The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-09-14
THE JA1Es VERDICT.

| THE JAMES VERDICT.
| How it Was Received by the Citizens Of
| Gellatin and Other Points-PronouAced
m Outrage ON Justice-A Testimonial
| TO Prosecuting Attorney wallace Polite.
| " Declined by That Gentleman.
GALLATIN, Mo-, Sept. 9.
| Within q few minutes after rendering
their verdict the Frank James jury became
invisible. They paid their board bills and
left for home, and one at least was sar.
castically invited to come again and be .
Juror at the next trial. Their sympathizers
disappeared with them, and all Gallatin's
proper citizens at once became an indigna.
ton meeting. Groups Of men gathered or
every curb and corner and denounced the
verdict as an outrage on law and order. 4
| conviction had hardly been looked for, but
hung jury was deemed probable and
an acquittal an impossible thing. Yet this
| Jury took but two ballots to arrive at q
verdict, the first standing eleven to one for
acquittal, the second unanimous for
| acquittal. People here can not unGer.
stand how this verdict was arrived at.
and rumors of curious import in regard
| to the jury which have been floating round
| for days past were suddenly revived. II
panel of forty had been on the list of jurors
| desired to be summoned by the defense. At
| the time 1t was debated whether to have
| the entire panel rejected and new list
summoned by an officer other than the
! Sheriff, or to strike the five names off in the
/ States challenges. The latter course was
adopted with some misgiving. 1t was also
remembered how man had ridden through
| the western part of the county and notified
certain parties friendly to James to be on
hand for jury service. 1t was remembered,
too, how one of the twelve had, before be-
| ing summoned, stated chat no matter what
the evidence might be he would vote for
acquittal If on the jury. Another Of the
twelve was said to have been brought by
the defense so that he could be placed on
the panel. The feeling against Sheriff
Crozier, who summoned the special venire,
has been pretty strong from the beginning
of the trial, and that officer has been most
heartily criticised tonight.
Long before supper time the sympathy OF
Galatians best citizens, in behalf of law
and order, took a practical form. A fund
was raised. chiefly through the exertions of
7. B. Yates, of the Farmers Exchange
Bank, and George Tuggle, of the Daviess
County Savings Association, to present Mr..
Wallace with something that would remind
him of the esteem that Gallatin's citizens
had for the man who had so vigorously
prosecuted James. Nearly all the property
owners and merchants of Gallatin met at
Judge McDougalPs law office about $3.50
o'clock. d. fairfield Davis made the pre-
sentation speech, and handed Mr.. Wallace
q gold watch on behalf of the citizens of
this place, in appreciation of his services in
the prosecution of the most famous crimi-
nal case ever tried in this State. Mr.. Wal
lace responded, declining the offered gift be-
cause he was a public officer and not yet
through with the task of fitting burden of
legal punishment on Frank James Shout
ders, and assuring his friends that he val
ued their offer of present equally with the
present itself, but treasured the feeling
which prompted it above all else. After
few words by Judge Shanklin, resolution
was offered by DR.. Black to apply the
money in printing Mr.. Wallace's closing
speech. This was carried, and Messrs.
Davis, Black and Yates were made a COM
mittee on that business. The meeting then
adjourned. There are three other cases
here against Frank James-one for being
accessory to the killing of Westfall by Jes-
Sc James; one for the Sheets murder in
connection with the robbery of the Gallatin
Bank, and one for simple larceny at Win
ston. If he is acquitted here on all these,
there is still the Blue Cut case to be tried at
Independence, and the Northfield and other
cases after that, SO that this alleged chiv-
alrous bandit is far from free.
KANSAS CITY, Sept. D.
The verdict in the James case was re-
ceived with great interest In this city. The
report flew from mouth to mouth till it be-
came the sole theme on the streets, in the
saloons, at the hotels, among business men
and lawyers, in police and city circles, and,
In fact, among all classes Of people. TWAS
talked about tonight to the exclusion Of
other topics. Some declared that no other
rnnId haon rAAchAd. there
was no evidence to convict; that the state
ments Of witnesses for the State we're not
worthy of belief. One in q thousand thought
that James had received simple justice
great majority Of the people, however,
said that the verdict Of acquittal was an
outrage which would add to Missouri's
shame in many instances.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, Sept. 9.
The news of the acquittal of Frank
James was received here between four and
Eve O'Clock this afternoon, and Immediately
spread through the town. Among those
who have watched the progress Of the trial
closely the outcome of il was not a sur.
prise. Some said they were in hopes he
would be convicted, others were glad Of his
acquittal, while others made it the occasion
souri," Governor Crittenden, when ap-
preached and asked if he had anything to
say regarding it, replied that he had not.
SIT is the verdict Of a jury" he said, "and
it would be improper for me to comment on
it."
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Sept 9.
kilograms have just been received con.
tanning intelligence of the acquittal OF
Frank James at Gallatin. There are few
of the personal friends of Frank here, who,
nf cnurce are iuhilapt hut tho IN a ioritv nj