The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-16
CsoSe of sElc Fcwell Trial-The Late
Prisoners Account of the Homicide.
Corresponding Of the Baltimore Sun

At the close of the argument at about 100
z. NJ. the jury retired to consider upon a
verdict. At the expiration of five minutes
they returned, and through their foreman,
John s. Ewell, presented the following ver-
dict in writing: owe, of the jury, find the
prisoner not guilty, us charged in the indict-
ment."
The verdict was greeted with yociferous
and long-continued applause by the large
number Of spectators who had assembled in
the courtroom to await the closing scenes Of
this famous trial. After his acquittal the nc
cu>ed came out Of the prisoners box and re-
ccived the congratulations Of many friends
who immediately fastened towards him.
These formed an escort of honor and con-
Quoted him to Reid'S Hotel, where he suppcd.
and was afterwards driven TO Manassas, III
company with Your reporter.
During the ride he cOnyerScd without re-
serve upon his movements before and after
the homicide. and stated that instead Of Turk
ing along the by-wayS, as was asserted by
the prosecution, he had come by the most
public route from BristOe station to BrentS-
Vile on the morning of the shooting, twice
stopping to talk with friends that he met, to
one Of whom he communicated his fell de-
sign. Arriving at the Jail he found the door
open. entered, and walked up stairs to the
debtors cell, where he had been informed
Clark Was confined. Not finding him there,
be inquired Of the occupant Of the room, a
small colored boy, who advised him where
his victim was. Retracing his steps, he went
to the door Of the front cell on the lower
floor. where he found Clark reclining upon
his coach in the corner, and fired.
At the report of the pistol he said he saw
u. 81. >, oh inf
and rs ne jumped up and ran to the right
hand corner OF the room he perceived little
blood trickIing down from his shoulder. The
apartment is small, ten by ten, and the door
is so constructed and placed with reference
| to the room that the as>aled can in no part
| Of it find protection against the assailant's
! bullets hence, as Jewell was armed with
| two revolvers, it became mere question of
| time how soon Clark would fall. Fewell as
serted that while he was firing the prisoner
made desperate attempts to defend himself
| by first endeavoring to grasp the pistol,
| which he succeeded in doing, and then try
ing to wrench it from him. When he found
this to be impossible he jumped to table in
| the centre of the room, aud catching lamp
and salt-cellar hurled them ut him through
| the grated door.
| Mr.. Jewell further stated that after he
fired the last shot he walked deliberately out
of the Jail door and turned in the direction
of little belt Of pines in rear Of the court.
green Reaching this cover he stopped and
reloaded his pistols, and then returned to
| Brentsville, passing Immediately by the Jail.
Here he saw carriage, driven by Mr..
varnes, of Manassas, in which he took q
seat. and the vehicle started, but before ii
had gone fifty yards some part Of the bar
ness broke, and he got out and assisted in
repairing it. Fully fifteen minutes, be said,
were consumed before they finally drove OFT,
during which time persons were continually
passing, none of whom offered to arrest him.
| lie assured me that he could have escaped at
any time during his Incarceration; and to
confirm his statement told me the jail was SO
insecure that frequently during the night he
would take off his shoes, raise the door OF
his cell from the hinges, and walk in the
passage. 49,.