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Ascher Is Convicted

Ascher Is Convicted image
Parent Issue
Day
28
Month
April
Year
1899
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

ASCHER IS CONVICTED

 

OF THE MURDER OF VALMORE C. NICHOLS, OF PITTSFIELD.

 

Lured Him on in Spiritualism That He Might Rob Him of His Gold—Convicted in the Second Trial.

 

Edward Ascher has been convicted of he murder of Valmore C. Nichols, the Pittsfield farmer whom he persuaded to wear a belt containing $20 gold pieces in order to develop as a medium. Mr. Nichols held a number of seances with Ascher and believed that there was a rich mineral vein somewhere beneath the surface of his farm. Once a medium, he felt satisfied he could locate this hidden treasure, Ascher took advantage of the farmers' folly. He gave him sittings, led him on and gained his complete confidence. He advised him to wear a belt filled with $20 gold pieces, and cautioned him not to tell anybody of it. This Nichols did. On Aug. 10 last year Nichols left his home and family at Pittsfield, near Ypsilanti, and never returned. He was reported missing Aug. 13; five days after his body was pulled out of the river at Belle Isle. It was then that the murder became known, and Ascher's connection with it was discovered.

 

Ascher was twice tried, the first trial resulting in a disagreement. The second trial was finished Saturday afternoon and the jury were out for some hours. Ascher states that his information is that they stood 6 to 6 at 10 o'clock Saturday evening. At 1:40 o'clock Sunday morning the jury's verdict was returned and Ascher heard the word "guilty," fall from the lips of the foreman of the jury without changing color. For a moment he relaxed and then resumed the smile of cynicism which had characterized his bearing throughout his two long trials. His attorney, Tom Navin, was more moved than he.

 

The sentence was pronounced Monday morning, when Ascher was again taken to the recorders court and the following scene ensued:

 

"Edward Ascher, stand up, " ordered Judge Chapin. "How old are you?"

 

"I am 31."

 

"Have you anything to say why the sentence of this court should not be passed upon you?"

 

"I have not, your honor."

 

"The sentence of the conrt is that you be confined in the state prison at Jackson for the remainder of your natural life. "

 

Intense silence prevailed in the court room. Everybody waited. The spectators seemed to think that there should be something more than this in sending a man to prison for life.

 

The performance of this last act in the tragedy which cost Valmore Nichols his life was a very simple affair, and the man who was condemned to spend the remainder of his days behind prison bars took his sentence with a smile.

 

Before the crowd realized it, Ascher was handcuffed to an officer and nearly out of the court room.