Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-15
ACQUITTED.
Hattie Woolsteen Again a
Free Woman.
ARGUMENTS BY THE COUNSEL

Scenes at the Conclusion OF the
Famous Trial-A Verdict in
Ten Minutes.
Judge Cheney's court convened at
Q 20 A. NJ. yesterday, with the usual
crowd in and about the court room.
II possible there was more interest
manifested by the public in the argu-
ment than in the evidence. A large
crowd assembled both Friday and yes
terday in front of the Murietta build
Ing long before the calling Of court, in
The hope of gaining admission. After
every foot Of available room was taken
bv the more fortunate persons, among
vhom were the ladies'. many per-
sons stood in the hall and
grouped around the back windows
and doors in the vain hope OF
sstchina the thread Of the argument.
Hfter the calling of the roll OF the
;nrv bv the Clerk. Attorney Stephens,
vho held the floor during the entire
Sfternoon Friday, again took up the
sronment. He asked the jury to 90
- fhe spot where the barn was burn
Il Hand now tell me who picked up
melted gold, who picked up q diamond
ring and gold watch? Go to the spot
where 1t was found. Darcy Gays 1t
vss wrapped in an old stocking. Do
You believe him? Do you not believe
barcv would have preserved the rag
- an addition to her guilt
who shall say where truth be-
nina? But the evidence of her guilt
IA that she k Id no one of the terrible
affair. Is it indeed strange that with
fhe terrible scene burning in her mind,
is il wonderful that she told no one
But. ah, she went to . circus, says
Judae Reymert, and in his distorted
mind. going to circus three days
after the affair is conclusive evidence
of Guilt. 1t is strange they did not
aIso prove that she also blew her nose
and ata her dinner. You have seen
Mies Woolsteen in this court room.
She the least interested person in this
trial. walking and talking as an auto
maton, and yet it is strange that she
should have gone to circus distracted
In mind as she was. Now where ls
Mrs. Harlan? Is she here to prose-
cute the murder of her loving hus-
band? No, she is not here. But
there is another mystery. How came
the bruises on Harlan's arms and
breast. also q cut? 1t is not our duty
TO explain this. There are many rea-
sonable suppositions. He might have
received them in one of his gambling
dens and at the fire the court plaster
may have burned off,"
Mr.. Stephens related several noted
English cases in which circumstantial
evidence was the foundation OF the
prosecution. A review Of Miss Wool
ateen's life from the time of her resi-
dence in Peoria to that of the dread
ful night of the 9Th of October, 1887
was briefly adverted to by the attor.
At IL: :35 Mr.. Stephens concluded
his address and Col. G. Wiley Wells
took ND the argument. He said
"Gentlemen, there is time when 81
lence is golden. The case has been
80 thoroughly reviewed and COM
mented upon, and the facts showing
the innocence of Hattie Woolsteen so
clearly brought out. that l am per-
suaded that you are now ready to re-
tire to your iury-room and render a
verdict that will give this poor girl to
her father, and which on the morrow.
Sunday morning, will fash a MESA g.
across the wires that bind the conti-
nent to that old invalid mother who
is waiting and praying. l thank
you, Judge, for the patience W,
which you have sat for sixts<s
days, and impartially presided owl
this trial, and to you gentlemen l give
my thanks for your close attention,
and / will now thank you for the YER
Dict you shall render in the case, for
feel you will do justice. When l was
called in this case went to the prison
and there upon q bed | found Hattie
Woolsteen lying, pale, prone and
helpless. Feebly, in reply to my as
surances of help, she replied: "Mr
Wells, don't mind me, want to die
Don't give yourself any trouble. Lei
me die, Mr.. Wells, that is all you car
do for me. l want to die." I said
Hattie. tell me the truth, and afte,
insisting for some time, she at length
reluctantly consented, and looking
into nv face with tears in her eyes
she told me the truthful story OF hel
ruin and her despoiler's death. Il
was the same story you have heard
from her own lips. t looked at hel
and knew she spoke the truth, and
1 said: "No, no-You shall
be saved. Truth shall pre-.
vail, though the heavens fall. D
For good reasons we did not develop
these facts at the preliminary trial
We knew she would not be believed
in the excitement. We knew if we
could have time to show the perjury
of the prosecution the truth of her
words would be believed. Oh, could
I but express my feelings. Could
but pour out to you the feelings that
the condition of this poor girls trials
originate.
Col. Wells ably and eloquently ap-
pealed to the jury for careful consid-
GRAFTON on their part Of the danger OF
accepting clrcumstantial evidence.
At IL 80 P. M. he closed, and the
Court interposed with recess until
p. II.
Afternoon Session.
The afternoon was opened with the
argument of District Attorney Du-
Puy, who in a forcible, clear and pre-
else manner presented the case, as
rnsde hv the State. to the iury. In