Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-09-30
JURY DISAGREED.
II Stood 10 to 2 for SiIver's
Conviction.
After Nine Hours Only One Juror Had
Changed His Vote.

SuouSSu tutS SVs0s
issss aaIrs tisqssat aad Ispartial c-ars'
Silver Rallied out.
The jury in the Silver sriL have dis'
agreed, finally standing 10 to 2 for convic
ton.
One Of the most hosly contested ant
lengthiest cases ever tried in Kennebe,
county has come TO an unsatisfactory end
One of the most mysterious cases in th'
crimiusl annals Of the State 10 still lef
shrouied in doubt.
After seven days legal battle and Al
expense of over $1,000 TO the county, a sec
ond s,iA. will be necessary to fully deter
| mine the guilt or Innocence of George +
Silver on the charge of manslaughter il
having caused the death Of Charles E
Blenn At Horseshoe pond, West Gardiner
on Sunday, July 2sd.
The extraordinary public interest, which
has been such marked feature Of this not
able case, did not waver to the last.
Ga Friday, both 10 the forenoon. while
Judge Hall was charging the jury, and in
the afternoon, while all were awaiting the
verdict, q large crowd was present.
A was the case all through the trial Il
was an orderly and attentive gathering
The one thing that aroused il to enthusi'
am Was when the topic of conversation
turned upon the unremi,tipg courtesy Of
Sheriff Norton and his deputies, Messrs.
Conner of Randolph and Hildreth of Gar.
diner. who have been in attendance through
the trial.
Judge Hall charged the jury elcquensly
and impar,iaily, and won for himself en-
thusiAstic praise from all who heard him.
His charge was fitting sequel to n trial al
ready noted for the high standard Of excel
lence maintained throughout by the oppos-
ing counsel.
The case was given 10 the jury at 10 80
o'clock in the morning and it was not at
tirst that the jury would be out long but As
hour after hour dragged slowly by, the
eagerly waiting throng realized more AMI
more that there was no, . unanimity of
opinion in that closely sealed and carefully
guarded jury room.
At 3 O'Clock the jury sent into Judge
Hall word tha, they could not come to an
ag.e, ment, and asked him for instructions.
The Judge sent back word that ~ it was
a case of great importance the jury should
make every endeavor TO agree.
Shortly after this the jurors asked if
they couli have some dinner, and their re-
quest was granted. This looked at the
time as though there was no prospect of
agreement. This proved to be the case,
for it was not until nearly 80 o'clock in
the evening, after nine hours secret con-
sultation, that the jury came out. only TO
have Foreman Clay announce that the jury
was unable to arrive at a verdict.
The jury on the first few ballots stool .
TO for conviction, bot soon one man real
lied that the majority was right, and after
that the voting stood 10 to 2 and so re-
mAined until the end.
From the test of authority it is learned
that the jurors voted as follows; For con-
viction, Foreman T. S. Clay of Watervilie,
Chas. A. Brown of Hallowell, J. =. Dud-
ley of Readfeld. Otis c. Brown Of Benton,
Rober, Barber Of Randolph, George W.
Matthews of Oakland, J. NJ. Pike of
Wayne, Alden II. Powers Of Litchfeld an 1
Frank G. Morrison of Sidney; for aoquit-
tai, Alonzo A. Young of Augusta and G.
Greon Wall Of Halowell.
While the jury was still out the case Of
the State vs. Eigar C. Wakefield for man
slaughter in un wfully killing Charles T..
Blenn was called. and owing to the ab-
sence Of number Of the jurors from the
special panel Of 20, the oilers were excused
until $50 O'Clock on Saturday morning,
when this t,ial will begin.
After the announce ment of the jury's in-
ability TO agree had been made Mr. Carrie
ton and Mr.. Heselton found cause for an
other vigorous dispute over the question Of
admitting Silver to bail, the amount thereof
and the character of the sureties on the
bond, which vas finally settled by Juige
Halls admitting George Silver to bail in
the amount of $1,000, with Lila Il. Hsr-
rington, George l.. Tibbetts and George II.
Harrington as sureties, to appear at the
December term of tie court. Mrs. Iis5-
rington is an aunt and Mr.. Tibbetts an uncle
Of Silver.
So, at about o'clock, Silver and hi,
most faithful friend and companion during
the trial, Ills father, walked out of the
court house to enjoy comparative freedom
and a temporary respite from suspense for
tTo mouths.
The following is Judge Halle charge in
full, which wi. be found to be of eIeep-
tionsl interest. as /: i, a perfect summary
OF the case and careful statement OF the
l,w and evidence:
juGae Nails Charae.