St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-17
THOMPSON Is FREE.
Sir Times and Om'-The Greatly Tried and
EEsnerated,

Sic ItnteS ana Onf-INe UPeuttU Ifteu ana
Ersnerated,
The trial of W. F. Thompson, indicted for
obtaining q signature under false pretenses
to check in favor Of Chas. Markes for
S63. % was yesterday resumed. The court
room was filed with spectators to its utmost
capacity, the greatest interest being mani
tested. The examination of witnesses was
continued, they being for the most part the
fremen and employees of Farnhem q Love-
JOY who testified that they knew of no one
! by the name of Marks ever employed by the
firm. Mr.. Thompson was then put upon the
stand, and his testimony closed the evidence.
At the opening of the court in the after
noon Mr.. Hart, the attorney for Thompson,
asked leave for the defendant TO withdraw
his plea Of not guilty to the
second indictment charging him with alter
ing forged order. A demurrer to the in
dictment was then argued upon the ground
that it did not state facts sufficient to consti-
tute a case. The court sustained the demur-
rer and Quashed the indictment.
The argument then began. County Attor-
ney Davis for the state made a strong and
eloquent plea in which the testimony was re-
viewed at considerable length. He was fol-
lowed by F. B. Hart, attorney for the defen-
dant, whose faithful devotion to his client is
| well known. His plea was delivered in a
| very earnest manner, and undoubtedly had
its effect as the verdict would indicate. In
closing he alluded briefly to the severe strain
TO which his client had been subjected, and
J said, sit has been a matter of comment in
the public press that he (Thompson),
has not appeared 10 be cast down.
| He has walked the streets erect, with the
consciousness of innocence, while his ma
| lignant enemies have sneaked down back
alleys like whipped ours to avoid him. As
far as this case is concerned Thompson and
myself will soon shake hands, but, gentle
men Of the jury, as sure as there is d
| Heaven, W. F. Thompson will yet tower as
far above the little creatures who have
bounded him and prosecuted him as the
! grand oak Is above the tendris Of the cling
| ing vine at its foot"
The jury was then given in charge of a
deputy sheriff, and retired at 4 80 O'Clock.
In thirty minutes they returned. When the
clerk read the verdict of mot guilty. the
crowd of spectators signified their approval
by hearty applause. Order was restored aud
the jury dismissed.
Mr.. Thompson sat quietly in his
! seat, aud when the nature OF
the verdict was announced hardly changed
countenance. Mrs. Thompson's pale face,
however, at once flushed with pleasure and
her emotion was quite evident Both rose
from their seats and crossing over TO where
the jurymen were just rising from their
seats. shook hands with each one.
This closes the most interesting criminal
case in the history Of the county. ". F.
Thompson, who was head book keeper for the
lumber firm of Farnham 81 Loveioy, was
charged by them with embezzling money u
the amount of about 10000. Nine indict-
ments have been found against him. On
six Of these he has been tried and in each in
stance acquitted. Two were dismissed by
| the supreme court and another
was granted by Judge Lochren
Yesterday. He has also figured
as defendant In two civil suits brought by
Farnham u Lovejoy against him, and In
each has been victorious. Popular feeling,
which at first Was somewhat divided, mas
grown strongly in his favor, aud the sym
patty of the public Is almost entirely with
him. Now that hc Is free at last, Mr.. Harris
| prophecy seems likely 10 prove true. Among
the first things he will be likely to do will be
! to turn his attention TO the suit he has in
At the time Of his arrest that paper convicted
him editorially aud called him ''sclf-
convicted perjurer and thief and now thai
the contrary has betn proven $50, 900 dam
ages will be asked. ~