The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-18
THoMPsoNs ACoUITTAL.
A Gushing Story of Flow Every Breathing
Thing Awaited Silently the Verdict.

Harrodsburg Special.
1.-The jury went out at quarter to O clock
An hour passed, and still the jury was not
heard from. The crowd began to grow i'm
patient. Phil. Thompson sat at the table
with his attorneys, and his face grew white
aud the lines about the mouth were hard and
firm. feeling OF awful anxiety settled
down upon the party of his friends and SYM
pathizers who were gathered about him. An
hour and eighteen minutes went slowly by,
and then suddenly a sound of tramping foot
steps was heard upon the stairs 1.-THE Jurors
are coming" was the cry. Presently the
throng surged into the almost deserted court
room. The cry swelled until it could be
heard far out in the street, and everybody
within ear-shot crowded into the ROOM
Slowly the jury filed into the room,
and the throng still pressed af-
ter them. By the time they had gained their
place before the bar the great room was so
full that it did not seem as if another hui
man being could force his way in and find
breathing space. Among all the audience
not man was sitting down. All were stand
ing on chairs, benches, and even upon the
stove. At last the noisy crowding in ceased,
and deep apprehensive silence fell like a
pail upon the throng.
Gentlemen of the jury" deliberately be-
gan Judge Hardin, after the list of jurors
was called, 'haye you decided upon a YER
dct?' a'. 9r --'
1--WE have" came in clear tones from s. F.
OVerstreet, an aged man, who acted as fore
man.
will you read it?" continued the Court
With trembling hands the old man un-
folded paper which he carried, and then,
in an unfaltering voice, read: I'VE the jury,
lind the defendant not guilty as charged in
the Indictment"
As he read, not a breath, not a murmur
could be heard in the ROOM 1t was as still
as death Itself. Even the birds in the trees
without ceased their singing and the rustic
OF the leaves was lost in that intense atten-
ton given to the words of the aged juror.
For the moment hearts ceased to beat, but
the moment the phrase, mot guilty" was
heard there was universal shout. A wild
series OF uncomfortable hurrahs broke forth
from the assem- bled hundreds, which swelled
and swelled to perfect roar, a tumultuous
torrent OF sound that could be heard for
miles away. The mighty throng yelled
themselves hoarse, stamped on the floor,
and those who could disengage their arms
clapped their hands in an irrestrainable fit
of joy.
OF the verdict, old Phil. Thompson jumped
to his feet and flung himself half across the
table and grasping 0verstreets hand shook
1T turiously, exclaiming in voice that could
be distinguished far above the tumult
Thank God, the virtue OF our wives is pro-
tected. Tears were on his face, which was
radiant with pleasure, and he shook Over
streets hand as though ne had utterly for
gotten the hundreds of spectators, who only
cheered the louder 1t was public express
sion OF the belief in the righteousness of the
verdict such as has never been seen in any
community. Men lost all control CT them
selves, and in the most demonstrative way
behind the bar and frantically began shak-
ing hands with each and every
one of the jurors. In vain
did the gavel of the judge descend He
might as well have told the angry waves to
still their heavings, or to bid the winds to
cease to blow, as TO have quieted the throng
Gentlemen, remember that the jury is not
yet dismissed" he, cried out again and again;
as he saw the jurors being carried off by their
enthusiastic friends. Finally, peace was
once more in measure restored The iu-
rors were formally dismissed and thanked for
their attention. Then Judge Jacobs moved
that the prisoner, Phil. Thomson. be like
wise dismissed This was done, and then an
other wild demonstration of joy took place
The tremendous throng picked the Jurors up
bodily in the excess of their delight and tri-
umphantly carried them into the open air
Phil Thompsons wonderful nerve did not
desert him. He was calm as a statue, and not
a muscle of his face twitched during the en-
tire proceedh &. Even during the those
anxious moments while the jury
was out he cooly smoked. Now he
rose in his place and a perfect ovation
was rendered him. A thousand shouts for
Little Phil" re-echoed in the room. Every
body crowded up around him, and shook
his hand phil" cried many horny
handed farmer, his face Drowned with ex-
posure to the sun, ''let me have a little
squeeze of your hand.1 and for nearly quar-
ter of an hour did he stand jammed in his
place, while the people, his constituents,
pressed about him, and in the fervor of their
devotion shook both his hands. By his side
was his twin brother John and his father,
and they also came in for share OF the
handshaking 1t was scene SO filled with
genuine feeling, so replete with heartiness,
that it cannot be described. The correspond
ent even forgot his duties, and, fired with
the enthusiasm of the moment Joined in
the shouts of approval and handshaking.
The terrible strain under which the people
had been for so Longtime weary days-was
taken away so sudden and completely that
the reaction could not be repressed