The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-30
AT LAST THEY AGREE.
Tho Jury Finds Coy and Bernhamer Guilty
and Acquits Mattler.

from Sundays Second Edition Of the Journal
Up to o'clock last evening the prospect Of
remaining out all night was so cleae that jurors
Messick and Davis telegraphed to their friends
that they would not be homo until Mon
day. Then there seemed to be only a bare pos
sibility of agreemsnt. but when it could be
reached, if at all. one could say. Before the
jurors lay another night in the courtroom, as
the few holding out seemingly as
firm as when the ballotng began. In
the morning. about hour before noon,
they sent word to Judge Woods that there was
no probability of change in the stand the
jurors opposed to any verdict but acquttal had
taken. He replied that they must stay together
. little longer. an indefinite term that would
possibly mean a late hour in the evening 1t
was few minutes after S o'clock before the
first significant break occurred, and within an
hour after that, just as the jurors were prepar-
ing to go to supper, they asked to have word
conveyed to Judge Woods that their verdict was
ready
This was about 6:15 o'clock. and information
of the condition of affairs reached the de-
PENDANTS attorneys, Judge McNutt and John w.
Kern, at the Bates House. They were standing
in the lobby talking with Coy and Sullivan,
when United States Marshal Hawkins came in
and told them of the jury having reached de-
cision. In the mean time messenger from the
federal building had been sent to Judge Woodss
residence on North Alabama street, and from
tho Bates the marshal telephoned to a few other
persons concerned. But by those inexplcable
means through which the public gain early IN
formation of important events to occur, the fact
that the jury after their long deberAtlon had
come to conclusion. began to spread
as bit of mysterious news among the knowing
ones on the streets Each person thought he of
all othars had been made he depository of the
secret, and yet when O'Clock came they began
to drop into the federal building one by one, or
in doubles and groups of three and four. Soon
the marshafs Office overruL and then the
early corners began to scatter in the hall or the
third floor, where the court and district attor
ney rooms are. AS in the marshals office below.
the people began TO crowd, while many walked
mp and down the ball, the courtroom door
remained locked and forbidding to all who
sought an entrance.
1t a. this iimn that Coy came into the
assistant district attorneys room, following
John W. Kern Within q minute or two John
+. Sullivan appeared. and not far behind him
j. g McNut Frank and Stephen j. Mat
tier were the next to arrive, with Judge Nc
Mutt. in FIVE minutes thereafter walking in
rapidly az If he had with HIM wecome news.
Politicians and friends of the defendants Joined
the eroup that had collected, and each
minute seemed bring
rival. until the room was full, with the
blazing CRATE fire and the flaming jets of the
chandelier giving cheerfnlness to the scene.
In the crowd We're one or TWO Democrats from
outside tho city. notably Charles G. Offut, of
Greenfield. but the rest the politicians were
the familiar ones who take greater or less part
in local campaigns 1t expected that
court would open at 7:30 o'clock, and in the
interval the attorneys and defend ants began,
little by little, to separate themselves from the
Others. At one tina Coy and Sullivan could be
seen talking together. at another the two. with
Judge McNutt and son. and then the four with
MIR. Kern. Coy was nervous, but apparently
cheerful, although there could be detected in
his demeanor forced effort to joke on the
probabilities of the result. Sullivan
was moody, had little to say, and
seemed to be rejecting the
effect his gross insult and attack on Judge Clay
pool would have in intens,fying public opinion
against him and the defendants whose case was
to be- decided within the next hour Stephen j.
Matter had nothing to say to anyone. he was
only looksron, but his agitation showed itself,
aud he appeared cut off from all interest that
surrounded the others with whom he had been
tried The half hour of waiting wore and
was nearly at an end when inquiry arose as to
Bernhamers whereabouts No one had seen
him, could tell where he was. until
a suggestion came if from the outside
crowd that he had gone home an hour
before. A messenger was sent there, and
after a sufficient lapse of time hear
from him, the inquiry took new form. Has
Bernhamer coms?" He has not. everybody said,
but the consultation between Judge McNutt
Mr.. Kern, Coy and Sullivan went on with law
book now and then being brought in for refer
ence. After while Judge McNutt and Suli-
left alone. Kern and Coy having by
this time gone into the court room, which had
been opened.
One by the crowd in the assistant district
attorneys office became smaller. It went to
swell the large audience that mad gathered in
the courtroom five minutes after it was acces
sIole Here were other friends of the defendants,
but for the most part the audience was made up
of business and professional men. 1t had far
different characteristics than those of the
audiences during the trial. Here could be
financial men. there representative business men
and in another part of the room lawyers. sand
wiching doctors, stood sat accordingly as for
tune favored them in their desire to observe
to proceedings for which all patiently waited
Politicians of both parties conspicuous.
Many came from their downtown resorts, or
wherever they happened to hear the news of
the jury's readiness to return it's verdict. About
the attorneys tables sat those who. through
or sympathy. wanted to get near
as possible to the defendants.
OF them Coy was there fresh from the barber,
his pompadour and cropped hair glstening as il
with extra touch of the brush. He
fine heavy overcoat and as he slways does.
PLAYED with his cane. dividing atteE-
ton between that and an cnlighted
cigar. He talked with Kern awhile,
than with Sullivan, and again with acquaine-
ancss and reporters. To one of the latter who
asked him if he had any insmation TO the
verdict, he replied. LAS usual. have drawn the
prize" He emphasized il with laugh, but it
was forced, and needed no close observer to see
that the little boss of Marion county Democ-
racy would have been willing to exchange places