St. Landry democrat., 1883-06-23
ssNOT GUILTY."
The Verdict in the Celebrated Star-Routs
Trial at Washington-The COURTROOM q
Scene of Wild Excitement-The Jury
DISCHARGED and the Case Closed.

1
/ Trial at Washington-The COURTROOM a
| Scene of Wild Excitement-The Jury
Discharged and the Case Closed.
WASHINGTON, d. c., June, IA.
"You can ask the jury whether they have
any communication to make to the Court"
said Judge Wylie to the crier when the
Criminal Court hearing the star-route case
reassembled this morning. Crier Donald
son soon returned with a message that the
| jury desired to communicate with the
Court. They filed into the courtroom, ap-
I parently none the worse for their confine-
4 ment. When they were seated the Judge
said: "Gentlemen of the jury, the Court
has sent for you for the purpose of inquir-
ing whether you have any communication
| to make" The foreman stated that the
/ jury had agreed upon verdict, and
| painful silence fell upon the courtroom,
only to be broken by wild shouts of APP
| plause, when in clear tone of voice the
| foreman stated the verdict was
mot GUILTY."
Immediately the decorum of the court OF
| Justice was forgotten and cheers resounded
! from all quarters of the crowded floor.
| Mrs. s. w. Dorsey sprang to her feet,
| clapping her hands, while tears streamed
| down her cheeks, and there were many Ia
| lies in the Court who were silently weep
| ing. Davidge quietly asked to have the
verdict recorded, which was done, while
! the Deputy Marshals were vainly endeav-
! oring to quiet the tumult. S. W. Dorsey
! and Brady We're the recipients of warm
| congratulations, 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 re-
| stored by reason of the defendants and
! their friends leaving the room, Judge Wy
| lie turned to Juror Vernon and asked:
@Mr. Vernon: how are you this morn.
| ingp
| The Court: 81 believe we have nothing
| further for the jury to do during the 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 in 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 create dissatisfaction
to many, yet having been selected accord
ing to the forms of law, and having sworn
to perform your duties faithfully, the
Court is bound to presume you have faith
| performed your duty. 1t you have done
so, each one according to the dictates of his
conscience, that will be satisfaction to
you as long as you live. You are therefore
discharged with the thanks of the Court"
III the ante-room and the halls the jury
was beset by a throng of interested per-
sons, prominent among them being the de-
PENDANTS and Mrs. S. w. Dorsey and Mrs.
Peck, who thanked them for the verdict
with tears in their eyes. As the foreman
reached the sidewalk the large crowd as
sembled there burst into tumultuous cheers,
which was renewed as each juror made his
way out of the Courthouse.
ker was the only representative of the
prosecution in the court when the verdict
was returned, and Carpenter, Dorsey's
counsel, congratulated him as the only one
of the Government counsel having pluck
enough to show up in the hour of defeat
Ker says he was this morning informed by
the court officer that Ingersoll had said the
jury would return verdict of acquittal
He added that the other indictments against
Brady would be pressed, and that, OF
course, it would be necessary for the Court
to enter an order setting aside Rerdell's
plea of guilty.
information gathered from members of
the jury discloses the fact that several in
formal votes were taken in addition to
those already recorded. A vote on the
question of the innocence or guilt of all the
defendants excepting Brady stood nine for
acquittal and three for conviction, the lat
ter votes being cast by Jurors Harrigan,
Sheriff and Grone. In Brady's case the
jury stood ten to two in favor of his &C
quittal, the two negative voters being Har-
rigan and Sheriff. OF the jurors who voted
for acquittal Evans, Lowry, Gill and Re-
shaw gave as the reason for voting in that
way they failed to find any proof of the ex-
istence of conspiracy. Juror Sheriff
{who at first voted for conviction) said that
in the minds of some of the jurors there
was doubt as to the innocence of defend
ants, but after consultation jurors felt it to
be their duty to resolve that doubt in favor
of defendants. He thought if the Govern
ment, with all it's power, i'll six months
trial could not convict a man he ought to be
acquitted. Sheriff further said that the ex-
treme length of the trial, the large amount
of oral testimony and documentary evil
dence in the case and the long arguments
seemed to have had the effect of befogging
the minds of the jury, SO that they found it
difficult matter to reach any firm and
fixed conviction.
At the Department of Justice.
The news of the verdict in the star.coute
trial reached the Department of Justice
shortly after ten O'Clock this morning, by
eral.was in consultation with George Bliss.
When the news was announced he said to
Bliss: ssWhat do you think of that9'
g am astonished," was the reply. 81
thought some of the jurors might get mud
died on the conspiracy question, but did
not anticipate acquittal."
swell" said the Attorney General, stthat
settles it. When twelve men agree the mat
ter is settled. feel satisfied the Govern
ment has presented the case in the best
possible Manner
WHAT JURORS SAY.
Juror Harrigan held alone for conviction
for long time. He says: 81 finally came
to the conclusion that eleven heads were
better than one, especially when some of
the others were educated and smart gentle-
men. A few minutes before we came into
court went over because didn't feel like