The herald., 1894-12-08
It Took Them But a Short
Time to Return q
Verdict.
AN ALL-AROUND SURPRISE.
Even the Prisoners Erisnds Did Noa
Expect Such . Favorable Re.
suit = Appiemsn's Trial
Commenoeds

WOODLAND, Dec. 7.-Melville e. Hatch
Of Sacramento, q member OF the board
Of mediation Of the A. r. u. was 40.
quilted by q jury this afternoon of the
charge of murder preferred against him
90 result of the train wreck. during
the recent strike, in which Engineer
CLARK and four United Staten soldiers
were killed.
Carroll Cook closed his argument for
the prosecution at 11:30 .. M. and
Judge Grant Immediately began to read
hie instructions. The case WAS given to
the jury at noon, and the sheriff WAS
instructed to take the Jurors to lunch
before locking them up.
The jury wore locked up at l o'c' 'ock
and at 80 there waa Q knock on the
door and the announcement was made
thst verdict had been reached. The
jury were called in and announced .
verdict of not guilty. There were three
ballots. On the first ballot they stood
10 for acquittal and 2 for conviction.
On the second ballot only one stood out
for conviction. On the third ballot the
vote was unanimous.
Nobody was more surprised ct the
verdict than Hatch's own father and
mother. The elder Hatch expected
nothing but disagreement OF the Jury.
and the prevailing opinion was in accord
with him. There were = number, and
among them lawyers, who believed the
verdict would be guilty. Mr.. Cooks
mastery closing argument made q very
marked i'm mpression upon the spectators.
and even Hatch's most ardent friends
seemed to lose hope as the chain of evis
dence link by link Was forged, % only q
man who ia skilled in the law and who
has made q patient and diligent study
of every phase of the case could forge ID.
There was great deal Of speculation 20
to which Of the jurors could be depended
upon to hang out for acquittal. Some
said there would be three, some two,
and q number counted on but one. The
verdict, therefore, Was in the nature of
q surprise, and is the absorbing topic of
conversation tonight. Such q verdict
at the end OF three or four days would
not have probably excited much talk.
but it is Considered extraordinary that
an agreement should have been reached
in such Q short time.
When the result was reached there
was loud cheering in the jury room.
The court room was almoat deserted.
but this cheering attracted attention
and the crowd came in with q rush.
A moment later Juror York came to the
door and announced that Q verdict had
been reached. The jury was brought
into the court room without any delay.
Young Hatch was pale and nervous and
kept his eyes riveted upon the Jurors.
His wife was deeply agitated. Other
members of the family gave no indica-
tion OF any violent emotion. Judge
Grant warned the audience not to make
any denomination.
"Geptlemen of the Jury" said the
court, shave you arrived at verdict"
1--WE have" came back in chorus.
"Arise and announce your verdict"
said the court.
The IL men, instead OF the foreman
alone, arose and in one voice exclAimeds
"Not guilty"
The verdict was handed to the clerk
who read it aloud.
Gentlemen of the jury" queried the
court, ''is that your verdict?'
''It is," they all answered in one
voice.
"You are discharged from further
consideration in this case," announced
the court.
General Hart was not present, bat
Mr.. Gaddis. the junior counsel for the
defense, was as much affected "a any
member of the Hatch family.
Mr.. Cook. counsel for the prosecution,
congratulated the defendant and his
family. As the jury fled out of the
room each of them shook hands with
Hatch and his family. The elder Mrs.
Hatch and daughter az we'll as the elder
Hatch were profoundly sgitated. The
defendants wife was almost hysteiical
with Joy, tears streamed down her
cheeks, and in an ecstasy OF delight
she declared. II have not been 90 happy
since the day was married"
The court room was filed with friends
and sympathizers of the defendant. and
there is no doubt that the verdict met
with the approval OF majority Of those
present.
The Hatch family left for Washing
ton, this county, on late freight train.
There is q rumor that warrant 10 out
for the re-arrest OF Hatch on charge Of
obstructing tho mails, but IL cannot be
traced to any reliable source. Attorneys
hcre who represent the railroad COM
pany say they have heard nothing Of
such Q rumor.
The crowd that watched the closing
scenes OF the Hatch trial had scarcely
left the court room before the Appleman
=. 40 uoa Collad and kha aovk NJ / NJ NJ -,