National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-06-04
LANGSTON ACQUITTED.
The Jury Take Five Hours to Decide That He
Was Not Guilty.
Hall Taken for the Other Charge, and lie
Goes Free.


the murder of James Spencer, closed ycster-
day, the jury receiving tho case at $40
o'clock in the afternoon.
When the court met the argument was only
partially finished, one attorney having spoken
on each side. Mr. A. G.. Riddle proceeded in
behalf of tho defendant to make tho final
address to the jury. He prefaced by briefly
referring to time, some years since, when he
was called upon to defend an uncle OF tho
accused, and since then, in their hour Of dis.
tress, the Lsngstou family naturally aud
reasonably turned to him for advice and aid.
He then took up tho testimony of the most
important witnesses on both sides, read 10 to
the Jury, and commented upon it. In con-
clusion he claimed II all showed, if 1t showed
anything that Langston was acting rs q
peaoemakor, and whatever he did afterward
was done in self-defense.
District Attorney Worthington summed up
the case for tho government and after citing
the testimony of several of the witnesses,
insisted that tho proof sustained the charge
| set up in the indictment, and . verdict
should be returned for the government.
1t was 2i55 o'clock when he finished his
| argument. Judge Macarthur then rercad
the instructions heretofore granted and
charged tho jury generally as to the law in
| tho case. and IL was considered very favor
| able to tho defendant. Tho jury then re-
tired and after waiting an hour, and hear
ing nothing from them, Judge Macarthur
| left for home, saying that in case they
| reached an agreement before 10 o clock that
night, he would come down and receive the
| verdict.
From the time tho court took an informal
recess until dark quite crowd hung about
the city hall and persons promenaded up
aud down the sidewalk. Tho court room had
been closed and nobody was permitted to
enter the building except officials, counsel,
and members Of Mr.. Langston's family, who
kept company with him In the witness room
Prof. Langston, tho father, who has been
greatly distressed throughout the trial, and
| who will DO fortunate to escape illness, moved
| IN and out and about the front of tho build
ing in nervous, restless manner. He
had eaton nothing all day and tho
telling upon him. Toward dark many Of tho
lady friends of himself and family, who have
| been steadfast throughout the trial, returned
and engaged him in conversation, trying to
divert his attention from the subject
uppermost in his mind. They were all,
| however, thrown into an agitation about $40
o'clock by tho announcement that tho jury
had come to an agreement and the noxt
| question of moment was the verdict. Opinions
| were given out freely, the mn ority
being that it was compromise on
manslaughter, while q few thought II
might be an acquittal In the latter mum Dor
was the father, who insisted that he could
not see how it was possible to convict his son
in the light of the testimony presented in
his behalf. While those discussions were
going on another important matter engaged
the attention of the marshal's Office and that
was how word should be gotten to the judge
before 10 o'clock. Mr.. VIM. r. Matthews,
who had his carriage at the curb kindly
volunteered to 60 for him, and was
SO expeditions that he had Judge
Macarthur at the court house at
1910 o'clock. While waiting for him the
officers had been trying to mako some sort Of
light in tho court room. 1t has never been
supplied with gas, and four candles wore all
tho illuminating power that could be fur
nished. Two of these were placed on the
judges and the others on the clerks desk
Back of the small radius of light these foul
dips furnished it was black as night. Some
sixty people were in the room and only the
faces at the front could be seon
District Attorney Worthington and Mr..
Henry L, Davis, of the counsel for the do
Tense, were present
The jury came in, took their places in the
box, and were called. Tho utmost silence
prevailed when the clerk propounded the
inquiry: What say you, is the defendant
guilty or not guilty 2" and when Foreman
Morsell answered, mot guilty" But a
moment later there was an attempt
to applaud, which was speedily sup.
pressed. Mr.. Davis said that
the defendant had still another
charge pending against him, that of assault
with intent to kill Dennis Williams. In the
face of the verdict he thought it impossible
to convict in that case, and probably the
district attorney would nellie pros. It,. lie
would ask, however, that bail be fixed.
District Attorney Worthington did not &C
quiesce in the statement Of 10 being impossi-
Bile to convict, but admitted that it was
bailable case.
The judge tlSed the bail at ST. 900, accepted
the father as surety, and ordered the prisoner
discharged from custody, and tho court was
adjourned. Prof. Laugstan was Immediately
surrounded by his friends, and he and his son
were busy for some time receiving congratu.
lations on the result of the trial.