Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-12-25
DIDN'T WRECK THE BANK.
Means and DeCamp Acquitted at
Cfncinnati-Jury's Verdict '.Not
Guilty'-The Trial OF the Metro
politan Bank Officials Comes to
an End-Tntense Excitement in
Court-A Defective Indictment.

CINCINNATI, o., Dec. 20-The cele-
brated and somewhat sensational Metro
polltan Bank wrecking case came to an
end to-day. At 1915 this morning Judge
Hammond, Of the United States court, in
the presence of vast crowd of people,
deliVere the charge to the jury which for
two weeks has been trying the case, which
is entitled 'the government VS.. William
Means and John r. De Camp" of
the Metropolitan National Bank.
Their o1fense as charged was
making false return of the condition of
the bank to the comptroller of the cur
rency with intent to deceive the officers
of the bank. The charge was more than
half an hour in delivery and covered all
points OF the law applicable to this case, as
well as that governing the weighing of evil
dence, in all of which the Court was very
explicit.
1t was the general opinion that the
Judges charge was favorable to the de-
tense, mainly because it seemed to midi
cate that the form Of the Indictment was
such as to make adequate proof very diff
cult. Besides this there are circumstances
which affect public opinion favorably for
tue defense. such as the physical wreck of
Mr.. Means from the shock of this prosecu-
ton and the fact that all his Indebtedness
to the bank has been paid. These facts
make the case widely different from that
OF the Fidelity Bank, in which Harper and
Hopkins were convicted for what was In
the eye OF the law almost similar offenSe
The jury was out not longer than half
an hour, aDd.When they returned the court
room quickly filled UP with lawyers and
interested persons, who mad fingered in
the expectation that an agreement would
restored the Court asked for their verdict.
which was delivered to Gen. Cowen, the
clerk of the court. There was intense
stiffness while the clerk adjusted his
glasses, and with some natural tremor
read the words: eve. the jury, find the
defendant is not guilty" Then there was
sensation with tendency to applause.
which the court officers quickly stopped.
MIR. Means was not present, but his at
torneys, MeSSrS. 5. f. Hunt and G.. w.
Baker, were overwhelmed with cOngratu-
latlons from their brethren of the bar as
well as from friends of Mr.. Means. Mr..
DE Camp was present and received con-
gratulatlOnS in person, although his attOr-
neys, the MeSSrS. Jordan, were not over
looked.
Dist Atty. Heron and his assistant, Mr..
Hooper, are credited with a faithful prose
cution of the case. The loss Of it is posi-
bly, attributable, as the Judge in his charge
lndica ed, to faulty construction of the
Indictment, with which Mr.. Heron is not
chargeable as the Indictment was found
before he came into office.
The jurors occupied just twenty-six
minutes in reaching verdict. The first
ballot taken just as soon as they entered
the room, resulted ten for acquittal and
two for conviction. The second ballot
was eleven for acqulttal and the third and
last ballot showed twelve for acquittal.
While Mr.. De Camp was receiving the
congratulations of his friends, although ne
is a big strong man, he broke down COM
DletelY and went like a child