Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-10-20
The Outrage on Little Oetayie Rousseau


TRIAL OF LUsBY-yERDICT OF 'sSOT GUILTY"
CRIMINAL COURT, Judge Wylie.-The trial of
this case was resumed this morning, and MI
wilson, Assistant District Attorney, proceeded
to deliver the closing argument to the Jury
he hrst asked what evidence had been adduced
by the defense TO modify the case made ont nv
Lac prosecution, and spoke of the enormity of
the crime. A little innocent girl leaves
ner fathers house; in a little while her
me Is uampled out in miry mass of
blood, and her little lifeless body lies
on her mothers lap. Although a year
has passed since the soul of the little victim
has taken its flight, yet the perpetrator OF this
foul crime sets In the prisoners dock. 1t is
true efforts have been made to bring the pris-
oner TO trial, and in a case like this Justice does
not set with arms folded From the Arguments
on the other side it would appear that Messrs
Wise and Allen are the guilty parties They
did find out the guilt and the prosecution were
not ashamed of their efforts. He would not as
sail their witnesses as they had assaulted
those OF the prosecution, but would SIM
Ply connne himself TO the question
whether the prisoner at the bar caused the
death OF the deceased. If you had seen the lot
described by the detectives and they were 10
ascertain who committed the act, they would
first inquire whether the prisoner was there,
and expect to find the same material on mis-
clOthes-blOod also on them; that he had been
under the influence of liquor, and finally be-
cause the human heart can never keep to itself
Its dread secret; that he had said some word
about 1t. Mr.. Wilson asked if all these had
not been proved, and proceeded to speak of the
bloody shlrt shown the witness, Mrs. How
land. and the conduct of the prisoner when
Mrs Rowland was telling the wife of the oc-
currence, which he thought proved that al the
time the guilty party was under the roof. The
defense attempted to meet this witness by
proving the bad feeling she had for the pris-
Oner- and in his opinion there was reason why
che should hate the ground he walked on.
Tuesday night comes, and in the meantime
the officers have heel informed ofcircumstances
Wnleh tend 10 show that the prisoner is the
guilty man. Mr.. Wood takes with him three
men who had long known the prisoner 10 make
the arrest and his conduct was such as to con-
nrm thelr suspicious. They carried him off.
and when they searched the house three gar
ments with blood on them We're found. This
blood did not come down from heaven, and these
garments had a connection with some person,
some time and some place.
There was no satisfactory account given as
20 how the blood came upon his garments and
be contended that there was no reasonable or
accountable way of accounting for it but by
the supposItlOn that the prisoner got the blood
al the tune the crime was committed. Shafer
testified that the accused, when he saw him
was gong IN the direction of where the crime
was committed Emma lngle identified the
prisoner as being within n square and half
and others testified to his being in the same
vicinity. 49,
and Watson, the pardOned conyicts, contend
ing the prisoner IOld them all that was neees-
sary 10 nix the crime on him. Men charged as
the prisoner never tell persons who move in
the higher walks, but TO men of their own
choosing, knowing that should they be called
10 testify against them some Jealous counsel
VIII be on hand To assail them. The evidence
OF Alexander did not conflict with theirs
MI Wilson referred TO the evidence OF the
shoe PRINT In the mud, and said If the prisoner
mad not worn shoe answering the description
II was easy for them to have proved it, The
defense asked the jury to cisbelieve Mrs How
land, MI Wood Wilson, Murphy, Mrs Savoy
Emma lngle, Watson. Rodgers, and Alexander
because II they were to be believed the prisoner
must be found guilty-because they 1.-THE coun-
sell believe their client is guilty. The prose-
cutlon do not ask them TO disbeiieye any of the
witnesses. In conclusion he asked if he is
guilty they should not allow him to return
home.
Judge Wylie instructed the Jury as to the
law in the case, and the jury retired 10 delibe-
rate upon their verdict a: twelve O'CLOCK pre-
cisely.
AT eight minutes past twelve they came into
their box, and being called upon for their YER
dict by the Clerk, Mr.. Middleton, MI Esau
Plekrell pronounced il, ''Not guilty"
The accused was at once surrounded by a
number of friends, who congratulated him.
and the District Attorney entering HoIIe pros
III the case for rape against him, he was dis
charged from custody.