Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-26
FRANK X. WARD ACQUITTED.
The Long Trial Closed Christmas Eve Witt
II Verdict of Not Guilty.

The Long Trial Closed Christmas Eve With
Verdict of Not Guilty.
The Ward trial came to close Wednesday
evening, as announced in an extra edition Of
The STAR, with verdict of mot guilty.
After the report in the regular edition
OF The STAR closed, District Attorney Hoge
made the concluding effort for the prose-
cutior. This lasted one hour and a half and
was followed by Chief Justice Iingham's charge
to the jury. The charge was lengthy, covering
the various points of law completely.
GIVEN TO THE JURY.
Shortly after $50 the case was given to the
jury and the twelve men in whose hands was
Wards fate went up to the jury room to make
up their minds or to show forth the conclu-
siOns Of minds already made up. At o clock
there was no outward sign of a verdict so the
court took an informal recess for one hour
Promptly at o'clock Justice Bingham entered
| the marshars Office and finding that the Jury
was not ready to declare itself entered into con-
versation with District Attorney Hoge. Fifteen
minutes later and Dailiff joyce hurriedlv broke
up the debate by announcing that the Jury was
on Its way down stairs. There was q rush for
the court room. even the movements of the
sedate chief justice being more rapid than
usual
THE SCENE IN THE COURT ROOM.
looked hard at the jury as it came in, but there
was nothing apparent in the demeanor of any
! Of the twelve that indicated the decision they
had reached. Proceedings were delayed for a
few moments, because the defendant was abb
| sent, but he soon appeared in company with
Judge Wilson and one of the bailiffs.
Ward showed the traces OF great anxiety his
face indicating an unusual amount OF SUP
pressed mental suffering. His little bow fol-
hil fat ar OR hon ,ln
1t was a little while before the confusion con-
sequent upon the hasty entrance of many peo-
pie subsidized. but there was no sound when
Clerk Williams asked the jury whether it had
agreed upon its verdict.
THE VERDICT.
Foreman McCathrOus' voice had very per-
ceptible tremOr in it as he responded I'VE
have There was nothing shaky. though.
about the words mot guilty." which were
enunciated few seconds afterward.
Not more than half q hundred people were
in the court room-bunched in the immediate
vicinity of Ward and his counsei-but The veil
tina. went up from Wards friends was noisy
enough for five times as many pairs of lungs
az were present There was a wild endeayor on
the part of a score of men to reach the central
| figure simultaneously. Ward advanced to
meet the On-rush with smile on his face. One
man. with a shout. sprang two or three ya rds
at jump.and Selling the defendant tried to toss
| him up. His effort was seconded by half dozen
Others but a couple of bailiffs jumping down
into the bar Of the court finally succeeded in
| inducing everybody to be seated. When
| silence once more prevailed Ward was in his
chair. the tense oppression gone from his face
wiped out by look that meant supreme hap
| piness.
| DISCHARGED FROM CUSTODY.
The silence was broken by Judge Wilson ask
| ing the cour. il the defendant was. discharged,
and when Chief Justice Bingham assented Ward
leaned over toward his son, took his face be-
| tween his hands aud kissed him with touching
| fervOr. Then came congratulations and hand
| shaking and enthusiasm of the most bolster
| Ously exuberant sort.
| Senator Blackburn and Mr. Coleman of coun-
sci for the defense. were not present when the
verdict was rendered. but they heard the noise
| as they hurried through the hallway toward
the court room, and in few seconds they, too,
were happy.
THE BALLOTING.
The jury could easily have boon in with its
verdict an hour sooner. but the recess taken BY
the court prevented. Within few minutes
| from the time Of their retirement ballot was
| taken. The result showed eleven for acauittal
| and ono for guilty Of murder. The murder
juror seemed to be tenacious individual, and
some Of the jury made up their minds that it
was gsing to be an all-night job to convince
him. The one man went of in corner bry
himself and for about ten minutes wrestled
with himself and the testimony. At the end Of
| that period lac concluded that it would be i'm
possible for him to convert the eleven 10 he
| surrendered, and the next ballot showed twelve
votes for acquittal Then the jury waited for
| court to reconvene. Ward spent yesterday
happily with his family at his home on 8th
street and received the congratulations Of many
friends.