Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-06-21
NOT GUILTY.
So Say the Jurors in the Star
Route Cases.

A Washington dispatch of the Ash
avs:
"You Can ask the jury whether thew
have any communication to make to
the court" said Judge Wvlie to the
crler, when the criminal court, hearing
the star route cases, reassembled this
morning.
Crier Donaldson soon returned with
the message that the jury desired to
communicate with the court.
They filed into the court room ap-
parently none the worse for their con-
tlnement. When they were seated the
Judge said: Gentlemen of the Jury,
the court has sent for you for the pur-
pose of inquiring whether you have
any communication to make"
The foreman in reply stated that the
Jury had agreed upon verdict, and a
painful silence fell upon the court room
only to be broken by wild shouts of ap-
plause, when, In clear tone, the YER
dict was "not guilty." Immediately
the decorum of g. court of Justice was
forgotten and cheers resounded from
all quarters of the crowded room. Mrs.
>: w. Dorsey sprang to her feet, clap.
ping her hands, while tears streamed
down her cheeks and there were many
ladies' IN the court who were silently
weeping.
Davidge quietly asked to have the
verdict recorded, which was done, while
the deputy marshals were vsinly en-
deavoring to quiet the tumult.
S. W. Dorsey and Brady were re-
clplents of warm congratulations, and
as they left the court room they we're
greeted with renewed cheers by the
crowd III front of the city hall When
order had been somewhat restored by
reason of the defendants and their
friends leaving the room, Judge Wylie
turned to Juror Vernon and asked.
Mr.. Vernon, how are you this morn
ing?"
Juror Vernor-"Firs t.rate, sir"
The COurt-"I believe we have moth
ing farther for the jury to do, during
this term, and the court is prepared to
discharge you finally. You have had a
laborious task to perform in this case.
You have been NJ ore than six months
engaged in this trial. Many of you have
occupations of your own, which you
have been obi ged to neglect during
that period, and though your
verdict of course will create
dissatisfaction to many, yet having
been selected according to the forms
of law and having sworn to perform
your duties faithfully, the court is
bound to presume that you have faith
fully performed that duty. If 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"
In the ante-room and halls, the Jury
was beset by a thropg of interested
persons, prominent among them being
the defendants and Mrs. S. w. Dorsey
and Peck, who thanked them for the
verdict, with tears in their eyes.
AS the foreman reached the side
walk, the large crowd assembled there
burst into tumuItuous cheers, which
we're renewed as each juror made his
way out Of the court house. The fore
man stated to q representative
of the associated press that five
UduOlS were GdkSA ny Tile Jury.
The first ballot was upon the sues
ton of the existence of conspiracy,
and the ballotresulted in vote of three
for and nine against conspiracy. On
the second ballot, The nine was increas-
ed to ten, although the vote was then
upon the innocence or guilt of the de-
PENDANTS. The vote remained unchang-
ed until about s o'clock this morning,
when scquittal was agreed upon. What
Ker says. Ker was the only represen-
tative of the prosecution in the court,
when the verdict was returned, and
Carpenter, Dorsey's counsel, congratu-
lated him as the only one of the gov
eminent counsel having the pluck to
show up in the hour of defeat. He
said he was this morning informed by
a court officer that Ingersoll had said
the jury would return verdict of &C.
quittal. He added that the other in
dictments against Brady, would be
pressed. o. course it would be neces-
sary for the court to enter an order
setting aside the Rerdell plea of guilty.