Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-25
SAVED FROM THE GIBBET.
bEyFNE ACQUITTED OF YOUNG
PFLUGER'S MURDER.

UEfk klNfS A0NttOA Il l. III VI ACC~NC
PFLUGER'S MURDER.
sce1es About the Court House at the
Opsning of the Court-The Judge Re.
fuses TO Charge the Jury on the Law
of Involuntary Manslaughter and a
verdict of AcquittaI is Rendered
Tav5re Released and Returns to Ills
Rome.
Thelobby Of the court house was packed
with a dense crowd at the opening Of the
Superior Court yesterday morning The
interest in the Deyine murder trial had
reached its height. and the verdict Of the
iurv was awaited with intense anxiety.
The Jury bad been out fourteen hours
and a disagreement instead of verdict
was generally looked for. Many, how
ever. were of the opinion that the prisoner
would he found guilty of voluntary man
slaughter. while a number were confident
that verdict for acquittal would be re-
turned.
on the sidewalks. around the court
house and on the square groups Of peO-
pie were gathered discussing the proba-
hilitv for a verdict. In 10 criminal case
for wears had the public interest been so
great and the feeling so intense. soon
Judge TO charge them upon the subject OF
Involuntary mansaughter, but this the
Court declined to do as the question as to
whether the prisoner was guilty Of inVol-
untary manslaughter was not an issue,
and therefore was not matter upon winch
the jury could give an expression. The
Jurors were returned 30 their room when,
it being understood that the court would
take recess until O'Clock, the majority
Of tbA spectators left the building, not am
ticipating an immediate verdict About
1889 o'clock the Sheriff was notified that
q verdict had been agreed upon. Judge
Adams returned to his seat on the bench,
and the jury flied into the room. The
prisoner took his place near his counsel.
His face betrayed the emotion which he
felt IN anticipation of the verdict which
might consign him 10 the gallows.
READING TIE VERDICT.
The verdict was delivered to the Clerk,
who read as follows:
estate Of Georgia VS.. Frank Devine. Muir
der. We, the jury, ind Frank Deyine not
guilty"
There being no other cases ready for
trial, the court at once adjourned until
this morning.
Devine was congratulated by his
counsel and by some friends who
happened to be present. Upon leav-
a carriage, which was in waiting at the
entrance, and was driven to his home,
which he had not seen for thitry days.
His wife, who was lying at the point of
death when Devine was arrested. had
never been told the true cause of his alb
sence until the day the trial began, and
then, when she learned that her hus-
band was on trial for his life,
the shock nearly drove her wild.
fr afrN Fs.sa ~ N...T
been left In Ignorance Of the dark cloud
which hung over her and the terrible news
which IN time she must hear. BY the adj
vice OF physicians she was made to be-
leve that the cause Of her husbands alb
sence was from no serious crime, fearing
lest the blow might kill her. The meeting
yesterday was witnessed 10y no one out
side the family, and what passed between
the husband VINO had stood under the glib
bets shadow and the SICK wife may never
be known.
The action of the jury was matter Of
surprise to many and considerable indig-
nation was expressed, especially by the
German citizens.
The news of the verdict was communi-
Gated by 2 messenger to O'Beilly, who is
still confined in his cell at the Jail. After
receiving the news he manifested his SYM
pathy and JOY by bursting into tears and
provided fOr.'
O'REILLY TO BE TRIED.
During the afternoon the report was
circulated and. strange to say, believed
by many people, that the case against
OReillv had been abandoned by the State
and that the prisCuer bad been discharged
from custody. No such action had been
thought Of by the Solicitor General. and
no order for the prisoners release had
been granted by the Court. When
the rumor was referred to by
NEWS reporter in the presence of the
Solicitor General the latter smiled, but
perceiyng that it was true that such a
report had gained currency, he said: "No,
sir. While l have no feeling in the
matter, the case against O'Reilly will be
tried. / do not propose to assume the re-
sponsibnity Of releasing the prisoner.
That is something which a jury OF his
peers may feel justified in doing"
"Wnen will the case be taken up?"
asked the reporter.
'Probably next week. But | cannot
say positively until I shall have had
consultation with Mr.. Meldrim."