The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-16
THE M'FARLAND CASE.
DETAILS OF THE AcQUITEAL.

DETAILS OF THE ACQUITTAL.
Exciting Scenes on the Announcement
Of the verdIct-Great Rejoicing-Stnte-
m:nt of Mrs. Letter from
Richardson.
The acuuittal of Daniel Mcfarland, in New
York, on Tuesday last, Of the charge OF muir
dering Albert D. Richardson, was the occasion
of some OF the most extraordinary scenes that
ever transpired in court OF justice. Just be-
fore the retirement Of the jury, MnF5ohn Gra-
ham, senior counsel Of the accused, requested
the court to charge the jury that 'if the prls-
oner committed the act in moment of frenzy
he cannot be convicted Of murder in the first
degree. not only charge that proposition,
but if his mind was in that condition he can
not be convicted OF any offence" r. Keyes,
636.
The Court so charge you, gentlemen.
The Jury, at two minutes past 8 o'clock, P.
NJ, retired.
WAITING FOR THE VERDICT.
AS soon as the jury had retired, those favor
ed portions of the audience which were within
the bar and the ladies' circle, broke into groups
and engaged in animated conversation and
diverse speculations as to the minds OF the
jurors and the probabilities Of their verdict;
"That last point which Graham got in, just
as the jury were going out, will carry the YER
dict" said a gray-headed lawyer.
uYes,n said another distinguished criml-
nal lawyer, "that was o telling point If 1t
was an accident, it was happy one for the
prisoner. But suspect it was all planned by
John, so as to get the last shot at the jury"
After an absence of an hour and forty min
utes, the jury returned to their seats. The
scenes which followed are graphically describ-
ed in the World, from which we copy:
f. ~ TIE VERDICT.
The jurors looked paler on their return.
Their deliberations upstairs seemed to have
blanched their faces All eyes were turned
upon them, and Mr.. Brown, the foreman, In o
mcmenV was the target at which the gaze Of
every person in the room was directed. McFar-
land was calm and collected. Mr.. Graham sat
with bowed head, and exhibited much emo
tion Aewhisper went round the room to the
effect that the jury had agreed to acquit the
prisoner. It was moment Of solemn sus-
pense. Mr.. Vandervoort, the clerk OF the
court, called the names Of the jurors, and In
quired If verdict had been agreed upon. He
was answered afirmatiyely.
Then said the clerk "Gentlemen of the
jury, rise and look upon the prisoner"
Mr.. Mcfarland then arose. The clerk, ad-
dressing him, said: Prisoner, look upon the
jury"
The prisoner fixed steady eye upon the
twelve meh who were to decide the issue;
The twelve men all looked at him. Then said
the clerk, addressing them, "How find you the
prisoner at the bar, guilty or notguiltyy"
"NoT GUILTY." answered the foreman In
loud voice.
SCENE TO BE REMEMBERED.
In the language of the ;old-time repertorial
fraternity, "the scene that followed beggared
description" Every spectator sprang to his
feet. The women alternately waved their
handkerchiefs and wiped their eyes. Some OF
them sobbed aloud. The cheering was SO loud
and long that it was heard in the new court
house and on Chambers street, and brought q
reinforcement of spectators to the scene Of re-
jOicing Mr.. Graham was so overcome with
emotion that for some minutes he was unable
to speak Tears rolled down his cheeks, and
he buried his face in bis hands and wept like
child Mcfarland, no longer prisoner, was
at once surrounded by his friends, and con-
graduated on his good fortune. score OF
ladies' rushed forward and repeatedly kissed
him. One old lady kissed him Q dozen times;
He. stood all this 'like man, and returned
Ills THANKS lot LQe sympathy WHICH, udu pCch ~
generously accorded him.
.I knew 1t, I knew It," cried one woman, as
she imprinted q kiss on McFarlands cheek.
~ knew it, knew it, knewn-but before
she could explain what it was she knew she
was pushed aside by another of her sex, who
was determined, if The kissing was going to be
general, to have a lip or two in herself.
KISSING THE COUNSEL.
So great was the joy Of the ladies oyer the
verdict that they made an attack on nr. Ora
ham, and many Of them kissed him. For some
time he was hardly able to speak, and was op,
liged to receive these manifestations OF regard
in silence. After while he said to several old
ladies who congratulated him on the success
of his- efforts: "Well, can only say that am
proud to know that my course has met the ap-
proyal of the ladies. When man gets in be-
tween man and wife and destroys their happi-
ness, as Richardson did, he deserves to be
shot. That's the only law for such ca case.
I've always said so, and always shall. There
can be no other law than that for such case. :"
To some others he said; ~ assure you that
feel proud to receive your thanks and con-
gratulations. am prouder than would be II
you were gentlemen. lean only say that am
proud for having pleased the ladies, and hope
that l shall always be able to please them on
all such occasions"
KISSING ALL AROUND.
A woman approached the jurors before they
left their seats after rendering the verdict, and
and shook hands with each Of them. She
"God blessedn them all, and assured them that
they had done the noblest act Of their lives.
The Jurors returned their thanks, and their en-
thusiastic admirer retired, feeling, doubtless,
that she had done her duty. Mr.. Hansen, the
fourth juror, was literally hugged by one Of
the ladies. She placed her arms around his
neck and poured perfect shower Of kisses
upon his cheek. He bore up with marvellous
t0rtitude under the unexpected but pleasant
assault, and acquitted himself with honor by
kissing the fair one on the brow.
And so it went on for fifteen or twenty min
utes. It was all hapd-shaking, kissing and
congratulations all around. A reporter was
approached by lady, who said, "Aint this
beautiful why, bless me, think the reporters
ought to getsome oft, !" saying which she seized
him around his paper collar and 'smacked"
him right plump in the mouth. BE was 80
taken by surprise that he was unable to collect
himself for several minutes, and when he did
the lady looked upon him smilingly, and said:
''Why, bless me, guess you're not used to it."
CONTINUED CONGRATULATIONS.
1t was now halEpast FIVE, and the officers
wanted to ''close up" They ordered the crowd
out at least hundred times, but the jubilee
was too enjoyable to be turned back upon so
easily. The women were particularly anxious
to see the matter through. 1t was an expert
ence not to be partaken OF every day in the
year, and they wanted to make the most Of 1t
while it lasted, and these persons were con-
stantly entering the room for the purpose OF