Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-20
A DR. A M ATTIC SCENE
Marked the Acquittal Of Frank Aldrich
Last Night.
Jury Declares Him Not Guilty of
Forging Judge Coles Name-IIIs
Wife Swooned.

At just twenty-five minutes after Il
O'Clock last night Foreman A. Geary John
son OF the jury declared that the jury had
decided that Frank Aldrich was not guilty
OF forging the name OF Judge c. c. Cole to
the sixteen prCmissory notes mentioned in
the Indictment returned against the de-
PENDANT in August of last year. The scene
in the old court room was a dramatic one
Just outside the door of the court room
the prisoners wife, her sister and Miss
Lehman awaited the verdict In answer TO
the formal inquiries of Clerk Downs. Fore
man johnson replied that the jury had
agreed upon verdict, and that their YER
dict was mot guilty"
Thank. God" cried the defendant. and
Jumping up he caugn; the hanls Of mis-
counsel and wrung them IN his excitement
May 1 shake the hanis of the juryInen
and thank them?" he inquired humping
toward them. they stood m a long line
about him. Not yet. Not yet" whispered
Mr. Truitt, his counsel. pulling him back
Ihen, wheE the verdict had been entered
by the clerk, Mr.. Truitt broke the Silence
prevailing. Il move. your honor" he said,
that the defendant. be discharged"
NO one was there to inform the court
mat another Indictment stood against the
defendar {, and Judge McComas quietly
remarked that the -iefen lana should be
released That done, Adrich sprang to
ward the jury men standin,, about him AMI
grasping the hand of each one IN turn.
thanked them, saying: ''Cieatlemea. God
alone knows how righteous and Just your
verdict is
Hardly had the defendant finished thank
ing them when woman's scream was
heard Just outside the court room door
Aldrich knew what ii meant. and passing
quickly out of the room, he found his wife
in a swoon. Picking her up, he carried her
to the marsbars Office, and kneeIing beside,
her ondeakOrpd calm her bar
as she partially regained consciousness
that all was well and that he was a free
man again 1t was not, however until
Mrs. Aldrich had been carried below that
she fully regained her composure, and then
her sister swooned under the excitement.
carriage was called and the party was
quickly driven to the residence of Mrs.
Aldrich's sister, 1O0S 10th street
When told that the defendant had been
released District Attorney Birney today re-
marked that 1t should not have been done.
The marshal" sand Mr. Birney. should
have informed the court that there was
another indictment pending against AL
drich. Had Judge McComas been so in
formed he would not have released the
man.
The other Indictment was returned in De-
cember last, and charges Aldrich with hav-
ing forged the name of Judge Cole to seven
Ga eight promissory notes about the same
time as those mentioned in the Indictment
on which he was acquitted. Mr.. Birney
said he could not Just now say when, IL
ever, he would bring Aldrich to trial on the
remaining indictment.
To he Rearrested.
1t was stated at the court house this
afternoon that Aldrich would be rearrested
this afternoon on bench warrant and held
for trial on the other indictment.
District Attorney Birney. asked that the
warrant issue, and Clerk Downs filled out a
blank warrant and then started to see
Judge McComas and get his signature.