The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-26
RHETT NOT GUILTY.
Tho Member Of a Leading South
Carolina Family
ACQUITTED OF A GRAVE CHARGE.
He was Accused Of Assuming Little
Girls, WHO Acknowledged they Per-
jurcd Themselves to Convict Him.
He is a Son Of General Rhett.

NEw YoRk, June 25,-January 90
William r. Rhett, o member Of prom
inent South Carolina family, employed
as clerk in the New York offices OF the
Savannah line OF steamships, was ar
rested ut the Jersey City ferry by Officer
Vail on the charge OF criminally as
saulting little girls. twas alleged that
on December 10 Rhett had induced
these girls to accompany him to New
York, and had taken them in a hack to
Seventeenth street and back to the
ferry; that he had drawn the curtains
to the hack and assaulted them during
the ride. He was soon released on
s7,0OObail.
The trial began before Judge MARITIME
in Part Ill. Of General Sessions, June
-, and two days were occupied in get
ting jury, and since Monday, June 10,
the Jury listened to the voluminous EVIL
dence. Col. John r. Fellows and eX-
Senator Thomas w. Grady were on
gagged TO defend young Rhett, while the
prosecution was conducted by Deputy
Assistant District Attorney John +.
Mcintyre. 1t was Col. Fellows first APP
pearOnce at q trial since he left the
office OF District Attorney, and also the
first important trial conducted by Mr.
Mcintyre since his appointment.
Tho fact that Colonel Follows vas to
make the final argument for the defense
yesterday, was enough to I'LL the court
room with auditors. The prisoner gr-
rived at 1915 o'clock, accompanied BY
his.father, brother and uncle, and while
hd tried hard to look cheerful, it was
evident that the strain upon his nerves
was telling on him. After receiving the
greetings 81 his friends he took a seat
Hear his counsel, resting his head upon
his hand, q position which has become
to him habit during this trial. Col
onel Fellows opened his address by
contrasting the positions, habits and
appearance OF the prosecuting witnesses
with those Of the prisoner. No posi-
BILE motive, he said could be found for
the commission Of the crime by the
prisoner. Polly Morris, Katie Finn,
and Lally and McHugh, the hack
drivers, were born and raised in an
atmosphere OF crime and depravity.
Their stories differed widely now from
the testimony given ut the time Of the
arrest, and were therefore not entitled
to credence. Referring 10 the prisoners
family honor, Colonel Fellows said:
"His is the name OF family that has
been stainless for two hundred years,
At the police station he gave his right
name, and made no attempt to conceal
it. II he had been guilty he would not
have done this"
Colonel Fellows said lie received no
fee in the case, but acted purely IRON
sympathy II the Rhett family had
millions he would not accept penny
for his services, for it was a pleasure to
use his efforts in protecting this young
man from persecution. Heplctured the
young mans past record, and asked the
iurynlen TO trent him, in making their
decision, as they would desire n jury TO
treat their sons under similar circum-
stances.
Deputy Assistant District Attorney
Mcintyre, in beginning his address,
said the fGct OF the prisoner being the
scion Of agood family would not inlu-
cnce him. He presented the evidence
clearly and concisely land closed With
the scriptural quotations:
"Whoever shall receive one Of such
children in My name receiveth Me, and
whoever shall offend ono Of these little
ones, it is better that milestone were
hanged about his neck and he wore cast
into the sea-"
After a recess Judge MARITIME charged
the Jury, consuming about an hour and
a half in fairly and impartially stating
the law. The jury not having arrived
at n verdict at 1870 o'clock, were taken
out to dinner, returning at 500, AT
S:55 they filed into the jury box, and
Rhett was brought before them, His
face showed plainly that he realized lis
situation, and he scanned the faces OF
the iurymen almost eagerly, but seemed
to gain no hope, for not muscle OF his
face moved. The clerk asked the fore
man the statutory question: do you
find the prisoner at the bar guilty ornot
guilty%
mot guilty." answered the foreman,
and not until then did Rhett show emo:
ton. The muscles about the mouth
moved nervously, and he pulled at his
mustache for o moment in an excited
manner, then turned toward his father
with a slight smile and a nod to the
lie Is still under Indictment on two
other charges arising out OF the same
facts, aud will be admitted to bail on
each. Mr.. Mcintyre said: u cannot
yet say whether these other indictments
will be tried or not. The same facts are
involved as in this case, and the evil
dence would be the same"
A rERR1n1,E TRAGEDY