Daily Kennebec journal., 1875-07-03
BEECHER-
The Jury fail TO agree
and are Discharged
8 For Beeche1-3 For
TiltOn.

Iiton jury sent note to Judge Nelson, saying
they were unable to agree, and requesting to be
discharged. The judge sent back reply that
he would do so. Notice was then sent to counsel
and the parties interested.
Wien Mrs. Beecher, leaning on the arm OF
usher Murray, came in at ii o'clock, she found
ne arly all the prominent ladies and gentlemen of
Plymouth church already seated in what are
called the "Beecher chairs" She looks exceed
inglp pale, worn and anxious. She sat between
Deacon Howard and John Southwick.
Shortly after IL o'clock Judge Nelson entered
the court, accompanied by ex-Judge Dykeman.
AT ll.25 a. M. the jury we're discharged. The
foreman says they have taken an oath not to dis
close how they stood. Juryman Thayer wishes it
distinctly understood that they were not IL to L.
LATER.
The jury came into court at ll.l6.
Clerk-Gentlemen, have you agreed upon a
verdict
Foreman (rising)-we have not. We very
much regret we found it impossible to agree.
The judge made few brief remarks.
The clerk requested the jury to remain seated
for the moment, while photographers were taking
picture Of the court. Jurors Jeffreys and Case
stood up and objected to being photographed and
the judge at once said, Gentlemen, you may go.
Make way there for the jury"
An immense rush was made for the Jurors in
the court and outside, and they were questioned
as to how they stood, but they all declared they
were pledged to secresy as to names. The fore
man, however, admitted that they stood to3.
AS the jury were leaving, Mrs. Beecher stood
cheeks, and shook hands with each juror as he
went by. The foreman was the last in passing
out, and he seized her hand in both of his and
shook it with great warmth.
There is not the slightest excitement in Brook
lyn over the result of the trial.
The Brooklyn Eagle publishes the following
account Of the delibeiation of the jury, said to be
obtained from one of their number:
when first they retired the II took an inform
al ballot, which made them stand 10 for Beecher
and for Iilton. Another informal ballot was
taken with like result, when some of the jury sta
ted that there was some error in the record, and
IT was suggested that they should formally organ
ize by the election of foreman and secretary in
order to avoid any further mistakes. Carpenter
objected to the selection of a foreman, claiming
that he had been appointed by Judge Nelson and
his fellow jurors had no right to substitute any
one else.
He emphatically opposed any attempt to sup
plant him, and for purposes of harmony and good
will the majority agreed to accept him as foreman.
This difficulty being settled, the twelve proceeded
to elect secretary, and the choice fell on Jeffrey.
A formal ballot was then taken. The secretary
announced that the jury stood 8 for Beecher and
for Tilton. After prolonged discussion of the
evidence, another formal ballot was entered into.
This time some of the twelve who were in favor
Of Beecher voted with the minority.
So the vote stood for Beecher and for Tilton.
This was Friday last The Beecher men were
not in the slightest disheartened and the shrewd.
est among them worked the harder to convince
the small minority in favor Of Tilton that they
were in error. The minority nearly all through
the deliberations in the jury room consisted Of
jeffrey, Davis and Flute. They appeared open to
convictions, and entered calmly and seriously in
to the discussion of the views advanced by por-
tion of the majority.
Another informal ballot was taken. The secre-
tary declared the vote for Beecher and for
Tiltor. Several ballots were taken with like
result. The number of ballots that were taken
from the time the jury left their seats at the close
Of the Judges charge until they were disbanded
by order of the court, were SO. The Beecher
men worked hard all Friday night, and a change
in their favor was apparent the following morning,
when the Secretary announced that the jury stood
for Beecher and for Tilton.
Saturday morning few of the Beecher men,
who had been using gigantic efforts to convert
jeffrey, Davis and Flute to their side had so far
succeeded that these gentlemen at last consented
to bring in verdict for Beecher
Had the jury then been summoned to the court
room, Beecher would have gone forth with dec
laration Of his innocence. Some were in favor of
going into court at once. but unfortunately for
Beecher, it was determined that they should de-
lay their return to the court room until o'clock
that evening. when they would hand the judge q
sealed verdict. At this moment of the
Beecher men made an indiscreet remark, which,
though in no wise affecting the evidence in the
case occasloned tlutter OF undue excitement ard
had the effect Of alternating the minority from the
majority. Persistent efforts were made to coun-
tcract this act of indiscretion. but the minority,
consisting of Jeffreys, Flute and Davis, returning
to the ground they had compacted to abandon,
emphatically declined to hold any further argu-
ment-they were determined to stand by Tilton.
On Sunday, there was no balloting, as many Of
the jury had religious scruples.
The ballot on Monday, however, showed that
they had returned to the Tilton side, as the vote
stood for Beecher and 3 for Tton. From this
count there was variation. The following is a
correct account Of the division of the jurymen -
For Beecher-Chester Carpenter, Griffin b. Hal
stead, Henry Thayer, George Hull, Christopher
Filter, A. X. Case, Edward Whelan, John Nc
Murn, John F. Taylor.
For Tiltou-Wm. T. Jeffrey. san' Flute, Wm.
III. Davis.