Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-12-06
William HAYES AcouIrtal.

We take the following extract from
we'll tempered article on the results of the
trial of WM. HAYES, from the Fremont
lcssenger:
The verdict in fvll was read by Judge
Fiuefrock, and its closing words, "Not
Guilty" were Immediately followed by
udge PLIERS, one OF the counsel for the
defense, clapping his hands, in which he
was Joined by Hayes friends in the audi
ence. Hayes was Mt ouce surrounded hy
his relatives and friends, and congratu-
lated on his lucky escape. The congratu-
,tions of his sister, who, brave woman that
abe il, sat bv his side during the entire
trial, and also those of his father, who was
constantly in Court, were very affecting
The expression of their earnest sympathy
caused the now free man, whose feelings
had been wrought up to such a pitch that
he could no longer master them, to give
way to his emotions, and he sobbed like a
child for ten or fifteen minutes. 1t was q
touching scene, and at the same time n
pleasure to all present 10 witness the de-
light of his friends as they surrounded him
in the hour Of his deiverance las il ever
must be when one is delivered from impcnd-
ing reril); and vet the feeling seemed al
most universal in disappointment of their
expectations of what the verdict would be,
for very few looked for ANYTHING lighter
than manslaughter-it was hoping against
hope for time with HAYES and those di-
rrctly interested and still, all appea red
satiSted with the finding OF jury so able
and impartial in character But let no
man suppose for moment that he can
follow the example OF Hayes or take the
life OF his fellow with evena less degree Of
impunity than was evidenced in this case,
for il is no doubt true that Hayes escape is
due to narrow technisality Of law and the
beniit OF The doubt as to whether death was
caused by the first impulslve shot or by his
more deliberate shots which followed
1t was noticed that even the first shot
would have found no justification had not
the previous bad character OF Cupp aided,
in the eyes ofthe law, TO make Hayes peril
more imminent. Otherwise, Cupp was Just
as much entitled to life and the protection
of the laws as any other person. Truly
Hayes has escaped by hairs breadth of
mere good luck, while Cupp was the victim
OF terrible misfortune, all of which
speaks in thunder tones in favor oi prcserv.
ing a good moral character and against the
nefarious practice of carrying arms.
Ut course, there is some dissatisfaction
at the result Of the Hayes trial; that wa,
10 he expected, more especially among
Cupp's friends and the hummer element o
Clyde and elswhere. Ii Hayes had taken
the train for Clyde at noon Saturday, as he
intended, to see his wife and baby, upoI
whom he dotes, lie would most likely hav,
been roughly handled by an enragec
crowd that was at the depot waiting to
him. He was persuaded by his father nc
sister to accompany them 10 Perrysburg
their home, which he did on the first trail
west That afternoon. HAYES ia a yonni
man, and we are convinced that he il no
ns bad at heart as he has heen paintsd, am,
from his manner of speech, together will
the respectability of his family, we fee
that he will yet retrieve this misiorlun
aud be respected. lie attributes his trnuh
les To the bad company into which he wa
thrown, which was partly unavoidable
and solemnly declares that he will ntYe
again pursue the business he was engage
IN at the time he did the shooting.
However much people may differ in r,
gard 10 the trial. II seems 10 he conceded h
all that never was there greater legal nhi
ity displayed in the conduct aud argnmer
ol a case lhan that Of Colonel j. /
Bartlett and Prosecuting Attorney J.
Carver, Of hlscity, forthe State aud Jam,
Il. Tyler, Of Perrysbure, aud John Len
mon, ol Clyde, TOR the defense. They di
oil that was within the bounds Of poss
biliiy, and have all won lasting laurels.