Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-03-03
AcquittaI Of Mrs. Smith and Cove
Bennett.
The Scene In Court.
Now York Stnr.l

Jury sent one of the cOnstables to
Inform the court that the jury had
reached u conclusion, and had de-
termined upon a verdict. A mes.
selger was Immediately sent in
search Of Judge Knapp, who about
an hour atterward entered the court.
room accompanied by Attorney
General Stockton. AS soon as the
assemblage was made aware of the
presence of the Judge and Attor-
ney General, a deep silence fell
over the entire court-room, as the
anxious spectators waited for the
verdict. 1t was moment of aw-
iul, painful suspense to the two
young prisoners, who for a second
time were being tried for their
lives. Mrs. Smiths face was pallid
rs death, while, on the contrary,
Bennett was flushed with excite
nent, and his extreme nervousness
was manifest to the most casual
observer. The prisoners fixed their
eyes upon the jury as il watching
for the slightest CLEAN of hope,
but the foreman met their gaze un.
tiinchingly, and there was no indi-
cation of what conclusion had been
reached. The suspense was awful,
and when Judge Knapp raped for
order long drawn sigh escaped
from the lips of all present. Never
did jurymen more thoroughly con.
ceal the identity of their verdict,
and there was no one astute enough
to safely prophesy the result before
It's formal announcement. At last
the supreme moment arrived, and
the jury was polled and arose,
facing the prisoners. who were Or
dered to stand up and look upon
the arbiters of their fate.
"Gentlemen of the jury asked
Clerk Fisher, "have you agreed
upon verdict!'
The foreman of the jury an
swered, ave have"
"Gentlemen of the jury, what is
your verdicti'
Not guilty. replied the foreman.
Scarcely had the echo of the
words mot guilty" died away, when
thousand voices uttered a thous.
and huZzas and the courtroom rang
with cheers, that were caught up
by those on the outside and passed
along the streets of Jersey City.
AS men and women met each other,
the one salutation was, "They are
acquitted" "They are acquitted
The urtroOm for the time being
ceased to be hall of justice, and
the enforcement of order was not
attempted. Men and women surged
to and fro, hats were thrown into the
air, while lawyers, .clergymen and
members of the press rushed tor.
ward 10 tender congratulations to
the fortunate defendants. Bennett
was filed with JOY, and Mrs. Smith
burst into flood of tears, while a
jubilant crowd of admirers and
sympathizers leaned forward to
grasp her hand and tender her
words of earnest consolation.
tx Judge Hoffman showed his
qualification at the result, and the
general expression was that he had
received the reward for his unceas.
ing efforts in behalf of the defend.
ants.
Counselor Collins was all smiles.
81 told you So" 81 told you so,' he
repeated time and again to those
who greeted him.
Senator Winfield was absent but
not forgotten, and the dashing
Fleming passed to and fro among
the lawyers, cfergymen and others,
a hero tor the hour.
Bennett grasped warmly each
hand that was rendered, and he
looked the great happiness that he
evidently felt. Mrs. Smiths face
flushed with excitement, presented
strikingly beautiful contrast to her
mourning habiliments, and with
tears streaming down her cheeks
she shook each juryman by the
hand, and tenderly thanked them
for their verdict of vindication from
the charge Of foul crime. 1t was
scene not to be forgotten. The
men were frantic with excitement,
the women were in tears, and even
the Court and its officers entered
more or less into the general re-
joicing over the happy termination
of this celebrated murder trial.
When the usual motion for dis
charge of the prisoners was asked
by their counsel, Judge Knapp, evil