Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-09-16
Hams Acquit ed.

When t0e GAZETTE'S report OF Gne dalns
murder trial at Hampton closed yesterday,
MIR Goode was speaking He said: 81 don't
say Capt. Evans came here with lie upon
his lips, thst be was deliberate perjurer,
but he was the deadly enemy OF the defend
ant and brought that prejudice with him to
this court. He looked at everything in this
case through jaupdioed eye"
After reading the instructions of the court
in regard to excluding doubtful testimony,
be took up the question of difference 10 the
statements of Capt Evans as to the boat and
wharf and the actual measurements made,
and challenged the witnesses' testimony.
The testimony of Colonel Bird was then
taken up. He passed lightly over she evil
dance of Frank Evans, whom he compii-
nented as being one of the few sons who IN
tbsse DAYS had faith In bis father. rs was
like Hamlet playing with PoloDius. II Cap,
tain Egspe aald It was whale, Frank knew
1t yes whsIe. The testimony of Captain
GRAY wss then carefully gone over. Re
had been Init oduced by the Commonwealth
| buk they DoW reDudiated him, and why
| Because he was employed by his brother 70
bring material 10. use of the engineer's de-
pertment. Great stress was laid On the tes-
timony of DR.. Psake, who had held the post
mortem on Henneesn's remains. DR.. Peske
stated that HaDnaeau was man OF fne
physique, well-deveCped musole sad look
| ed like college athlete that ne would prob
ahlg weigh $50 ponnds. The fact that the
shot gent into the body horizontally Yves
psima facie evidence that the deceased was
standing ~ in the host, with the oer 10 hls
| hard r1iaT ahot no his client
He next Turned his attention 10 the teBti
i uony Of Lincoln Smith, who he claimed
had manifested more humauity than eny
nne on the other edo He had wanted to
| take boat and go onI when he hfasd the
cry for nstp has uOs prevented from doing
| SO. lie saN he aoFEp, Is De calico IL, and
! tod Capt, Gray Of tbe TACT. Ra also saw
| tbs deceased take up the osr and strike st
| the prIecrer, and be still sbinks he struos
| him. Marx you, he rose up and struck him.
He wGs not Sitting down rowing. be had nc
| private scirnosity and knew neither party
| Ia the boat, end had no motive to make q
statement that was not fsot. The Com
monweelth did not call him 1t was not the
! kind of evidence they wanted, but when the
matter was presented to Judge Gnnter he
had the man called. The other side be.
lieved this witness, and that ia why they
| had bullied and bedgered him so much dur
| Ing the examination.
| He then referred In scsthing terms to the
h inct that when bis client Wns On the stsnd
! the counsel for The prosecution wore afraid
! to tackle hlm. the testimony of the shoot
| ing, So given by Hams, YVES then read and
dWelt on ct length. He contended that the
oar was more formidable weapon In the
hands of Eannegen than the pistol In the
hands OF Hans There were but two bullets
In 1t. snd II they had missed, the pistol wac
worthless, while the oar still remained.
Thornton Bsins is the only man now living
| vino knoFs the full facts In the case, aud be
has come into court and given the facts, End
the prosecution nss not dared to question
| hin. He gave clear statement OF The va
us Of positive and negative evidence, and
sitter paying Senator Voorhees, high trib-
ate FOR his legal tslent end ability, Judge
Goode closed MS address by explaining to
the jury the God-given right OF self defense.
In which alone bis client had acted, and
urged them to render decision In accord
snce with the facts In tbs case and allow bis
sIiert to 60 free.
After n recess Senator Voorhees, addressed
the Jury. He paid tribute 10 tie memory
of Edward Hsnnegsn, to whom he was
deeply attached. The speaker criticised the
testimony of Lincoln Smith aud declared it
untrue. The position of the two men In the
boat was discussed at length. The tragedy
wes then wildly described and the prison.
| er's heartless conduct in making no effort to
90 ashore when his friend called, Help,
| help; this man has shot me. an killed"
| The question of selfdefense, to which Judge
Gonde had referred, wes fully discussed.
ka,o taY, MT
Obliged to kill. Ii was in his oninion will
| ful and deliberate mnrder. II you allow
| snch crimes to go unpublished they will re-
turn to plague you. The question of a res-
| soDabie doubt was then explained to the
ne brave, be fair. The jury Ia the bulwark
of our institutions. They should have
| mercy in their hearts, out justice in their
heads.
Mr.. Voorhees, closed his address, which
was listened 70 with deem interest by the
| large audience present, st p N.
The jury then retired for consultation. AT
O'Clock the jury returned end submitted
| their verdicS-"Not guilty as indicted"
When tho verdict WAS snnouncei the prisoner
| jumped up his face broad smile, and in an in
| slant he was tho center OF a struggling, half
laughing, half crying group. his brothers threw
their arms 3r0und nm. Attorney ShllnDgton
| claspcd his hands, Judge Goodo bent over him,
and few lawyers near by added thoir congratu-
lations. Tho final sceno was tho proclamation of
the sheriff that the accused was discharged from
the custody of tho court. Then there were more
congratulations, young Hains breaking away
| from the crowd that surrounded him in order to
| shake hands with each man the jury. Then
he slipped away to tho Hygoa Hotel. He flung
himself down from the carriage and burst into
tho lobby. His MOTHER in tho dining room, saw
him como. Out she flew and clasped him in her
arms Ladies in oyoning dress, officers in uniform,
| hastened to join in demonstration theatrical in
It's character. Nhilo tho scene WAS in progress
Lieutenant Hsina WAS extending the hospitality
of Hampton to tho iurymen, who inbbed mint
juloDs and other dccocHons with great relish in
restaurant nosr tho court. An hour later young
Hams was the most conspicuous person in the
lobby Of the hotel.
-s------
a FIGHT IN RoANoKE-The sequel 10
the Grirbeyg & Morris assignment WAS o