Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-05
A Statement by One Of the coroner's
Jury.
DID NOT INTEND TO EIONERATE Her
Words Inserted After the Verdict
wa Signed.
AN INTERESTING STATEMENT

A new development in the Flagler-Grcea
shooting case relates to the way the YER
dict of the jury was rendered. These
facts seem to Indicate that the verdict
a.; announced to the public did not repre-:
sent the true sentiment of all the members
of the jury.
Mr.. Geo. NJ. ]. Dorsey, member of the
coroner's jury, gave the following state
ment to The Star today:
When The jury was ready to announce
it's verdict, that verdict was concluded
with the sentence. We do think that
the shots were fired carelessly and
indfferently.' 1 believe that the word
ing was sufficient to carry the case to
the grand jury ,ot he1wise l should not have
signed it. At the same time it accom-
plished what 1 desired to accomplish. and
that was to prevent Miss Flagler from be-
ing imprisoned. I did not think that il
would be just to have her sent to jail and
to be incarcerated alongside criminals at
that stage of the investigation.
Il considered that the grand jury, with
its WIDER information on the law, would be
better able than would l to say whether
Miss Flagler was to be given trial, and 1
felt satisfied to relegate the duty of de-
Gliding that question to the grand jury:
But after we presented this verdict to
CcrcEer Hammett and to Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Jeffords, it was suggested
by the latter that we should more definite
ly indicate whether Miss Flagler should be
held or discharged. I had fully under
stood that the verdict rendered at that
time would not place the case without the
jurisdiction Of the grand jury. and as l
have said, was satisfied to pass the case
on to that tribunal.
Aftcryvard Changed.
after Mr.. Hammett and Mr.. Jeffords
came into the jury room, Mr. Ross Perry,
counsel for the defendant entered in COM
rany with Miss Flagler. and then the crowd
came crowding in. Mr.. Perry heard what
Mr.. Jeffords said. and remarked to Coroner
Hammett that something should be added
to the verdict. Mr.. Perry then reached
over and picking up the paper on which
the verdict was written. and already signed
by all the jurors, handed 1t to Mr. Ham
nett and suggested that these words be
added: And from the evidence, we cannot
hold the prisoner Mr. Hammett then
and turning to the jury, said: Gentlemen,
Is this satisfactory Four of the jurors
nc dded in the affirmative. but myself and
one other member of the jury remained
silent and gave no indication of our opin-
ion.
Even at that time was uncertain In my
own mind about the effect that the added
words would have on the case. l was not
sufficiently familiar with such matters to
realize what the effect of those words would
be- and belieYed,r that they were inserted
merely to perfect the verdict which had
intention of the Verdict. felt an added
confidence in this opinion because 1t was
Mr.. Hammetf who wrote the addition to
the verdict, and he was fully aware that
was firmly determined to have Miss F1agler
brought before the grand jury. Then the
room had filled UP with people. and Miss
Flagler. with Mr.. Perry. was present, and l
hestated to make any further objections,
because did not want to make scene by
being so conspicuous in Directing to what
was being done, especially. as have said,
l supposed the change of the wording of
the verdict did not affect the intention
dict t stated We do think that the shots its were
fired carelessly and indiferently' seemed to
me sufficient to carry the case to the grand
jury.
Surprised by the Result.
1.-THE developments since the verdict was
rendered have greatly surprised RE. AS
much as dislike bringing this matter be-
fore the public, feel that I cannot hesi-
tate doing so, in justice to- myself ard in
fulfllment Of the duty which was imposed
upon me as a member of the coroner's
.jury.I was. when on the jury, and still
am firmly of the belief that Miss Flagler
and that that body should consider the
evidence and decide whether Miss Flagler
should be prosecuted.
81 wish to say further that Coroner Ham
NETT assured me that all the facts con-
nected with the case would be brought to
the grand jury. My intention In holding
out was, and still is. to disagree with any
verdict that would set Miss Flagler
without the Jurisdiction Of the grand jury
1t was my firm intention to accomplish
that end, even If it had been necessary for
the jury to disagree upon a verdict, in
which case the grand jury would have had
jurisdiction. I would add that my position
on the Flagler case was seconded by one
9th ohor of tho i,rrxy