The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-05
The ncachamp poiscv,ue Co.o
AcQulTTAL or THE FAIR pmsoNpn-rus
SCENE IN Coupr

AcQulrTAL OF II FAIR ~pRIsoNER-Tns
SEEM IN COURT.
Thctrlal Of Mrs. Beachamp. chorccd with
poisoning her husband. which bos ov.
cited more interest in MARYLAND thon anv
similar case since the celebrated Wbor,o1
trial, was brought to n close n Donton
Md, "Wednesday. by the acqnittaI OF tbe
prisoner. Mrs. Beachamp is n yomo and
pretty woman, who was married 70 : man
much her senior, and whose TAKING off n
was charged, wa accomplished by arsenic
auuhin,stered IN coffee. The Baltimore
Anlertcdn OF yesterday says:
III was q happy day for Mrs. Beachamp-
an eVentiul DAY for the people of the little
town ana The surrounding country. The
couit-rooh was packed this morning, the
maj scene awakening more interest than
even thc opening movements OF the trial.
For we past two days speculation had run
high us TO the result Of the trial. though
the counsel on both sides had twenty-four
hours ago been almost certain that the
verdict would be what IT was. Mr..
fleetWood, one Of the jurors, whose
sickness last night somewhat DELAYED
the proceedings, had fully recovered
THIS morning, and occupied his seat
~ 'iN NOA. MI. bilNNl tOnflil0eu
his argument in about an hour. II was
conceded by both the State and the defence
that the verdict OF the Jury should be
guilty Of murder in the Grst degree, or not
guilty. At 1880 O'Clock Judge Wicker
gave the case to the jury, and for over
three hours the crowd hung about the doors
OF the courthouse, anXiously waiting for
the verdict. The jury had been out three
IAlIrg xrln, fhATr ... .t. L-...i e-
explanation Of the instructions. Juror
Massey asked the Judge if they could
md 4 verdict OF murder in the Sec
ond degree under the indictment.
Judge Wicker answered by reading from
the Act Of Assembly that the Jury had
power to bring in any one Of four yer-
dicts-guilty OF murder in the first degree,
or not guilty Of murder in the second de
gree, and guilty OF manSlaugbter, and not
guilty OF murder. 1t is but proper TO
state, however. he remarked, that the Code
classes murder by poisoning ALWAYS in the
first degree. The jury had evidently been
misled on retiring by the instructions of
the Court, and they had come to a dead
lock on the question Of conviction in the
second degree. Two thirds favored a ver-
dict OF this grade, and had they not come
litlb 1OllA wi AilllZ tllInill'ltt III liltIOIII
verdict would undoubtedly have been rem
dercd. The counsel for defence would
have applied for 4 writ Of error, and a new
trial would have followed. Under the in
dictment the Jury had TO lind guilty Of muir
der in the first degree, or not guilty. When
it became known that there was a misun-
derstanding among the jury as to their
finding, the excitement ran high, and the
courtroom speedily filed up. The fact OF
the iury's hating in acquitting the prisoner
at the bar caused her counsel TO get uneasy.
They thought something was wrong, and
had guessed what ii was, and were about
arguing for more explicit instructions from
the Court. The situation was alarming TO
everybody i'm the courtroom excepting the
widow. She sat entirely tranquil, not hav-
ing turned her head since taking a long look
at each of the iurymen as they started out to
pass on the question Of her life. She was
surrounded by many relatives, but their
clearly-eXpreSSed fears apparently gave her
no concern whatever. Finally the jury
came into court, quiet was restored, and
almost breathlessly the crowd gaZed to-
wards the jury-boX. Mrs. Beachamp ap-
peared pale, but perfectly calm, under the
irving moments Of suspense. At the call OF
''Frances Belle Beachamp, hold up your
right hand" she responded promptly,
and when she arose the foreman OF
the jury pronounced the verdict OF
"not guilty" At the announcement
there was 4 murmur throughout the court
room, which turned into many outspoken
expressions Of qualification at The result OF
the trial. The law was satisfied, and with
it the people. Mrs. Beachamp trembled
with emotion as with q Quiet smile she
shook hands with her counsel, who con-
graduated her, and who in turn were con-
graduated by the friends Of Mrs. Beachamp
aud others present. There was 4 general
handshaking all around, and several OF
Mrs. Beachamp's lady friends and relatives
kissed and embraced her. Mrs. Beachamp
was at once released, and went to Concord,
and is now at her mothers.