Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-04
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM to THE D1sPATcH.1


CAMDEN, N. j., March 8. After
trial lasting four weeks, Chalkley LIE Coney
is free man, and Camden's great murder
case is at an end. A most sensational feat
ure of the day was the breaking down OF
Richards Jenkins in the midst of his argu-
ment to the jury for prosecution.
At the opening of the court, Mr.. jenkins,
who for many years was Camden's Prose-
cutor of the Pleas and upheld the reputa-
ton of being one of the ablest criminal law
yers of the State, began his argument. AS
he proceeded with his argument his physical
weakness became apparent, but he bravely
spoke on. Turning to the defendant and
pointing his finger at him as he addressed
his attention to the manifestations of grief
and the defendants conduct on the days fol-
lowing the murder, his face grew white and
strained. Mr.. Jenkins had been speaking
nearly an hour and was referring to the de-
fendant's conduct and had said: us it not
strange that this defendant, is it not
strange when the words died away on his
lips, he staggered, and but for the table
would have fallen to the floor.
When it became evident that the argu-
ment could not be continued consultation
was held. Several considerations were in
troduced. The severe illness of Juror Wal
ter Earl, who had been brought to the court
room in closed carriage, and the extreme
length of the trial were discussed. Prose-
cutor jenkins at length resolved to let the
case 90 tc the jury with no further argu-
ment by the State.
THE JUDGES CHARGE.
The Jury, which had been taken out for a
short walk, was called in. Judge Garrison,
after stating to the JURY that the illness of
the ex-prosecutor made it impossible for
him to proceed with the argument, began
his charge Judge Garrison occupied 45
minutes in his delivery. By his clear and
concise disposition of much OF the matter
which had been presented to the jury, both
by evidence and argument, he materially
aided their deliberations. The charge was
clear cut and strictly impartial. The only
positive instruction that it contained was
that O verdict of murder in the first degree
could not possibly be rendered. If any
verdict was to be found against the prisoner
it must be murder in the second degree or
manslaughter At the close of the charge
the jury was sent out to make up their YER
dict, and court was adjourned until 3:45
o'clock.
1t was half past u when the jury retired,
| and by o'clock it was positively known
that they had agreed upon verdict While
there could be no certainty there was gen.
| eral impression which steadily gained
ground that it was an acquittal. Court
had been adjourned until 3:45. When at
last the time 80 anxIously awaited by all ar
rived the court room was rapidly filled. All
through the long hours the crowd had
fingered around the courthouse to be at
hand at the finish. When the Judge on
the bench had cautioned those present
against any demonstration when the YER
dict should be rendered, the jury was
called in. Amid the death-like silence
which pervaded the courtroom the usual
formula was gone through. Again, as at
almost every instance of the long trial, the
man who had the most at stake, was as far
as every visible manifestation was con-
cerned, the coolest and least affected man in
all that vast concourse OF people.
FREE ONCE MORE.
When the verdict was reached and the
low, but distinct, response of the foreman,
"Not guilty." there was no manifestation of
feeling on the part of the famous prisoner.
He scarcely moved muscle and seemed one
of the least interested men in the courtroom.
This was the end, and, after few words had
been spoken by the presiding justice of
thanks to the jury and officers of the court,
the long trial of Chalkley LIE Coney, charged
with having murdered his niece, was over.
When the last tap OF the gavel of Judge
Garrison had ended the trial, there was an
affecting scene. All the relatives and friends
of LIE Coney crowded around him. Many
and hearty were the congratulations and
evidences of sympathy which he received.
After it was all over he was taken in charge
by his friends, with whom he went back to
AZ. L IL, 1, LoI oe& 1nf@
body of the murdered girl. All of the other
actors in this great drama went their way,
and the greatest sensation which Camden
county has had for years was at an end.
Several of the jury said they did believe
the evidence Of the negro Murray, the
States chief witness. None of them ex-
pressed confidence in LIE Coney's innocence,
but they said he had not been proved
guilty.