Daily globe., 1883-06-15
Such is the Verdict Of the Jury in the
Star Route Case.
AYERDfCr OF NOT GUILTY GIVEN.
Great Joy Among the Defendants and
Their Friends in Court.
CHEERS AND CLAPPING OF HANDS.
How the Verdict Was Arrived at, and
How it is Received.

WASHINGTON. } une 14.-YOu can ask the
jury whether they have any communica-
tion TO make to the court, said Judge Wy
lie to the Crier when the criminal court
hearing the star route case reassembled
this morning. Crier Donaldson soon re
turned with message that the jury de-
sired to communicate with the court. They
filed into the court room apparently none
the worse for their confinement. When
they we're seated Judge WyIie said: 'Gen-
tlemen of the jury, the court has sent for
you tor the purpose of inquiring whether
you have any communication to make"
The foreman, IN reply, stated that the
jury had agreed upon q verdict, and a
painful silence fell upon the court room,
only 10 be broken by wild shouts of ap
pause, when in a clear-toned voice
the foreman stated the verdict was mot
guilty"
Immediately the decorum of the court of
justice was forgotten, and cheers resound-
ed from all quarters of the crowded room,
Mrs. 5. w, Dorsey sprang to her feet clap
ping her hands. while tears streamed down
her cheeks, and there were many ladies in
the court who were silently weeping.
Davidze quietly asked to have the verdict
recorded, which was done While the
deputy marshals were vainly endeavoring
10 qGsll the tumult, S. W. Dorsey and
Brad waTe tho recipients OF warm con
gratuyation5, and as they left the court
room they were greeted with renewed
cheers By the crowd in front of the city
hall.
When order had been somewhat restored
by reason of the defendants and their
friends leaving the room, Judge WyIie
turned to Juror Vernon and asked
''Mr. Vernon, how are you this morn
ing" Juror Vernon answered: First rate
sir
The court: I believe we have nothing
further for the jury to do during this term,
and the court Is prepared to discharge you
finally. You have had a laborious task to
perform; in this case you have been more
than SIX months engaged on this trial.
Many Of you have occupations of your
own which You have been obliged to neg
lect during that period, and though
your verdict. Of course, will Gre
ate dissatisfaction to many, yet
having been selected accord
ing 10 the forms Of the law and having
sworn to perform your duties faithfully,
the court is bound to presume you have
faithfully performed your duty. If you
have done 50, each one according to the
dictates Of his conscience, that will be 4
satisfaction to You rs long as you live.
You a-s therefore discharged, with the
thanks o. the court.
In tae aute-roOIns and halls the Jury was
bess. by q thrOng of interested persons,
prominent among them being the defend
ants a-J Mrs. 5. W. Dorsey aud Mrs Peck
who thanked themfor the verdict with tears
in their eyes. As the foreman reached the
sidewalk large crowd assembled there
burst into tumultuous cheers which
wera renewed as each juror made his way
OGt OF the court house.
The foreman stated to a representative
of the Associated Press that five ballots
were taken by the jury. The first ballot
was upon the question of the existence of
a conspiracy, and the ballot resulted three
for to nine against the conspiracy. On
the second ballot the 8 was increased to
10, although the vote was then upon the
innocence or guilt of the defendants. This
vote remained unchanged until about s
o'clock this morning, when an acquittal
was agreed upon.
Ker was the only representative of the
prosecution in court when the verdict was
returned, and Carpenter, Dorsey's counsel,
congratulated him as the only one of the
government counsel having the pluk to
show Up in the hour of defeat. Ker says
he was this morning informed by the
cour. officer that IngerSou had said the
jury would return verdict of acquittal.
He added that the other indictments
against Brady would be pressed. OF course
If w31.l be nac9Ssary for the court to en-
ter order setting aside RerdeIrs plea
Of guilty.
Information gathered from the mem
be-s Of the Jury discloses the fact that
several informal votes were taken in addi-
tion to those already recorded. On vote
on the question of innocence or guilt all
the defendants excepting Brady, stood
nine for acquittal, three for conviction, the
latter vote being cast by Jurors Harrigan,
Sheriff and Green. In Brady's case the jury
stood ten to two in favor OF acquittal, the
two negative votes being cast by Harrigan
and Sheriff. The other jurors who voted
for acquittal Evans, Loway, Gill and Rise
haw, gave as their reason for voting in
that way that they failed to find any proof
ofexi5tence of conspiracy.
Juror Sheriff, who at first voted for con-
viction, said that in the minds of some of
the jurors there was doubt as to the inno-
,cence of the defendants, but after a long
Q6lIUeLdL1OA Gno JULIUS AOAI ~ W OO tlClI
duty to resolve that doubt in favor of the
defendants. He thought if the govern
ment with all its power in six months
trial could not convict man he ought to
be acquitted.
Sheriff further said the extreme length
OF the trial, the large amount of oral tes-
timony and documentary evidence in the
case and the long arguments of the coun-
sci seemed to have had the effect of befog
ging the minds of the jurors, so that they
found it a difficult matter to reach any
firm and fixed conviction.
Bliss, Ker and Merrick were found seat
ed in the office of the last named gentle
man, apparently in philosophical frame
of mind.
''What can I say for the government
side of the case,'' asked the reporter.
Has it any case,' queried Merrick,
smilingly. WAS it not killed this morn
ing?"
None of the governments council ex-
pressed any surprise at the verdict, Mer-
rick sarcasticaliy remarking that they had