Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-20
AcquittaI of Tom. Ws,hiup,ou Smith.

The telegraph announces that the case of Tom
washington Smith, indicted for the murder of
Mr.. Carter, who had debauched his wife which
has been in progress at Philadelphia for two
weeks past, was yesterday terminated by the
verdict Of the jury, who found the prisoner not
guilty. From the Philadelphia American, of
yesterday, we extract some details of the concIu-
sion Of this interesting trial. The America
SAYS:
This interesting case terminated yesterday
The general publicity given to the fact that Da-
vid Paul Brown, Esq would make the closing
speech for the defence, had the effect Of bringing
to the vicinity OF the courtroom throDg Of at
least twenty times the numb of people that
could gain admission. For more than an hour
the patient crowd waited for the opening of the
doors, each Individual being securely wedged
IN his position as the centre fish in box of her
ring. AT ten o'clock the doors were opened and
about one hundred and fifty OF those who were
nearest TO il poured in. The doors Were then
closed, and none others except the bar and those
bearing permits, were allowed to enter. There
were several ladies' in the audience, which large
Iy consisted of the prominent professional gen
tlemen OF the city The defendant in the dock
placed himself in the same reclining position
upon the bench. with face avefted to the wall :
his sis eri n ler lady friend sat beside him with
the same consistency which they had manifested
through the entire ordeal, while amid the most
profound silence the distinguished counsel
opened his defence of the prisoner
The defence by David Paul Brown was per-
maps. one OF the most eloquent and touching that
was ever pronounced since the DAYS OF Erskine
Mi Browns speech required two hours for its
delivery, and might have continued for two hou, 3
longer without producing approximation to
WEAKNESS, even in the most unapprecative of hi 8
auditors The three Messrs Carter were present
during its delivery, but forsakIng the seats near
the District Attorney which they had occupied
during the entire course Of the trial, took up d
position in the background behind the stand NO
spectators. Long before Mr.. Browns speech
nad terminated IL was pretty evident that the
minds OF the jury were satisfied as TO the legal
1rresponsibility of the defendant at the time his
bullet pierced the heart Of his wife's seducer
But all evidence Of applause by the auditory
were very properly suppressed by the Court, and
the counsel went on without the smallest inter-
Iuption.
He was followed by the District Attorney, Mr..
Longhead, Tor the prosecution, who did as well
as could have been hoped, considering the disad-
vantages under which he ldbored
The charge OF Judge Allison will be found in
our report OF the trial. Upon its conclusion the
jury retired to deliberate upon their verdict We
had expected that on the part of his devoted sis
Ter, the suspense endured during the absence of
the jury, would have been unsupportabIe, but on
the contrary, the conviction of his acouittal
seemed to her so certain that her terrible load of
care appeared entirely to have been removed
Ine prisoner still remained impassvely I'm his
Deht position, apparently unconscious, or
OF his painful situation, until the
court adjourned, which il did al twenty. five
minutes TO seven o'clock
TUG Neiolct VIII be returned this morning at
~ IN the hour Of adjournment being too late
aoiii OF The court waiting to receive II AZ that
sme Inc crowd still thronped around the
-, sts dItei every one had vacated lit and at
last dispersed, although each individr,I ~ 80
posing II was foiled in the purpose for VIII D..
came-to rend the air with p'audits 49, ~
reception OF the expected verdict r' VIZ