The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-07-08
The Trial and Acquittal OF ETA
6f0RQF.

The trial of ELI SIGNoR, OF Earlville,
which had occupied our Circuit Court over
two weeks, was finally brought to close on
Monday last, resulting in q verdict Of acquit
tai. The jury, after the case was finally
submitted to them, were less than an hour il
making mp their minds-indeei. they had
practically agreed before leaving the box.
This was, as most Of our reader. remeua
Ssr, the second trisl -Mr--Sjguor had had OF
this charge; he FIRST trial having resulted il
. verdict of guilty but on the application
Of his counsel, anew tr;alhad been granted
The case was conducted for the Prosecu
siou BY Messrs. D. P. Jones, o. c. Gray, aud
~. Bushnell and for the defence by Messrs
J. W. Browne, A. J. Grover, and Z. S. Le'
land. 1t is not from desire 10 say pleasant
things of taese distinguished gentlemen Of
the legal profession, but because it is fact
conceded by this whole community, that ne
cause ever tried in this county was conducted
With more unwearied toll and consummate
skill, on both sides, than was this trial OF Eli
Signor.
The defence seemed to believe, (concurring
With IN in,imation Of the Judge when he
granted Lew trial that it was only from al
.ovsr.weeping confidence in the innocence OF
their client, and consequent .lackness OF
exertion in his behalf, that an adverse yer.
dict was given at the fcrmer trial while the
prosecution, apparently believing, at least,
th.. they bad proved the guilt of the prisoner
at one trial, seemed determined TO do SO
again.
The jury, which was empauuelcd after
nearly three days labor, consisted Of the fol.
lowing men:
John Dewey, Robert Myers,
Henry Barker, Elias p Reed,
John Hise, Q. D. Whitmar..
VIM. E. Bell, Vim. ". Martin,
Lcuis Soule, A. ID. Beck.
G. Stone, FIX. Shedd.
OF course, had NC entertained different
opinion from that arrived at by the jury on
the subject, We should yield ii to their solelnn
decision But to be candid, We cannot say
that We had am opinion on the subject, not
having heard the evidence AT either trial, and
knowing little abou: the facts except wha,
we had from street talk
The result proves how little this stree. trial
Of man, and street corner and pot-house
verdict amounts 70. The evidence in the
case was wholly circumstantial and while
street talk had picked up the circumstances
and linked them together in M unhroken
chain, demonstrating the prisoners guilt, the
close and searching ordeal to which these
circumstances were subjected in court Of
Law, 80 fractured the chain and discor nected
Is links that nothing was left OF it.
Our conclusion then is, that whsterc, pre-.
conceived opinions prrsons may have had on
the subject, they should now yield them to
this verdict, after so full ana searching a
trial; anti as the law, not only humarely.
but mot justly. holds man to be innocent
until his guilt is proved, 50 should the com
munity nov held and treat Mr.. Sgnor as On
innocent man, court and jury. in the most
solemn manner, having pronounced him so
and, being innocent, Mr.. Signor should be &c
Us, in view of the long anxiety and suffering
20 which this baseless charge has subjected
bin, instead of an object Of ill>wiIl or oppro.
br:um, an object of kindness and sympathy