The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-09
THE VERDICT.
The Drift of Public Opinion Decidedly
Against Its business.
Acquittal of Tate-scenes and Incidenss-
Reception Of the Result upon
the Street.

The report of the Tate trial IN the
Sentinel, yesterday, closed with Judge Hellers
lengthy charge to the jury, and the bare an
nouncement that verdict of acquittal had
been rendered by the jury near midnight. 1t
was generally believed that a verdict would
not be ageeed upon before morning, at the
earliest, while many were of the opinion they
would not agree at all. The finding of the
verdict, therefore, after but five and quarter
hours consultation, was.a surprise of the first
order, and people are still commenting upon
the subject. The history of the finding may
be thus stated: EsH
The jury having retired there was much
speculation as to the verdict that would be re-
turned. No one doubted for a moment but
that light sentence, at least, would be given
the accused. Some, even lawyers, in
sisted that the decision could be moth
ing less than manslaughter, which
would bring imprisonment as the
penalty. At o'clock in the evening the cor
Tidor of the Court House, the court room itself
being closed was well filed with anxious per-
sons waiting for the verdict, but none came.
At o'clock the jurors held a consultation with
Bail1ff Gray upon some point, after which
order was restored in their quarters,
continual hub-bub having been going on be-
fore this At 10 o'clock there seemed to be no
hope of verdict during the night. peep
into the jury room from the street showed that
the jurors were actively balloting, in which
there was some consolation to the crowd.
An hour later and the jury announced hay
ing agreed upon a verdict The court room
was thrown open, Judge Heller mounted the
bench and asked the jury, who had taken
their seats in the jury box.
Gentlemen, have you agreed upon a ver-
dict?"
The foreman-"We have.D
The sealed verdict was handed the clerk
and with trembling hands he read:
ave, the jury, find the defendant not guilty
as charged in the Indictment"
THE DEFENDANT.
There was faint burst of applause from the
spectators, but for moment only.
The defendant sat by one of his counsel,
General Knefier, but did not appear to realize
the fact of his innocence. In another moment
he was standing up, with his brothers on eth
err side, and smile of satisfaction on his face.
The little group of spectators begun to disperse
ndJudgeHelIer started TIC leave the court room
but was called to by Tate, with whom he
shook hands. The jury was leaving the box
and the accused stepped forward and grasped
each mans hand with a hearty squeeze. The
curt room was then cleared, the defendant
going to Sam Dinnin s saloon and restaurant,
where ne n0b his vile. Lie
wine was brought in and the fun and
another little party might have been seen en-
ioying themselves in song, mingled with
discord from an Italian harp.
PUBLIC OPINION.
Had an earthquake visited the city it could
not have produced a much greater shock than
the result of this trial.
ssIs it possibIe,'' "Is it truer' were the ex.
pressions heard On every side as the acquital
was heralded through the city from mouth to
mouth. A large number ii leading citizens
were Intercepted by the reporter yesterday
regarding the verdict. 1t was unexpected by
every one and by many thought unjust. Blu
such it was, s'Not guilty"
THE JURY.
1t is impossible to give the result of the ba!
lots, as the jury pledged themselves to secrecy
That there was not more than six is known
however and verified by the statements OF two
jurors. There was but little opposition to the
verdict from the first, and that perhaps from
force of habit. The jury was in the box L
days, and was composed of the following
gentlemen:
Andrew A. Heller, carriage maker: DAME
conductor: James E. Watts, grocer: Herper
Rocker, contractor; Joshua w. Copeland
wholesale mill1ner; Joseph c. French, drug
gist; James A. Isgrigg. lumber dealer; Joseph
II. Shreve, gram dealer; Francis N Scott
commercial man: Theodore johnson. farmer
Abaham W Gorreli, wholesale queenswar'
dealer.
A JUROR TALKS
A. A. Heller, one of the jurors, was met by
Sentinel reporter yesterday. He declined t.
state the result of any one ballot, but left tn
reporter to infer that there was little troubl
to find the verdict returned. He SAT-
the bulk of the evidence was on Tates side
and he could not understand why the com
munity should blame the jury. A number c
citizens had talked to him and censured hin
for assisting in returning such a verdict. 81
were. threatened said Mr.. Heller, Gas Tat
was, I should arm myself, and if tn
person that threatened NE pu
his hand back to his hip pocket, as Low
did, should have shot him as quick as
could" The juror said he had known Tate fc
80 years, but had not spoken to him because
his character. He did not wish it understood
that he had shown him any favoritism, br
that he had tried the case as he thought, az
eording to the law and the evidence.
In making up their verdict, Mr.. Heller sal
the jury excluded large part of the evidenc
out declined to say what it was.
Tate went to his farm in the country at a
early hour yesterday, possibly to avoid int
viewers. 1t is understood he intends goir
South shortly.