The morning call., 1893-08-26
CURTIS is FREE.
The Jury Pronounces Him
Not Guilty.
AFTER THREE LONG TRIALS
A Verdict Was Arrived At After Less
Than Two Hours Deiiberation.
Only Three Ballots.

After suspense lasting over nearly two
years. and after three long and tedious
trials, Maurice B. Curtis walks the streets
a free man. jury in Judge Murphy's court
having acquitted him yesterday of the ac-
cusation of having murdered Policeman
Grant on the night of September 10, 1891.
Singular Ill fortune has attended tine
endeavors of both prosecution and defense
TO arrive at a verdict p this case. The
story of the circumstances surrounding
the tragedy is well known TO all; it has
been argued and re-argued, and so thread
bare had the story been worn that little of
interest would have attached to this third
and latest hearing had it not been for the
introduction of fresh and startling evidence
that cropped up at the eleventh hour to
lend fresh excitement to the case. And as
the days wore on and the Iong-drawn-out
trial was approaching its close people who
had been apathetc at first woke up a lit
tie as they wondered if this was really 60
ing to be the end of it one way or the
another or was another tiresome disagree
ment going to drag the agony out into an
other year?
For once before had the jury disagreed,
~ and in the second trial, when all the evil
dence had been gathered in and counsel
ready to make their rhetorical efforts. the
i Juror died, and all the labor AMI trouble
went for nothing. ana the WeariSome
ordeal had to be gone through all over
again. But now ii is different, and the
famous Curtis murder trial has passed in
among the records of the past.
When proceedings were resumed yester-
day morning all that could be done for
Curtis had been done, ana it remained but
fo Dictrint Rornoc tn >,
the evidence on behalf of the prosecution.
Barnes surprised every one by the IN
usual breVity OF his speech. Waving as he
had the privilege to make the opening ad-
dress, it was thought by most people that
his reply would be elaborate and exhaust
i've. But it was not. He merely talked
for short while in that pleasant, musical
way, born of his father and so faithfully
reproduced in him. the while he con iuTed
the Jury to test the case fairly on its merits.
Il beseech you. gentlemen of the jury,
said Barnes, mot to let your sympathies
outweigh your Judgment. That true sense
of justice which knows no bias one way or
the other is omnipotent. Let it be with
you now, so that you may arrive at fair
and Just conclusion on the evidence itself"
Then the counsel went on to defend the
witnesses for the prosecution from the
violent attacks made upon them by MessTs.
FuOte and Wilson, and at the same time he
endeavored to expose the absurdity of
some of the testimony given for the de-
Tense.
Harrington and his toothache came in
for some ridicule. and the triangle of men
which the witness claimed TO have seen
reminded him of the old song of the
musical family. Each member of that
family played a different instrument,
gentlemen, but this man Harrington
Knocked more tunes out of that triangle of
his than any member of that family ex-
tracted out of any Of the various instru-
mentS of music"
Barnes address was brief, but very
impressive. And when he drew pict-
ures of the horrors Of the grave and of
Curtis faithful wife, cIinging to the last q,
and mourning him when taken away, there
was 10 person present in the audience who
did not appreciate the solemnity of the
occasion.
Judge Murphy's charge to the jury was
long and carefully worded. Occupying
nearly three quarters of an hour. 1t was
noon when the jury retired to deliberate,
in charge Of Under Sheriff Mcguire and
Deputy Sheriff John Burns.
At l O'Clock the jury returned into court
without having arrived at decision. SO
they were escorted across the street to a
substantial luncheon, whence they returned
in better frame of mind shortly after 9
O'Clock.
Curtis walked up and down the court
room hardly able TO conceal his feYeriSh
impatience; his wife. brave little woman,
appeared merry and cheerful as ever.
Size has all along supplied courage enough
for the pair. But it must have been an
anxious moment when as the hands of the
courtroom clock pointed 10 a quarter tn
three loud knocking atthe jury-room door
indicated-to the amazement Of all who
had pooh po0hed the idea of an agreement
that verdict had been arrived at.
The jury filed into court and took their
places in silence. Judge Murphy had
provided against any demonstration in
court by acting as his own bailiff and
threatening due chastiseuent to any un-
lucky often Ter in this way; consequently
everything was orderly and quiet.
Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed
upon verdict" asked Clerk McFadden,
after the roll had been called.
"We have"
''Dn YOU find the defendant guilty or not
guiitv?"
Not guilty"
That was all. No scene. no open dem.
onstratlon OF any kind. But Curtis and
his wife stood for moment hand in hand
while their minds Travelled back through
the events of the past two years, amid the
thought of straight, unbroken avenue OF
life that Law before them. And then FOote,
Wilson, Barnes and all present pressed
round and congratC ated the happy couple.
The crowd stood, as crowds mostly do
gaping solemnly for moment. and then,
realizing that the show was over, silently
ard slowly moved away.
SO ended the famous trial. 1t is now
known that two ballots were taken before
lunch. On the first ballot the Jury stood
nine for acQuittal and three fer conviction
at the second ballot eleven stood for &C
quittal and one for conviction; then they
went to lunch. Returning, they balloteC
once more; result, acquittal.