The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-06-14
the Mcconnell Hornicsde-.-Acqufstal
OF William A. Robfnson-.-An Tnu.
suaI Scene i'm the C0urf.Ro0m
From the Chicngn Times

JACKSONVILLE, June S.-The fourteenth
day of the trial Of William A. Robinson,
charged with the murder Of General Nc
Council, convened this morning, pursuant
to adjournment. The court was filed to
its utmost capacity, every inch of ground
being occupied, and from first to last the
most intense interest was manifested in
every proceeding. At the close of the ar
guments the Jury were charged by the
Judge, and retired after receiving the in
structions of the Court. An adjournment
was then had until l 80 p. VI.
When the court again assembled the large
hall was crowded to ovcrflowing the gale
rics being filed with ladies'. and the body OF
the hall covered with masculine spectators
in every corner where anything human could
find standing-placc. For a few minutes
after the Judge, Hon. Charles D. Hodges.
assembled the bench, the vast audience main
tanned Il most expressive silence. Atlcnrh,
after twenty minutes had elapsed--and to
the excited crowd they appeared to be
twenty agcs-it was announced that the jury
had agreed upon verdict.
Amid the most breathicSs silence. n quiet
that most painfully pcrvaded the entire as
scmbla%c, the twelve good men and true
were escorted TO their seats by the worthy
sheriff, Isaac Sierer, when the small sheet OF
paper, freightcd with the life or death Of the
prisoner ut the bar, was handed in to the
Court. The Court regarded the document
for moment, and then said
Gentlemen, read this rs your verdict
eve, the jury, find the prisoner TO be not
guilty."
A REMARKABLE SCENE.
The reception Of this finding was one OF
the most remarkable that has ever charac-
tcrizcd Il court of justice. The immense
ii
plaudcd until the very building rang with
the thundcrs of the popular appreciation.
Bouquets innumerable were thrown ut the
feet Of the accused, while on every hand ne
received the hcarticst expressions of con-
graduation.
The words Of the verdict had hardly fallen
from the lips Of the Court, when the devoted
wife of the prisoner, with little cry. fell
forward in her seat, and tainted away. The
aged father of the accused, who had labored
so devotedly in his behalf, also sank back
ward in the ccstacy of pleasure. while
Robinson himself, the man who had made
so narrow an escape from the gallows, fell
forward in his seat and sobbcd like Il very
infant Strong men chccred until hoarSc-
ness INTERVIEWED, while the ladies in the
courtroom, for the most part, either tainted
or wcpt themselves into the pleasing condi-
ton of Mysteries.
When quiet had, in some small degree.
been restored, the Court said: "Gcnticmcn
of the jury, you may now understand that
you are discharged"
The jury then left the ,jury-boX. when
they were made the objects Of Il most gene
raj ovation. Fora second time the court.
room rang with the popular plauditS, and
again were peace and order two things that
could not he attained. Mr.. Bacon, the fore,
man of the inquest, and the first juryman tc
leave the box, was seized by each hand hy 4
dozen spectators, and fairly borne from the
room upon the shoulders of the audience
| The remainder Of the jurors received ar
almost equal welcome, and it was evident
on every hand, that, had their verdict been
otherwise. they would have been the re-
| cipicnts of a tolerably rough reception.
ROBINSON DISCHARGED.
After the jury had left the hall, Judge
| Hodges, pursuant to motion by Henry
Barnes, Of counsel for the accused, said
"Thc order of this Court now is that the
prisoner be discharged from custody"
| Fora moment the accused did not seen
to understand the purport OF the Judicial
words. and remained in his chair with hi.
| head buried in his hands. In Il few minutes
however, Mr.. Barnes approached him. and
pattin@ him upon the back, said "Robin
son. you arc now discharged. You may %
wherever you please. Your character /:
| cleared. and YOU are declared to be rs limo
cent Of the murder as am."
lie then warmly shook the gentleman 10y
| the hand, and. taking the arm of his wife
| left the court amid the most tremendous ap
! plausc.