Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-06-20
THE LONG TRIAL ENDED.
Star Route Defendants Rejoicing
in a Verdict of Acquittal.

Sldl hOutc DclCllQdlllS INSJOISiiS
in Verdict of Acquittal.
WASHINGTON, June 14.-Twelve
jurymen decided this morning that the
Government had notlegally established
case Of conspiracy against the Star
route defendants. This verdict of alb
solute acquittal coming so unex-
pectedly has created a very marked
sensation The announcement in the
court room of the verdict was followed
by an uproarious scene of applause,
tears, Mysteries, and cheers. Every
one expected the jury to disagree.
Judge Wylie himself, a week or ten
days ago, called up the counsel for the
prosecution and said to them, 81 do
not think you are going to get verdict
out of that jury | have watched it
carefully, and am certain that four of
the best men on it are in doubt" Last
night an employee of the Department
of Justice reported that the jury stood
eleven to one for acquittal. This came
from one of the bailitfs, who claimed to
have overheard vote
AT any rate the prosecution had in
tended, if disagreement were report
ed, to ask to have the jury dismissed,
on the ground of the condition of Juror
Vernon. Had this been attempted, DIR.
Sewers, who attended Vernon yester-
day, would have testified that Vernon
was all right mentally, after he had
braced him up with two drinks of
brandy. DR.. Sewers said this morning
that Vernon had more than one reason
for being so terribly sick. He had
swallowed by mistake a quid of
tobacco, and being shut up in a close
room without stimulants he very soon
went to pieces DR.. Sewers first clear
ed out his stomach, and then braced
him up with brandy. When the jury
came into the court room this morning
Vernon looked as well as any of them.
Judge Wylie spoke to Vernon as the
jury filed past him. How are you
feeling this morning, Mr.. Vernon 2"
said he. "First rate,p was his reply.
The court room was crowded when
the jurors took their places. Every one
of the defendants was there. Dorsey
sat by the side of his wife, flushed and
expectant. Upon the left of Mrs.
Dorsey was her sister, Mrs. Peck.
Brady was just back of his special
counsel, Judge Wilson, looking as hard
and grim as ever All of the counsel
for the Star route defendants were in
their seats. Col Ingersoll's face show
ed great self-control, although he was
evidently laboring under strong nervous
excitement.
When the jurors took their places in
the court room, at precisely 10 O'Clock,
Judge Wylie looked at them and said,
in his slow, hesitating way: Gentle
men, / have sent for you to learn
ahem-to learn if you have agreed
ahem-upon verdict" Mr.. Crane,
the foreman, said, "We have agreed" 4"
Judge Wylie gave start of surprise
and looked toward the seats for the
the counsel for the Government. Not
one of them was present. This looked
very ominous for the Governments
case, and indicated besides that the
| baililfs must have betrayed the secrets
of the jury room to the prosecution, as
neither Bliss nor Merrick came to the
court room at all. Mr.. Ker, one of the
counsel for the:lprosecution, came in
and stood in the door as the Judge
said to the Clerk, "Receive this
verdict" There was the usual silence
as every one turned toward the fore
man Mr.. Crane said very deliberate
ly. eve find the defendants not
guilty"
Then there followed scene of great
confusion and uproar, which the Judge
could not restrain. Indeed, he did not
try. The figure of q woman in gray
silk was seen jumping up and down
with hands extended toward the ceiling,
sobbing, shouting and crying: ,"Glory
to God !" "Glory to God !" 1t was
Mrs Dorsey, who had violent fit Of
Mysteries. Dorsey, with tears running
down his cheeks from under his green
goggles, had all he could do to restrain
his wife and make her regain her sell
control. Col Ingersoll's face was u
study. The stern lines of an intense
anxiety relaxed, his lips and chin
trembled and tears filed his eyes. His
family were on their feet perfectly wild.
The stoical Judge Wilson became as
nervous as child. lie walked around
with lighted cigar in his hand, and
burned his moustache half of trying to
put the wrong end in his mouth. The
nervousness OF the defendants and their
friends was communicated quickly to
the tickle crowd Of spectators, who
cheered and yelled at the victory Of the
defence, while every man of them
would probably have been az ready to
cheer and yell If the Government had
been successful. Brady was the only
one in the whole crowd who retained
the same ironclad composure which he
has shown all through the trial. His
countenance never changed. lie sat
silent for few moments, and mechanl-
cally shook hands with those who ap-
preached him Then he got up and
walked quietly over to the jury. lie
was the first man TO approach the jury.
Beginning with the foreman, he shook.
hands solemnly with each member, and
then be asked u friend topresent him to
Judge Wylie. He said that he had
never had the pleasure OF meeting the
Judge.
Judge Wylie looked at him in n
queer way as he shook hands. The
Judge said TO him: "Gen. Brady, you
had great experience in that Office OF
yours in tho Post Office Department,
and you must certainly have known il
any thing wrong was going on" Brady
bowed. and said nothing.
The jury, AZ soon as the confusion
had moderated, was polled. Judge
Wylie then announced that there were
no more duties for the jury to perform.
nX OH had q lnhorious taak TO perform