The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-10
MRS. M'KEEISACQUITTED
THE COURT HOUSE CROWDED
WITH PEOPLE ALL DAY.

Seeborn Wright's Great Speech for
the Defense-Jurors Moved to Tears
by Bis BIoquence - An Old-Tine
Hand-shaking After the Announces
ment of the Verdict.
ROME, Ga, April 9.-Crowds stood in
and around the court house this morning.
1t was the last day of the great trial, and
everybody knew it Long before s o'clock
the old court house hill was black with peo-
pie. Seaborn Wright was to conclude his
spesch, the last one to be made 1t was the
masterpiece of his life. Never was finer
speech heard in Floyd county court house.
For more than two hours he held his listen
ers spell-bound by his matchless eloquence.
His arguments were convincing, and his
peroration was as grand as it was beautiful.
His listeners wept and stern jurors gave
way to their feelings under the tender
pathos Of the speaker.
wRIGHT's CONFIDENCE.
On Mr.. Wright's face, as he spoke, was a
confident expression that oftimos broadened
into a smile as he brought out point after
point showing why his client should be ac-
quilted. He then pointed out many dis
crepancies in the testimony. He said Mr..
Lner8
was bottle Of whisky on the bureau
on Tuesday morning and it had been pre-
scribed by DR.. Mccall. The next witness,
DIR. Mccall, testified that he bad prescribed
the whisky on Wednesday. He said DIR. 7.
N. Holmes swore that Mrs. Wimpee's liver
and kidneys we're affected by arsenic and
that that the heart was soft and mushy,
while DR.. Hoyt swore that the liver,
kidneys and heart were In a normal condi-
tion.
MORE CONFLICTING TESTIMONY.
He said DIR. Hoyt swore that he received
the jar, in which was the stomach, from
Mr.. Rhudy, who had it at an undertaker's
shop The witness said it was uncovered.
The next witness, Mr. Richards swore that
he locked tho jar in his safe, TO which no
one but himself had the combination, and
that he delivered it to DR.. Hoya
the next morning. He argued thas
it would be criminal for the jury to
find Mrs. Mckee guilty on such conflicting
testimony. One OF the strongest points in
Mr.. Wrights argument was made just be-
fore he closed in regard TO the acetaline
medicine given by Dr. Mccall to Mrs.
Wimpee. He read from a standard medical
work where IL had been used with fatal
effects, one dose OF three grains in a certain
case having proved fatal another case
showed whore the admins ration OF this
medicine had caused nausea and vomiting.
followed by death. 1t was 1855 o'cloclp
when MIR. Wright concluded his speech.
THE JUDGES CHARGE.
At the conclusion OF Col. Wright's speech
Judge Maddox read TO the jury his charge,
which was able and strong. Before begin-
ming he asked for the bill OF indictment. In
his charge he said that a great deal had
been said about the motive in this case. and
he charged the jurors that they were au-
thorized to find verdict Of guilty IL the
evidence showed beyond q doubt that the
defendant was guilty, although no motive
could be shown for the commission Of the
decd. He charged the law as to flight and
as to confession, concluding his charge in
about fifteen minutes. Then his honor
called out: MAKE way for the jury" and
slowly the tired jurors, some Of them so
sick that they had to be supported. wanded
their way up the stairs to the jury room.
Everybody waited patiently for their re-
turn, but 1t was not until about 3 o'clock in
the afternoon that it was made known that
the jury had verdict.
~ want to say" said Judge Mnddox,
"that there must be no demonstration when
the verdict Is read" Deathlike was the
silence when the command was given: RE-
ceive the verdict"
VERDICT OF ACQUITTAL.
Solicitor Nunnally slowly and dfstAsstlY
read: 1--WE, the jury, find the defendant
not guilty" Then there was love feast, a
regular old-time Methodist handshaking
and tear-sheddings. All was over. The
great crowd dispersed, and as the fair pris-
oner descended the court house steps an old
negro shouted to her: $50 your way md
sin more" The result Of this case w,s8 a
great victory for the defense. l.. A. Dean,
Capt. Rowell, George Fry and Seaborn
Wright have covered themselves With
glory.
MRS. MKEE RELIEVED.
Mrs. Mckee seemed relieved to think that
the long case was at an end, and spent a
few moments In talking with her friends.
Some of the men in the court room were
Offering to bet ten to one that an acquittal
would come in very short time. but no
one would take the bets. The jury was sua
lust two hours