The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-24
NOT GUILTY.
SUCH Is THE DECIsION OF THE JURY
ON THE DOC SNAP CASE
Three Ballots Taken-A Sealed Verdict.
County Attorney Boone Roasts Sam
Amidon to a Finish.

The jury In the case of the state against
Doc Snap returned abont o'clock last
evening with a sealed verdict which Will
not be opened before O'Clock this morn
ing when the court assemblies. Or course
no mortal eyes but those Of the jurors
have seen the verdict and not one OF them
will say word about what It'll 1t has
been intimated once or twice in the EAGLE
that Doc Snap would be acquitted. and
these intimations were based On mighty
good reasons The reasons are go strong
that it is now stated that the verdict is
mot guilty" and it will be SO announced
this morning. The fact of the matter is,
there was no testimony involving mater
ial facts against Snap except the evidence
Of Hancher and that was worthless for
many reasons. Hancher on sever
al occasions told various parties
that Doc Snap had nothing to do with the
case. He made such a statement to Sher-
i'll Ault and denied to the court that he
made it. Mr.. Ault testified that he did
make it, and OF course the testimony OF
the sheriff should he taken in preference
to that of Hancher. Hancher denied that
he made such statement to Coroner Nc
Collster, but upon the stand Mr.. McCol-
lister impeached him. Hancher's testi-
mony being unsupported by any other tes-
timony was deemed worthless under
the courts instructions, for the court
said that if the jury found any part of his
evidence increditable that they had right
TO throw all Of it out and on; it went, APP
parently.
The only witness who testified yesterday
morning was Judge Jewett who swore
that Snap received from his father in Au-
gust Sl4.90 for which he had sent to en-
able him to go somewhere that he could
work, and the presumption was that il
he was one OF five robbers that had then
over $1,000 in their possession, that IL
would not be necessary for him to be send
ing to his father for enough money to take
him to his uncle's in the Indian Territory.
The judges instructions to the jury were
so fair and impartial that each side claimed
that they favored their cause. Each side
was allowed two and cne-half hours in
which to present their arguments. e. V.
Ferguson opened for the state. and j. L.
Comfy followed for the defense.
Then commenced an adjourned meet
convention. Sam Amidon and Willard
Boone fought bitter fight in the conven-
ton. and in this case they fought bitter
fight also. In the convention last year
Boone beat Amidon for the nomination
for county attorney, and in the ccnven-
ton next year Amidon will try hard to
beat Boone. They ara not friends polite
ally and there is no doubt but what there
was some political feeling in this case.
This feeling, if there was any, was pre-
cipitated Saturday by Amidon, whether
intentional or otherwise, when he put
a convict named Wright on the stand.
Wright, in giving his testimony. stated
that he was serving three years. but that
he could have the case dismissed by Coun-
ty Attorney Boone for 500. This came
like a thunderbolt in the court house and
Mr.. Boone was the worst surprised man
there was around. To be just to Mr..
Boone everybody in the court room be-
lleved that Wright was lying and the
judge believed it so strongly that he
ordered Wright to be taken at once 10 the
Jail and cohfined in a cell where
he belonged" as he expressed it. 81 know
Mr., Bcone to be an honest officer" said
Judge Reed, "and will allow no man to
charge him otherwise in my court"
Willard was hot. He believed, and stated
that he believed, that Amidon had Wright
to testify that Boone offered to compound
felony, for political purposes, and from
that time on Boone was like silent We
suvius. The fire smouldered in him for
two long days and broke out yesterday
afternoon aud Amidon was the
Pompei that the burning lava
of his Indignation was poured upon.
Well. when the time came for Amidon
to make his talk he made it aud Major
Yank Owens says that in ten years
experience as clerk of n court he never
heard a more able or touching address be-
fore a jury. Major Owens was little too
enthusiastic, perhaps. but fer all that
Amidoa did make a very strong speech.
He recalled the incident of Virgil and
that 500 corruption business and he
smoothed it over nicely by saying that he
did not think that Wright was
telling the truth about the County
Attorney. He threw a uce stream
of water on the flames that were rip-roar-
ing in the breast of Mr.. Boone, but. the
stream was not strong enough. and the
fire in the heaving breast of the usually
mild and gentle county attorney still
burned fiercely. and it was predicted that
hades would break loose when he arose to
speak. At Ais Amidon concluded his
speech, took his hat and left the court
house. Willard watched him, and as the
door closed behind Amidon he seemed to
bs disappointed. He went on
to detail the evidence to the
jury, and the few who were ex-
pecting an eruption were beginning to
think that there would be no fun when all
AT once the Vesurius belched forth and
the firery, scorching flames OF his wrath
fell on the head of Amidon who, as stated
had left the court room. After using all
the adjectives in the nslish language and
every other language. to qualify the e>ti-
mate he placed on Amidou, he began coin
ing words. and it is safe 10 say that never
in the history Of that court room did any
man get more terrible and umerci-
fui roasting than Sam Amidon
got at the hands of his fellow
Democrat. Ii Will lard was in France and
talked as he did. he would be challenged
to duel at once. He talked on. and on,
about the imperfections OF the hero OF the
recent Democratic convention. until he
was almost worn out and. at least, until
he thought he had revenge for the real or
faucied stab he charges Amidon with Civ
ing him through Wright. the convict
Without commenting on that portion of
his address which related to Amidon, it is
but just TO say that Boone made very
strong speech. and it WAS thought by those
who do not look under speeches. at the
.riianca that Snan wnnid lie non ricraS