Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-10-18
Golf Acquitted.

Goff Acquitted.
When it became apparent Friday
afternoon that the jury were taking
time to deliberate, there was but one
opinion among spectators OF the trial,
and that was that if the jury found
verdict at all it would be either for
acquittal or for conviction of the crime
of manslaughter. The lapse of time
intensified public anxiety, and this
morning, Notwithstanding the rain, the
room was filled almost Immediately
after the going in of the court. There
was time for the transaction of little
or no business, before the officer in
charge of the jury made his appear
ance, followed by the jury, which indi-
Gated an agreement or desire for
instructions. The Presiding Judge
directed an officer to bring the priso-
ner from the Jail and meanwhile more
anxious spectators filed into the crowd
ed room.
The prisoner soon arrived, looking
weary but calm and controlled, and
with firm step he walked to seat
near the witness stand. He was fol-
lowed by his wife, who took seat a
little distance from him but was so
overwhelmed with emotion that she
Immediately buried her face in her
handkerchief.
THE VERDICT.
The Judge directed the roll of the
jury to be called, and while that was
being done the prisoner stepped vol
UNFAIRLY to position facing them, and
stood leaning against railing.
The clerk said:
"Have you agreed upon a verdict,
Gentlemen Of the jury ?"
Mr.. JOHN E. CHAMBERLIN,
of EnOsburgh, the foreman, answered,
1--WE have"
The CIerk-"Mr. Foreman, look at
the prisoner. Prisoner, look at the
jury,
What say you, Mr.. Foreman, is the
prisoner guilty or rot guilty" ?"
The foreman answered in a clear
voice, "NOT GUILTY"
The CLer6-"So say you all, Gen
tlemen ?"
They all bowed assent.
The prisoner stood, apparently un-
moved for an instant, and there was
a suppressed murmur of applause
among the spectators.
Mr.. Gof, no longer a prisoner,
turned and threw himself into the
arms of his wife and both sobbed
aloud, as the great burden was lifted
from their hearts. Nearly all in the
room were visibly affected and there
were few dry eyes even among those
who were known to have favored his
conviction.
In a moment he turned TO the bar,
grasDei the hand of Hon. Homer
| E. Royce, his senior counsel, who had
sat with eyes averted from the scene,
and thanked him from his overfowing
heart. In turn he took Col. Benton
and Messrs. Powell, Mcintyre and
Stafford, the associate counsel, by
their hands and expressed to them
the strong emotions Of his gratitude
Mrs. Golf did the same and in a mo
ment the spectators began to gather
around and extend their congratula
tions. The court excused the jury
until Monday and they Immediately
Sled out Of the room. Golf and his
vile followed, likewise the spectators
and the scene in the vestibule wa;
but a repetition of that which ha(
just occurred inside. The member:
OF the jury. who had remained cain
: and apparently emotionless until thi
: time, were deeply affected when Col
and his wife took each by the han(
and called on God to bless them 70
their judgment tempered with mer
f cy."
: Immediately Goff, his wife and th
: two senior counsel for the defenc
: proceeded to the fremont House
: where, in obedience to COTS reques
!, for a personal introduction, most Q
e the jurymen soon assembled, and tb
d scenes at the Court house were re
j. peated. Col. Benton here gave MI
?, Goff a few words of sound advice a
: to his future life, but we will not ir
trude upon the privacy supposed t
J. exist between counsel and client 5
e far as to repeat them. Suffice it t
d say that Golf said through his tear:
: addressing both counsel and jury
If thai he would try to so live that n
r one could ever censure them, Gan
}. as for the past" i" said he, "God know
: that would call back the poor ma
t. that is gone if it were in my power.
d Grateful as he felt to them, he sal
;, it was not so much for himself as fo
If his dear wife and children, and b
d bade them each good bye, as the
? retired from the room, with the hop
s. that they would live long and b
h happy, prosperous and protected
Is HOW DID THE JURY STAND?
D. was the first question on the lips {
!; the interested and the curious afte
/ the foregoing scenes, had transpiret
e From one of the number we hay
is learned the following facts:
le They endeavored first to decid
whether or not the prisoner wa
ID guilty Of crime, without reference
e. the degree, and upon this they vote,
is without any discussion, 5 for acqui
b. tai and I for conviction.
le Each then expressed his opinic
of upon the different branches of IL
lg case and the next vote stood s f
to acquittal. They remained about {
5. until 10 o'clock at night when OIL
lg more yielded his assent to acquitta
a. At about II o'clock, under chars
Is of Deputy Sheriff Halbert, they wei
x to Steere's restaurant, on Lake stree
Is, and took supper. Their return W
in, followed by earnest discussion uni
ch about l o'clock, when portion
st them reclined upon settees and we
to sleep.
20 At in the morning the discussit