The Robbins eagle., October 16, 1954, VILLAGE HOME EDITION, Image 1

About The Robbins eagle. (Robbins, Ill.) 1951-1963

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
Flash Flood Rampages in Robbins
Volume IL . ROBBINS, ILLINOIS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1954 2nd Year—No. 38
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PEOPLE OF THE STATE
OF ILL. vs. SAM YATES
Before going into the details
of the trial of Sam Yates for
the murder of Clyde Hamilton,
I am going to preface this
raticle with a statement of com
mon facts.
In a criminal case the police,
the judge, the states attorney,
and jury are without personal
opinion as to the outcome of
the case. Each of the above
named have a sworn obligation
to society; each of them Have
a different individual duty to
perform. First, the police make
the arrest, and do the footwork
necessary to collect all the evi
dence and compiling it and
turning same over to the states,
attorney’s office and grand jury,'
At the Grand Jury the evidence
is weighed by its 23 members
and if the evidence is sufficient,
a true bill is voted and the
indicted must stand trial in the
criminal court as charged in the
indictment. At this stage of the
game the case is assigned to a
judge and date of trial is set.
Each defendant so tried must
be represented by counsel, one
of his own choosing, if he is
financially able, or one provided
by the state.
At the opening of the trial,
the jurors are selected. These
jurors are instructed by the
judge. In his discourse to the
jury he tells them that they are
the sole judges of the guilt or
innocence of the defendent.'
They are further instructed that
In a criminal case, the burden
of proof is entirely upon the
state and that not as a civil
case the evidence must be pre
ponderous but conclusive and
beyond the shadow of a doubt.
So went the trial of Sam Yates
for the dastardly, cold-blooded
murder of Clyde Hamilton, his
benefactor. The evidence was
presented to the jury, comprised
of six men and six women by
the States Attorney Kissane and
THIS LADY in distress is Mrs/'
Anderson of 139th and Kedzie
Avenue, who is being helped
from her flooded home by Mr.
Anderson and R. ReChord, both
are firemen. — George Studio
Photo.
and his assistant, and Mr. Rob
inson presented the case for
the defense. Mr. Robinson
elected to base his case on the
plea of self-defense. There was
an array of witnesses called to
the stand, each in turn examin
ed by the state or the defense
and cross-examined by both the
state and the defense as the
case might be. After all testi
mony had been taken; after all
character witnesses had extoll
ed or condemned the life led by
the defendent, Yates; after all
the legal technicalities, and or
atory; after all the hot words
in the corridors by the partisan
group of spectators and wit
nesses; after the solemn, final
instructions of the judge as he
charged the jury, there was one
testimony that echbed and re
echoed through the minds of
every thinking individual in that
court room. No matter how
much sympathy was felt for
that poor mother of Yates,, who
sat quietly and sadly in her seat
as that horrible murder was un
folded in that court room; no
matter how sorry one felt for
the grief-stricken wife of the
defendent, who was torn be
tween tw'o loves, that of her hus
band and that of her cousin; no
(Continued on page 5)
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. SANITARY SEWERS
During the recent flood con
ditions in the village, certain
people have taken the responsi
bility upon themselves to aid
the situation, by removing the
man-hole covers, thereby per
mitting more water to enter the
sewers. These are sanitarv sew
ers and NOT STORM SEW
ERS. If they are clogged with
tin-cans and other debris, as
they have been discovered to
be,, the persons responsible will
be subject to a stiff fine by the
village.
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ST. JOHN COMMUNITY
CELEBRATES ITS 3RD
ANNIVERSARY
St. John Community Church
will celebrate its third anniver
sary on October 24, 1954. They
have planned a wonderful pro
gram and extend a hearty invi
tation to all to come and help
us and enjoy a grand and en
tertaining evening. Time, 3:00
p.m. Please come.
The church is located at 135th
and Harding street.
Mrs. A. B. Green, Clerk
Rev. Chas. Fuller, Pastor