The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-06-20
The Star Route Defendants De-
clared ''NOt Guilty.
A Surprise to Counsel for the Govern.
.ment and to the People Of
the Country.
Interviews With the Attorneys-Eow
the Jury Stood.
NOT GUILTY.
The Star Route Defendants Acquitted-Re-
jOicinS Over the Verdict.


jOicing Over the Verdict.
WAsHINGToN, June 14-'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 morn
ing.
Crier Donaldson soon returned with mes
sage that the Jury wanted to communicate
with the Court. They fled into the Court
RoUm apparently none the worse for their
confinement. When they were seated Judge
Wylie said Gentlemen of the Jury the
Court has sent for you for the purpose of in
quiring whether you have any communics-
ton to make"
The foreman, in reply, stated that the Jury
had agreed upon verdict, and painful
silence fell upon the Court Room, only to
be broken by wild shouts of applause when,
in clear tone of voice, the foreman stated
that the verdict was mot guilty" Imme-
diately the decorum Of the Court OF Justice
was forgotten, and cheers resounde2 from
all quarters of the crowded room. Mrs. S.
W. Dorsey sprang to her feet clapping her
hands, while tears streamed down her cheeks,
and there were many ladies in the Court who
were silently weeping. Mr.. Davidge quietly
asked to have the verdict recorded, which
was done, while Deputy Marshals were
vainly endeayoring to quell the tumult
S. w. Dorsey and Brady were the recipi-
ents 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 restored
by reason of defendants and their friends
leaving the room, Judge Wylie turned to
Juror Vernon and asked: Mr.. Vernon,
how are you this morning?'
Juror Vernon-"First rate, sir"
The Court believe we have nothing
further for the Jury to do during this term,
and the Court is prepared to discharge you
finally. You have had leborious 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 neglect
during that period and though your
verdict, of course, will create dissatisfae-
ton to many, yet having been selected ac-
cording to the forms of law and having
sworn 10 perform your duties faith
fully the Court is bound to presum
that you have faithfully performed your
duty. II you have done so, each one
according to the dictates OF his con-
science, that will be a satisfaction TO you
as long as you live. You are, therefore, dis
charged, with the thanks of the Court"
In the anteroom and halls the Jury was
beset by throDgs OF interesteu persons, prom
| irent among them being the defendants and
Mrs. S. w. Dorsey and Mrs. Peck, who
thanked them for the verdict with tears in
their eyes. AS the foreman reached the side
walk a large crowd assembled there burst
into tumultous cheers, which were renewed
as each Juror made his way out Of the Court
House. The foreman stated to a representa-
tive of the Associated Press that five ballots
we're taken by the Jury. The first ballot was
upon the question of the existence of con-
spiracy, and the ballot resulted in a vote of
three for and nine against a conspiracy.
On the second ballot the nine was increased
to ten, although the vote was then upon the
innocence or cuilt of the defendants. This
vote remained unchanged until about s
O'Clock this morning, when an acquittal was
agreed upon.
Mr.. Ker was the only representative OF the
prosecution in Court when the verdict was
returned, and Carpenter, Dorsey's counsel,
| congratulated him as the only one of the
Government counsel having the pluck to
/ show up in the hour of defeat. ker says he
was this morning informed by Court officer
| that Ingersoll had said the Jury would re-
| turn a verdict of scquittal. He added that
| other indictments against Brady would be
pressed. OF course it would be necessary for
/ the Court to enter an order setting aside
| ReIdell's plea of guilty.