The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-06-22
uNoT GUILTY,

"NOT GUILTY."
The Verdict in the Celebrated Star.Routs
Trial at WashingtOn-The Court-Room {
Scene Of Wild Excitemen t-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 cass
/ 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
parently none the worse for their confine-
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 a
painful silence fell upon the courtroom
only to be broken by wild shouts of ap
plause, when in clear tone of voice the
foreman stated the verdict was -
"Nor GUILTY."
Immediately the decorum Of the court Of
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 We're many la
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 yainly endeav'
oring to quiet the tumult. S. w. Dorsey
and Brady were 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
ing"
Juror Vernon: "First-rate, sir.S
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 Ct 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. If you have done
so, each one according to the dictates of his
conscience, that will be satisfaction to
, yCu as long as you live. You are therefore
discharged with the thanks of the Court"
In 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
which was renewed as each juror made his
way out of the Court house.
Ker was the only representative of the
prosecution in the court when the verdict
was returned, and Carpenter, rorsey'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 infor ned by
the court officer that Ingersoll had said the
jury would return a verdict of ac,uittal.
He added thatthe other indictments ,gainst
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 its power, in 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
a difficult matter to reach any firm and
fixed conviction.
At the Department of Justice.
TIE news of the verdict in the star-coute
trial reached the Department of Justice
shortly after ten o'clock this morning, by
telephone. At the time the Attorney-Gen-
eral was in consultation with George Bliss.
When the news was announced he said to
Bliss: "What do YOU think of that"'
Il am astonished," was the reply. 81
thought some of the jurors might get mud
died on the conspiracy question, but | did
not anticipate acquittal."
"Well," said the Attorney General, "that
settles it. When twelve men agree the mat
ter is settled. l feel satisfied the Govern
ment has presented the case in the best
possible manner"
WHAT JURORS SAY.
Juror Harrigan held alone for conviction
for a long time. He says: II finally came
to tie 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
opposing eleven men, SO l gave defendants
the benefit of the doubt, and voted for &C.
Quittal."
Foreman Crane says the jury voted first
on the question as to whether there was
some discussion to vote upon the guilt or
innocence of individuals, which of course
would carry conspiracy with it. John W.
Dorsey" said Crane, "headed the list, and
we acquitted him the first night. Then we
came to Vale and acquitted him. Then, 1
think, it stood ten to two on Stephen w.
Dorsey, ten to two and nine to three on
Miner. That is the way the jury stood up
to this morning, though believe there was
a change of one vote on Stephen W. Dorsey
last night, making it stand eleven to one in
his case"
Kellogg and Brady.
I Ex-senator Kellogg and Gen. Brady win
Monday next be called upon to plead to
indictments in their cases. 1t is not prob
able that the trial of the Kellogg and