The examination and swearing in of the Jurors was then begun, the prisoner standing as each was sworn. . The first juror was summoned at 10:26. His name is Frederick V. Lauer, a plumber. He was examined briefly by the District Attorney and counsel for the defense. No objection was made, and Lauer was accepted.

Richard J. Garwood, a street, railway foreman, was next summoned. One of the questions put to him by District Attorney Penney was, " Do you believe in the present form of Government? " To which Garwood responded: " Yes." Mr. Lewis asked Garwood if he would acquit a man if it was clearly proved that he was insane at the time the murder was committed. Mr. Garwood replied that he would. After a few more questions from Mr. Lewis, Garwood was accepted. .

The third of the panel called to the bar was Joshua Winner, a farmer of North Collins. He was objected to by the defense and excused. Henry W. Wendt, a local manufacturer, when called, announced that he had formed no definite opinion on the case. His opinion would be governed by the evidence alone. The interesting ceremony of swearing him in as the third juror by the use of the open hand on the Bible was then repeated, and Horatio M. Winspear, a farmer of Elma, was called.

"Do you believe in capital, punishment? " was asked by the District Attorney. After some hesitation the talesman replied: "Well, yes!"

The questions asked by Mr. Lewis, for the defense, of nearly all of the jurors were particularly directed toward the fact whether or not they were present in the Temple of Music at the time ol the commission of the crime. Winspear said he was not there, but while the defense was not opposed to his acceptance on the panel, he was challenged by the People. (1)

Sources

• (1) "New York Times August September 1901 Collection https://archive.org/stream/NewYorkTimesAugSept1901Collection/New_York_Times_August_September_1901_Part_12_djvu.txt
• 1850 Census, Lancaster, Erie, New York
• 1855 New York State Census, E.D. 1, Lancaster, Erie, New York, United States
• 1860 Census, Lancaster, Erie, New York
• http://wnyroots.tripod.com/index-elma-marriages.html
• Find A Grave: Memorial #52076250