The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-27
READING THE INSTRUCTIONS.
+. A. Coffin Was Troubled and Reed
WINS ExceedingIy Nerxous

Was Exceedingly Nervous
Long before the hour of O'Clock had ar
rived yesterday afternoon the federal court
room was crowded and standing room was
at a premium. the crowd being attracted
by the announcement that the court would
instruct the jury Immediately upon the
converting OF the court in the afternoon.
The space back of the desks OF the Judge
and Clerk OF the court was occupied TO its
fullest capacity and quite large number OF
attorneys were present in the room Prom
inent in the space behind the Clerks desk
was Judge Woods, and Immediately behind
him stood several attorneys. The chairs
occupied by the jury had been rearranged
30 tho Jury sat facing the judge In
tbr Jurors to the row. At the
tst end of the t,ng table which has been
by the defense during
trial sat ex-Attorney-general
aIer, beside him sat F. A. Coffin, the
hief defendant in the case, with look
of greater concern upon his face than has
been noticed at any time during the trial
1t was apparent from his countenance that
he realized that there was an uncertainty
hanging over his future life. Though his
face expressed no fear there was in the eye
noticeable through the glasses he Wore a
grave look of deep concern. He sat most
OF the time with his chin resting upon his
right hand, with his elbow upon the arm of
tae chair. and listened TO every word of the
lengthy charge Of the court. seemingly
oDlivious to the fact that all eyes were
rivited upon him. He glanced several times
al the jury.
Beside him sat his brother. W. Z. Coffin
TIE New York banker. He also paid the
utmost attention TO the words of the court.
lie sat perfectly still during the entire
was brother whose fate was hanging in
the balance and il was apparent that the
banker felt the natural concern of brother
for Brother HIS eager ear was ready to
catch a sentence or paragraph that might
be construed 10 be favorable or unfavora-
Reed He was greatly afTected by the pro-
ceedings and his face bore a feverish flush
es II Il was but by the greatest effort that
ne able TO withstand the strain at all.
II has been noticed several times during
ire course OF the argument that Reed was
sci against him and impugning his motives
and Intentions. Yesterday he sat for time
cred with q handkerchief while the court
was reading the instructions. 1t needed not
close observer to see that the strain upo9
prove too great for him. Standing i'm
rediately behind Reed was his attorney.
study study" ~ ''A'Sss' "a :" @''''"'e ep
AZ the end Of the table sat Percival B.
Coffin. and he alone of all the defendants
seemed not to be greatly concerned in the
reading by the court He leaned upon the
table with his elbows. toying pencil His
face showed signs OF nervous strain,
and he did not keep his eyes fixed upon
any one person thing His gaze wan
dercd first in one direction and then an
other Beside, and slightly behind, him
set A G. Harris. who has been the attor-
ncy or the cabinet company for years but
was compelled to withdraw from the case
account OF the wound received at the
hands OF Copeland during the former trial.
Mr. Harris leaned back in his chair and
sat with dropping eyelis almost iInmovable
in the Teadinr- OF the lnstructions His
faca f.,ra . erisicsI s,,,dio,s Iooi. a,-sdonca
OF The fact that his legal mind was weigh
Ing the propriety of each instruction as ii
was delivered Only when all the points IN
ehe case had been fully covered by the
court did the look vanish from his face.
a. the table just opposite T. A. and w: e.
Colin sat John s Duncan and Ferd Win
ter. each OF whom gave the court their
undivided attention. Several times while
the Instructions we're being read they held
brief whispered conversations
The counsel for the government all oc-
caIpied positions convenient for hearing the
Instructions. and standing by the east WIN
dow on the south sioe of the room was
expert Hayes. an attentive listener and
witness for the government in the cas-
The Nry gave the closest OF attention to
the coaFt. and While the instructions were
being read there was an impressive 81
hence IN the room. and only the clear de-
cisive voice Of Judge Baker was heard
His instructions are given elsewhere in
The reading OF the instructions took
Just ffty-fonr minutes and upon their
conpletion the court read 10 the jury the
different forms OF verdicts which might
he returned BY them Deputy Marshal
7Naylor Was sworn TO take charge OF the
Jury. but before he retired with fhe mem
hers Judge Baker said il was &c prac-
4icet in that court for counsel TO take any
executions they might desire TO the iE-
ssrucAions in the presence OF the jury te-
fore Nte members retired. He asked IL
the .efsuse wished 70 reserve any excep-
tons to\ the instructions.
Nr Miner spsa king for the defense
1atd. sFxvA OF COURSE desire to reserve
Exceptions TO the refusal or the court TO
give such Instructions as were asked by
Is and not given They< also ether
or the INSTRUCTIONS tbs We're given TO
which we will probably desire to enter
orr exceDtfonsN but we cannot say now.
without q little. time TO examine them.
Just what portion of the instructions we
II was agreed that the counsel Tor the
tense might take the instructions for