Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-09-20
THE JAMES VERDICT.

| How it Was Received by the Citizens 81
GaIlatin and Other P0ints-PronOuncei1
an Outrage on Justice-A Testimonial
to Prosecuting Attorney Wallace Polite
ly Declined by That Gentleman.
sH GALLATIN, Mo-, Sept. 6.
i Within a 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
h proper citizens at once became an indigna.
| ton meeting. Groups of men gathered Oh
every curb and corner and denounced the
| verdict as an outrage on law and ORDER a
conviction had hardly been looked for, but
a hung jury was deemed a probable and
| an acquittal an impossible thing. Yet this
| jury took but two ballots to arrive at .
| verdict, the first standing eleven to one for
acquittal, the second unanimous for
| acquittal. People, here can not under
| stand how thus verdict was arrived at.
| and rlmors of curious import in regard
| to the jury which have been floating round
| for days past were suddenly revived. 1t
was remembered that five names Of the
| panel of forty had been on the list OF jurors
desired to be summoned by the defense. At
Tie IlI1le IL was ueDdtcu WHCbuCI W uaNO
the entire panel rejected and new list
summoned by an officer other than tho
Sheriff, to strike the five names OF in the
States challenges. The lattcr course was
remembered how a 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 cnat 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
and order, took practical form. A fund
was raised, chiefly through the exertions OF
T. B. Yates, Of the Farmers Exchange
Bank, and George Tuggle, of the Daviess
Wallace with something that would remind
him of the esteem that Galatians citizens
had for the man who had SO vigorously
prosecuted James. Nearly all the property
Judge McDougalps law office about $3.50
O'clock. D. Harf1eld Davis made the pre-
sentation speech, and handed Mr.. Wallace
gold watch on behalf of the citizens Of
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 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
few words by Judge Shanklin, resolution
was offered by DR.. Black to apply the
money in printing Mr.. Walace's closing
speech. This was carried, and Messrs.
Davis, Black and Yates were made 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 Westfan by Jes-
Sc James, one for the Sheets murder in
connection with the robbery of the Gallatin
Bank, and one for simple larceny at VIM
ston. If he is acquitted here on all these,
there is still the Blue Cut case to be tried at
independence, and the Mortified and other
cases after that, SO that this alleged chlv-
alrous bandit is far from free.
z.. ~ #. KANSAS CITY, Sept :.
The verdict in the James case was re-
oeived 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,
III ldCG, dIIlOuS I'LL CldSSeS VI pcOpIc. ~ as
talked about tonight to the exclusion of
other topics. Some declared that no other
result could have been reached; that there
was no evidence to convict; that the state
ments of witnesses for the State were not
worthy of belief. One in a thousand thought
that James had received simple justice.
A great ma jority 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. 6.
The news of the acquittal of Frank
James was received here between four and
five O'Clock this afternoon, and immediately
spread through the town. Among those
who have watched the progress of the trial
closely the outcome of it 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
for reviving the epithet, "poOr old Mis-
souri," Governor Crittenden, when ap-
preached and asked if he had anything to
say regarding it, replied that he had not.
at is the verdict of jury" he said, land
it would be improper for me to comment on
it." 4s. -.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Sept. 6.
kilograms have just been received con-
tanning intelligence of the acquittal of
Frank James at Gallatin. There are a few
of course, are jubilant, but the majority Of
the people are very indignant, and pro-
nounce the verdict an outrage on justice.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Sept Q.
Bob Ford, the slayer of Frank, James
brother Jesse, is now playing at the Zoo
Theater, in this city, in play entitled
"The Brothers. Oath" He was seen by
reporter and apprised of the verdict in the
James trial. Upon being informed OF the
acquittal of James he manifested great sur
prise Said he: II had heard from some of
my friends that this was probable, but
never believed that it was possible for tho
Jury to acquit, knowing as Idid that he was
guilty. Even this afternoon had offered
to wager 81 900 on his conviction"
When asked if he apprehended personals
danger from the probable release of Frank,
James, he said, with significant shrug OF
the shoulders: swell, should feel safer If
he were locked p. But don't propose to
provoke any quarrel, although am as good
a man as he is with firearms. shall try