New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-16
T. B. KERR NOT GUILTY.
THE JURY FINDS A SPEEDY VERDICT.
SCENES OF EXCITEMENT IN THE COURTROOM
THE PRISONERS BROTHER TAKEN BE-
FORE THE JUDGE!


FORE THE JUDGE
The trial of Thomas B. Kerr for bribing the
Board of Aldermen Of 1884 Is at an end, and
the defendant has been found not guilty of the
crime he was charged with. When the court
was opened Yesterday morning Colonel Fellows
resumed his address TO the jury, the room being
then crowded to the doors. Long before the
DiStrict-Attorney had closed his speech there
were numerous expressions Of the conviction that
Mr.. Kerr would be acquitted Colonel Fellows
acknowledged the disadvantage at which he was
placed. He was making the same old argument
on the same evidence which he had often made
before, while his opponent was fresh Tor hls
work. at ls Hike threshing old straw to me"
said the District-Attorney.
Colonel Ingersoll and his associates followed the
District Attorneys address with attention. ana
freouentlv discussed Colonel Fellowss efforts IN
q whisper. AS soon as the prosecution hao closeu
remarkable scenes occurred. Judge DanleiS SEoso
to charge the Jury and spoke to them Ior nesry
three hours, keeping them standing One Whoic
time. The efforts OF the iurymen TO resi- 'ho1i-
selves in various positions seemed so 10 occupy ''0
attention Of the men that much OF the charSe
was lost. Judge DanielSs charge was IN hO way
TO the benefit Of the defendant but great many
points of the law he laid down he afterward wltn-
drew, in accordance with suggestions mace Dy
counsel for the defence and substanhaed oy 'hs
proner references. When Judge Daniels finished
speaking, OF o'clock, the iurymen iairiy uroppeu
into their seats with fatigue. moment later
tbev retired 10 the jury-room, and were locked up
Kerr was given into the custody OF eX-Juoge
Noah Davis, fact which caused Sone Mof' 0u''
prise.
rArGE ALARM,
Suddenly the news came up that the whoie
jury we're engaged in kicking at the uoor VI 'nel
room. There was a stampede, but tho expected
verdict turned out TO be false aiarni' A
twelve men had struck. and gave out as their
rI,,n,otnm the Arm decision that they wanted
something TO eat mo dinner, no verdict Tfley rhey
said. and their wishes were compned WIN .Jy NJ
waited until Quarter after o'clock before tnelr
dinner was brought over from the Astor nvHsH tha;
II tool, them until nearly 80 O'Clock 70 eac Inelr
meal and then they went back 20 work lhey
talked over matters for about twenty minutes,
took vote, and found they were unshiinouS LUZ
| acQuittaL uoor, had gradually
filled up again At o'clock almost eAhctH
there was pattering Of feet OUTSIDE ln tle na,i'
and another stampede foliowea. Tn,olsou otu came
IN looking anxious, and a moment hter eA-Judgse
Davis appeared with his prisoner, who was red
in the face Judge Daniels wth IT .1iS aIS anS tooS
4
his seat and lastly Colonel Fellows BUSTED IN,
| followed by Mackenzie Semple FOR minute TIn
or two the room was ominously quheS h - Ahvt hut
the tramp Of their feet They stood up in the
hox. and the silence grew oppressive
S'Have Won agreed on verdict" asked the
clerk, after reading the roll
THE DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY.
I'VE have" replied Foreman Tcets, hastily
= he's not guilty
The clerk tried to ask, as the law provides,
what the verdic: was, but at that instant u
seemed as II q menagerie had broken loose Men
ip ned 40 all over the room and yelled at the top
~ thef. voices Others threw their hats np TO the
eslIua Colonel Ingerson had his mouth "ldo
orop hut the noise was so great that no one
| could tell whether he was believing or not.
| Ola DIR. Samuel Hall had his arm about Mr..
KeTr,s neelS and was kissing him, while InaunCey
| Kerr went into Mysteries with JOY. Ile cour'
officers started 20 put out some OF the
| md met with resistance. whole group ol VI uen -
Who acted like lunalics fell over one anotneE
| in the lobby, and the scene was one OF lnde-
srrihable confusion. Judge Daniels, IN the mean
tine as stoical as an Indian, was humping ms
deSk with a gavel and crying for order. IL LOOK
| FIVE minutes before everything was again qune9
| orJered theaoourt officers 10 bring some OF the
| dIsturbers before him. Hugh j. COnnell ana
| Cheuncey Kerr were promptly taken Defore tle
| Judnc and although John H. Bird ana ColOneI
Ingersoll made touching appears Ior tncL, VIZ so
| ordered 10 appear IN court this morning tor
CoIonel Fellows addressed the COURT and de-
| clared that he thought he had made every eIorI
In behalf Of the people that coula pe m"uc, ~ Az
court agreed with him. The Jury wns then as
missed Colonel Ingersol moved the formal i, dis,
| charge of the prisoner, and the mouon VIII
! 10 allowed this morning.