New-York tribune., 1886-03-06
FREE TO RETURN TO TEXAS.
JAMES 7. HOLLAND QUICKLY ACQUITTED.
THE +" DAVIS DENOUNCED IN sCATHING TERMS BY
TIE LAWYERS on BOTH SIDES.

ann DAVIS DENOUNCED IN sCATHiNG IEhhS BI
TIE LAWYERS on BOTH SIDES.
1t is probable that there was no happier man
In this city than the wlry and adventurous little Texan,
James l. Holland, who something six mOptns ago
came here from the Lone Star State to bear New YOrks
most expert swindler. "Tom" Davis at the "sawdust"
game, " got the drop on him." killed him, and has since
Deen compelled to submit to the scant hospitality and
frugal fare OF the Tombs Last night he slept at the
Grand Central Hotel free man. and at Abilene Texas
Where MS nome Is, there was all Of rejoicing
telegram from The Texan lawyer Mr. Make mson having
promptly advised tho people there of his acquittal
General Pryor began his summing up for the de-
fence when the court opened yesterday morning He
hsrsngued the jury for four hours Ills voice was some
times in his boots and sometimes far above hs head He
brought ali his limbs into play. lie stamped lie pound
ed tho desk, he shook his head and his black locks
streamed forth as II caught up by a blizzard. He
shook the clustering finger of scorn" at "The"
Davis, and pointed with pride" at his client.
Which Of the two will you believe r. he asked, and
then added Immediately: Pardon me, blush to make
the comparison" All the invectiyes which fertile
imagination could supply he hurled at The Davis.
lie called him "hardened and impudent blackguard
an "incorrigibe thief" "pest and peshence"
man "whoso career shows that lie lives defiance Of
God and man," an " abandoned malefactor, poluting
tho fair earth by his putrefyng presence" Finally Gen
eral Pryor had the angels in Heaven blushing at his
hardened yillany." General Pryor drew revolving
picture of his behavior when he first entered tho
where his brother lay dead Instead Of giving way to
any natural instincts OF pity. all feelings were mas
tered by his greed for money and he began cutching at
the bills which were strewn about the floor.
His intellect" he said, "has lost all capacity to dis
ngulsb between truth and untruth.. lie seeks this
mans life sort Of solace ot his distorted con-
science for his base abandonment OF his brother"
All this time "The" Davis sat the
Texan delegation only few yards from
General Pryor and in full view Of nearly
everybody in tho court room AS General Pryor show
cred his scathing invectyes upon him his swarthy
features flushed shade darker, his eyes flashed, he
lifted his upper LIP and his white teeth cleaned sayagey
ike those OF wof at bay But he would face 1t out.
Tbat much courage or brazen mpUdence, at least, lie
had General Pryor traversed the evidence, got the
jury to look through the Peephole where The Davis
stood when his brother killed. and exposed the i'm.
probability OF his story He took up his evidence and
tore 1t pieces terrier might shake the sawdust
out OF doll He quoted Victor Hugo Shakespeare aud
the Bible, and then sat down.
There mufed stamping OF feet aud cappng of
hands when General Pryor finished. and then loud
cheers broke forth all over the courtroom.
Clear tho COURTROOM said Judge Van Brunt,
Clerk Ricketts, executed the order bu. with some dis
crimuation allowing all Of the Texan delegation, which
WAS punched behind Holland, to remain But the people
who turned managed 10 get in again By ones
and twO5, aud in hour tho courtroom was iull
Colonel Fellows rather discounted tho denunoiation OF
The DAVIS by stating that his testimony was not es-
sontai to the for tho people al that for tho
purpose OF establishing tho prisoners guilt according
10 the law the evidence furnished by the defence
entirely sufficient Then he proceeded to toutdo General
PryOrln depicting the Yllany OF The" Davis and ms
lead brother. "Ihe" Davis hardly expected this lie
had been the chief witness FOR the people He did not
scOY He simply closed ms eyes and looked extremely
tired. But, Colonel Fellows maintained, criminal though
Ton" tys was he entitled 20 the protection OF
the law lie had never sought 10 eptrap honest men.
No honest men ever dealt with him. Holland came To
Nawl prepared 20 meet Dayiss rlckery with trick
cry, and won by tho ald Of the deadly revolver
Colonel Follows made strong point out or the fact that
tho who entered tho room after " Tom Davis was
Killed found bill cluched In his right hand. This
proved, Colonel Fellows argued, that he could not
have been in the act of drawing pistol on Holland
when shot because wOuid not do that with money
IN hs right hand Therefore, Holland was the aggres5Or
ANA had attempted 10 Kill Tom Davis before his own
lie was lmpered Ills theory Of the shooting was that
HO, nd was determined at all hazards 10 keep the bag
OF genuine money; that he detected tho attempt to
change the bag though time prevent It; fret
fired bullet at the panel through which
he had bag OF genuine money disappear,
and then shot aud killed Tom Davis Yild with rage
because his plan Cor getting $4,000 for $500 bsa been
defeated.
Judge Van BruHt's charge to tho jusy took hour.
The Jury retired az T:3O o'clock ana Judge Van Brunt
dinner VIXEN he returned Rt 9:iJ the Jury had
been ready report hour Their faces told their
look happy when they are going TO convict man OF
murder. But when the foreman pronounced the words
not guilty a loud cheer would have broken out in the
courtroom II the officers had not been on the lookout
10. and upped Il IN the bud Holland shook hands
with encA juTyman I'm turn as he left the box, ana
room and shook Holland by the hand and con
gratuatcd n IN warmly, and told him how they had be,
lleyed ths first that he was innocent aud Holland
was ~ r4daEtly happy that lie believed them all