, 1873-10-27
THE puFFENDERaER TRIAL,

Tho Jury in tho case Of Joshua rufrenborgor,
who Inns just bcon. tiled upon the charge Of man
slaughter In causing tho death Of Rogor Brass
aud others, by running his ongno into tho pas-
sengor train Mt Sag Bridge in August last, has
finished it's labors md brought in O verdict Of
not guilty, and hr. puTenborger is now at 1ibor-
ty. With tho nero fact Of his acquittal wo hive
nothing to do. but tho manner in which it WAS
announced is too remarkable to bc.passod over In
silouce The toxt Of tho verdict, which tho jury
returned In tho first instance was rs follows:
PETIT Juny Rooai, CHICAGO, Oct. "a, 1a73.-Wo, tho
jury, nod the prisouer uot guilty, - cha1ged in tho
indictment, and ssvErcly cenaura tho Chicago Alton
Railroad Company for employing incompetent mon IN
connection with tls busincss Of tho rond {8'gne)%
John Wright, foreman; II. A. Forsyth, Thomas =.
Indswell, @. NJ. G;ocsbcek, q. r. Cark, j. H. Wheat,
Joseph Pearson, Charles J. Walter, Robert Waddal,
George r. Ridley.
After an episode Of applause upon the pnrt Of
tho spectators, Which tho Court suppressed by
| ordering somo Of the applauders to jail, tho
DiBtrict~Attorney roso and requested to haye the
| Jury pollol. The names Of tho jurors wero.
called, aud, a. tho customary question was
addressed to each. all answered in
|
thcreupon ordered the jury to retire again and
agree upon verdict. After m absence OF half
All hour, they returned with the simple verdict:
two, tho jury, find tho defendant not guilty."
Thus the verdict WIS altered, although originally
it had boon slgned by tho ontiro jury, after
long and careful canyasBiug Of tho tegtiuony.
After signing tho verdict and having had ample
time to form Ills conclusions definitely and final
ly, ono OF theao Jurors changes his mind, and
tho result Of this change is tho ascapo OF tho
Railroad Company from tho censure which lad
been pasaod upon it.
Tho action Of this juryman ia no tri1ing affair.
It ia not teqhnicality which can ho put aside
with q wayo OF tho hand. 1t is an otfonso
against the digpityof the Court, It ia IN offense
against tho Bolemnity which should attach to
verdiots In cases like this. It ia nn offenao
against public deoorum aud roproaoh upon ju-
dicial proceedings. II such an oifonse is allowed
to pass unrobukod It's effect will bo to impair
tho public confidence In vcrdictH, and rouder the
decisions Of jurloa mockery and FARGO. Judge
Williams, therefore, owea It to the dignity Of tho
Douch, md to tho reputation OF this
juror which may otherwise aufror, to
Investigate this matter, and ascertain
uudos what influences md by what process th1H
remarkable change OF mind was brought about.
} During the second absence Of tho jury, the
Court manifostod commondable promptness and
flrnnoss In bringing q juror before him for con.
tempt, who belonged to tho rogular panel, bu!
was not sitting In this oase, for nprlaudlng the
| verdict. i Lot the Court now exhibit equal
( promptneas and tlrmnoss. and lot tho Prosoout
ing-Attorney give Ais invaluable assistance, also
t In solving this mystery. Otherwise, it will bt
. strongly suspected TINT after the verdict wat
0 aIguol aud soalod, tho jury was tamporod viii
in tue interest OF tho Chicago l. Alton Railwa.
t COMPANY,