Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-09
KINCAID ACQUITTED.
The Long Murder Trial Ended at Half-past
Six Last Evening.

Six Last Evening.
Yesterday when The STAR went to press the
hincaid case was in the hands of the Jury.
Judge Bradley remained in the building some
minutes, but there was some doubt ex-
pressed as to when the jury would agree the
judge and Marshal Ransdell went to dinner.
Mr.. c. Maurice Smith Of counsel for the de-
Tense remained in the neighborhood of the
court house with the defendant.
Many friends of the defendant remained in
the court room, although the ladies who had
been in attendance during the day all dissp-
peared after waiting a reasonable tiIao for the
return of the jury.
Those who waited became impatient as the
time passed away, and every sound made by
the opening or closing of a door or the APP
proaeh of court official was taken as an indi-
cation that the jury had reached verdict
VERDICT REACHED.
Finally, at sos o'clock. word was sent down
from the jury room that q verdict had been
reached There was not single court official
in the room at that time except the court crier
and one OF the marshals deputies. No one
knew where the judge had gone and conse-
quently there was nothing to do but wait.
District Attorney Cole reached the court soon
after his assistant, Mr.. Clagett, and when the
latter informed him that the jury had reached
a conclusion they we're both of the opinion
that the verdict was for the defendant. The
district attorney went into court soon after
ward and took his scat. while the defendant,
who was the most interested in the result of
the jury's deliberations, took the seat which he
had occupied duSing the lengthy investigation.
He then moved to the other end of counsel
table and engaged in conversation with the
district attorney and remained there until the
judge appeared.
AnsoNIsHEp BY THE JUDGE.
III L.. Al u
Clerk Williams, who had gone off to dinner,
had not returned. While waiting for the clerk
and jury Judge Bradley admonished those
present not to give vent to their feelings,
either IN approval or disapproval OF the verdict.
Il desire to caution the entire audience" he
said. before the jury returns. / do not know
any more what the verdict is than you do, but
whatever 1t may be let me warn you to observe
the proprieties of the occasion and not let
your feelings lead you to any demonstration of
approval or disapproval of the verdict. If
there Is any violation of this injunction 1 will
deem II my duty to impose such penalty as the
case may require. Ii you will only stop and
reflect for one moment and realize the sOlem-
nifty of the occasion i don't believe there will
be any demonstration
Clerk Williams came in n few moments after
the judge. had delivered this admonition and
then the jurors filed in. and from their solemn
look it was feared by some of Kincaid's friends
quittal.
THE VERDICT ANNOUNCED.
As the clerk called the roll each juror an
swered there" and when the last of the twelve
weary men had answered Clerk Williams arose
and said:
Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed
upon verdict?'
We have" answered Foreman Ryan.
What say you is the defendant guilty or not
guilty.
Not guilty" was his response.
The spectators had almost forgotten the
judges admonition. for hardly had the words
mot guilty" fallen from the foreman's lips
when nearly every one in the audience arose.
Had it not been Tor the deputy marshal calling
them to order there would no doubt have been
an outburst of applause.
Mr.. Smith arose and asked that his client be
discharged and Judge Bradley said, Ser
tainly."
AFTER THE AcQUIrrAL.
Kincail then walked to the jury box and
shook the hand; of each juror. When the
jurors walked out they were thanked by Kin
caid's sister and brother and Mr. Harding of
Danville, KY. an intimate friend of kincaid's
1t was stated that when the jury retired nine
were for acquittal and three for conviction
but two of the three yielded to persuasions of
the nine within a few minutes, but the last one
held out until the time the verdict was reached
kincaid will return to Kentucky in few
days.
To whatever cause is assigned the action Of
the jury in bringing a verdict of acquittal,
whether to sympathy created for Kincaid. the
doubts arising from conflicts in testimony, the
credence given to Kincaid's own account of the
tragedy or a combination of all these clements.
no one can fairly attribute it to laxity on the
part of the prosecution or of the court The
district attorney managed his case in a masterly
M final off rfh hat fba
highly complimented for its force, directness
and keen logic. Judge Bradley during the trial
and In his charge to the jury gave an admirable
exposition Of the law applicable to the case.