Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-03-01
THE nAncouK AcQA'iTrAL.
Scenes and Incidents I'm Ekftrs-The
CharCe-The DcfcnalanR-
COngrnsulAlAoue
From the Sc. Louis olHbe, p.b. az,

CWNIEG-Ah6 MbCH019DU0l R@Vee
Congrnsulaslous.
From the st. Lonis GiAbe, neb. 21.h.
AT last the great trial, which for
fifteen consecutive days has occupied
the attention of the whole American
people,and the consequences involved |
in which are vast beyond all compar-
ison with the mere personal conse-
Quenccs TO the defendant. has come to |
a close, and General Orvillc Il. Dab-
cock has received IN emphatic and /
complete vindieation.
The reading Of the charge Of
Judge Dillon was also listened to !
with breathless attention by the cn-
tire auditory, and, as each point IN |
the case was In that elaborate and
most luminous document cleared of |
the mist with which it had been sur
rounded by arguments ofcounsel, and
presented in clean cut picture to the
mental vision Of the Jury. this attcn-
ton seemed to grow to greater in
tcnslty II That were possible. The
reading of the charge was admirable
also in the grave, clear elocution of
the Judge, whose emphasis added toi
the force of the words themselves,
and stamped their meaning most Wv
idly on the minds Of all. As predict
cd in this paper, the document was
very lengthy one, occupying about
two hours in its delivery, and at the
close there was hardly man present,
but felt that, il literally obeyed by
the jury, there was no evidence left
for their consideration that could by
any possibility result in a conviction.
The general course Of the charge was
very similar in outline to that adopt
cd by Mr.. Storrs in his speech for the
defense ; the evidence, both document
airy and oral, being marshaled in log.
! ical sequences and converted into a
| complete history Of all the acts Of de-
fcndant and the conspirators which
had been shown in evidence, or bore
any relation to the case.
~ Precisely at 3 80 the jury filed
into court aid took their seats, and
most anxiously were their faces
scanned by everybody present, but
particularly by tho counsel for the
defendant. Judge Porter leaned for
ward and fixed his piercing black
eyes on those Of each juror as he took
his seat, as though he would search
the inmost secrets of his soul. Gen.
Babcock took his scat with his accus-
toned air Of patience, and not sign
Of emotion or fear for the tremendous
results impending was visible on his
countcnance, except that, when the
clerk was reading the verdict, he
turned sheet white for few seconds.
. Indeed, throughout tho whole trial,
he has borne himself like gallant
gentleman. confident in his own in
noccncc, and waiting with patience
for the law and the evidence 10 cs-
tahlish il beyond doubt.
THE VERDICT.
, Gall the jury. Mr.. Clerk" said the
, Court, and Deputy Clerk Shelby read
out their names in steady tones, while
! each man answered to the call.
: The Court then asked the usual
| question, as to whether they had de-
termincd on verdict, and was re-
spondcd to by silent bow from the
entire jury, ms Mr.. Blackwood. the
foreman, handed up the all important
document to Mr.. Shelby. AT this
! point the sensation Of suspense was
, simply painful, and mems faces shone
ghastly white all over the court room
, This feeling was intensified to by a
: slight hesitation the Clerk made in
! find the defendant.
q "NoT GrlLlY.'
No sooner were these last words
u uttered than 4 scene of confusion that
: battles description ensued. Gen. Bah
cocks hands We're seized and shaken
. by everybody who could get within
= reach ofhim. Judge Porter being frs,
u in the rear burst out into hearty
: shout Of applause, hand-clapping,and
: all other expressions Of joy were
l heard. and for moment the scene
7 rather rcsemblcd the pit of a thcatci
! than a grave and dccorous court OF
justice. The Judges very wisely
overlooked their very natural cbnli,
ton, and in few moments the crowd
recovered its self-possession. Judge
!, Chester Ii. Krum then rose and asked
!. that the defendant be discharged, and
|, on that order being made, and after
q the order for the discharge of tho
y jury, Gen. Babcock and Judge Porter
:, stepped forward and shook hand.
with each lnryMan as they filed out
= thanking each personally for the
steady attention thcv had given 10 the
ease, and the manly manner In which
: each had done his duty. Ii is hardly
: possible to tell which Of these two
gentlemen showed tho greater emo,
tion under the circumstances. The
!. eyes of both were wet with tears oil
joy. and the voices of both trembled
as they cndeavorcd to utter their
gratitude. Mr.. Storrs stepped across
; the court room to shake his client by
the hand, looking calm and passion
less. but ont of his eyes there shone
!, light Of triumph az of a victor SUR
: veying the field where he has but
:, Just conquered in great fight. Col
Campbell. the father-in-law Of Gen
). Babcock. was there. too, looking hap.
ny again after weeks Of incessant
AMI cruel anxiety. and dozens Of 9th.
ers, apparently as much interested az
he. looked their delight at the result
AFTER TuE TRIAL,
As soon rs the jury left the box, a
Globe Democrat reporter followed
2 them up stairs to the Marshal's Office
whittier they went to settle their 40.
eount7. Here he asked some ques-
lions concerning the method Of reach
ing their verdict and the answers
gave all possible emphasis TO the
verdict az not guilty. Since the
. commencement Of the trial ON Tues
, day, Feb. Sth, when the jury was eau.
toned by the Court not to converse
! with any one, not even among them.
solves, on the subject of the case be.
!, fore them, they have never discussed
the evidence or any part Of 1t, aud
? when the charge was delivered to
! them yesterday, were in absolute ig-
norance Of the state Of each othcr'f
: minds on the subject, After receiy.
ing the charge they retired to the
G jury room, where their dinner was
y brought to them. They ate their din.
y nor, and immediately afterwards with
ont ono word Of discussion or
debate Of any sort, agreed to take an
G informal ballot 10 And out how the
y land lay before proceeding to con.
I sultation. The informal ballot was
taken and resulted in unanimous
!, vote for acquittal. Afterwards 4 for;
! NAL ballot was taken, with the same
result, and word was sent to the cour,
that the jury was ready with theil
: verdict. In further conversation with
various members Of the jury, the re.
q porter learned that nearly all had
Q made up their minds at the close OF
, the argument for tho defense, aud
that, contrary TO expectations, Col
I Dycr's speech had had little or no in.
;, flucncc with them. There probably
7 never was trial conducted with such
complete fairness as this, and the re.
suit, thus cmphasizod by tho unusual
z lInanimity Of the jury, cannot fail OF
adding TO tho qualification Of Gen.
A RohcncE ond hic friends