The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-12

| young member of the bar, which was prepared
| by the fair hands of Mrs. Stevenson Archer:
When she took her seat in the dock several
female friends who had folio we'd her in placed
themselves on either side of her, remaining
| until all was over.
! Mr. Fernandls resumed his argument, If it
could be called such, dealing but little in dry
Law; but it was rather an impassioned and fer
vid strain OF eloquence and imagery. addressed
not to the heads, but to the hearts OF those
twelve men, who held the LIE of her for whom
he was pleading IN the hollow Of their hands.
He was listened to with breathless at ention,
AID while he was speaking, there was cessa-
tiou OF the rapping Of the judges gaval and the
call Of the crier for silence. There we're but
few eyes that we're not m )istened. even OF
those whose reason and judgment struggled
against il.
The accused had also great difficulty in re-
straIning her emotions. When Mr.. Fernandis
concluded, after speaking something over
three hours, he turned and took her by the
hand. She was mute, of course. but responded
to his action with grateful significance OF her
thanks.
Mr.. Archer followed, making the last speech
on the side Of the defence. HIS argument was
almost purely legal, but from the able manner
in which be presented the law and the facts,
and his happy facility of ex ,ression, the drift
of bis remarks was not only easy OF compre-
hension, but exceedingly interesting, and the
effect was not at all lessened by the mix ure Of
pathos and fancy 30 adroitly intermingIed. He
also occupied three hours.
Acknowledgement Jones then arose, and
calmly and quietly, without any attempt at ora
torIcal cffurt or flights OF imagi alton, step by
step reviewed the evidence from beginning to
end, sitting the material facts and holding
them up to the jury 80 that he who ran
might read" With his well.known ability he
then eXpounded the law, showing it's applica.
ton to the facts, but abstaining from reading
any lecture to the jury, OF instructing them as
to their duty. leaving it to their own convlc-
tions of duty 10 draw their own lnfeSeYces.
He concluded a few minu es aftdE five and
the excitement now became intense. Necks
were stretched and eyes peered from all drec-
tions, first at the prisoner and then at the
jury. Many thought that the jury would rem
der their verdict without leaving the box, but
they gave no indication that tney had arrived
at conclusion.
Judge Gr,son then directed the bailiff to take
them Ill charge. when they retired. Some con-
siderable disappointment was manifested by
the crowd at this. and anxious inquiries went
around "What is the matter?" "Do you think
the jury is a rightp" &c The jury were out
Just ten minutes, and il is understood that the
hitch was caused by one juryman being unable
to agree with the other eleven that it was q
case OF justifiable homicide, but was willing to
acquit IL he could be satisfied OF the previous
insanity, and ten minutes were occupied by
his associates in convincing him Of the fact.
The jury were thus out len minutes.
When the jury re-eniered, the crowd in at
tendance was cautioned by the court not to
make demonstration when the verdict was
rendered, on pain Of arrest, aud there is no
doubt that the caution was necessary to re-
pless the enthusiasm of the brawuy ye+ manry
clustered araund. Ihe clerk polled the jury,
and after the other formallties. the foreman
gave the verdict of Not Gully" when few
furlive yells went up from sume small boys in
the rear of the crowd who were not to be de-
TERED by the threatening terrors OF the court.
rhe accused, whose composure during. the
trial had been so generally noticed, could 40
longer bear the strain upon ner and gave way
entirely; she wept and gasped for breath, and
seemed IN imminent danger OF fainlng. With
the assist nee If the sheriff and others she
was taken ,uto an adjoining room, the door
locked to keep out the crowd that was pressing
upon her, aud after inbaline little fresh air
she recovered sufficiently to be taken over The
street to her hotel, where for long tim, par
ties were constantly coming TO inquire alter
her. Later in the evening, with her mother
and others of her family AM friends. she LOFT
tor her home neIr Jarrettsvlle, the scene oi
the tragedy with which her name IS so closely
connected.