Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-09
CANNOT AGREE.
The jury in the Avant Case
Hopelessly Hung.
1t Now Seems improbable That a Con-
viction Will Ever Be Reached What
the Next Step Will be is Not
Known,

The argument was included in
the Avant murder case last evening
and the case was given to the jury.
1t is the general verdict that three OF
the greatest speeches that have been
delivered in the Criminal court
of the county were heard in this case
yesterday. They were the speeches
of Col. House, w. M. Daniel and r.
III. Burney. The defendant was rep
resented by the first mentioned gen.
tlemen, while the argument for the
State was concluded by Mr.. Burney.
The court. house was packed all day
by promiscuous crowd to hear the
speeches, and they remainded until
Judge Tyler had charged the jury
and cent them away to consider their
verdict.
THE CHARGE.
Judge Tyler read his charge to
the jury in a very impressive man.
aer. and the prisoner at the bar
seemed to comprehend, for the first
time during the trial, the full mean
ing of the charge against him. His
face was study, as he listened to
every W ord that fell from the lips OF
the court. He seemed to catch the
full meaning of every sentence. AT
times his face would brighten up,
then it would cloud as he would con-
strue some line in the charge as
being against him. The charge was
substantially the same as the one
read to the first jury in the case. 1t
was fair, pointed and strong. The
various intricacies of the case were
handled in a lucid manner,
showing the jury their duty
in determining the guilt or inno-
cence of the accused. After
the charge had been read the
jury retired to the Franklin House,
where they were locked in their
room during the night to consider
their verdict. The prisoner walked
back TO the jail several steps
in advance of the sheriff, seem.
ing oblivious of his surroundings,
paying no attention to the curious
people who would turn to look at
him, as he continued his way to the
cell, from whence he might never
come forth free man.
When court convened this morn
ing the courtroom was full of people
to hear the verdict in the Avant case.
There was much disappointment,
however, when the foreman an
nounced that they could not agree
on verdict. Judge Tyler told them
that as the trial had been long one,
he deemed it necessary that they
argree on a verdict if possible. lie
sent them to their room, therefore,
for the purpose of reaching an agree.
ment. They returned in an hour
with the same report. They were
again sent to their room, but it is
not believed that they will ever
reach an agreement. The news got
out in the courtroom this morning,
in some way, that the jury stood ten
for acquittal and two for conviction.
This report, however, is not entirely
reliable, but it may be correct.
The jury was again brought into
court just before the noon adjourn
ment and still had reached no agree
ment. They were ordered back to
their room to await the call of the
Judge at the afternoon sitting of the
court.
The jury is hopelessly hung and
will make no verdict, no matter if
they are held until the next term OF
the court. They will be held prob.
ably until late 1.-THE evening and
will be discharged.
What the next step in this case
will be is not settled, but there is
strong talk of a possible nolle pros.
The State has made the strongest case
possible with the evidence now in
the possession of the attorneys, and
it is extremely doubtful if Avant can
ever be convicted, yet this mistrial
does in no way preclude another