Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-07-17
MRS. FARRALL ACQUITTED.

fS>SOe~~~
band, Frederick Farrall, December II
last. So said the jury at 2:06 o'clock
in the afternoon, after having been out
about an hour. Mr.. Mitchell, the
States attorney, finished speaking
shortly after / o'clock, and the twelve
men then retired and the spectators
dispersed about the town. In short
time, however, general scurrying to-
ward the court house made it plain that
an agreement had been reached. The
room was packed in moment. Judge
Briscoe raped for order, as the jury
filed in, followed moment later by
the prisoner, looking as calm and col
lected as usual.
Clerk Turner then directed Mrs. Far
rail- to rise and hold up her right hand,
which she did in remarkably self.pos-
sessed manner.
The court admonished the spectators
to make no demonstration, whatever
the verdict might be.
Gentlemen of the jury" next said
Mr.. Turner, ''have you agreed upon
verdict ?"
eve have"
"What say you, is the prisoner guilty
or not guilty?"
"Not guilty." said the foreman.
Belle Farrall smiled and made bow,
which had in it more of condescension
than gratitude. Then, walking to Col.
Wilmer, she threw her arms around
his neck and for the first time during
the day showed sign of emotion. In
an instant the dignity of the court was
converted into complete bedlam.
Cheers went up, and dozen persons
rushed forward to shake hands with
Mrs. Farrall. The foremost Of these
was sheriff Albrittan. In this utter
confusion court adjourned. The yer.
dict met with general approval, and it
is thought that the individual members
of the jury had fully made up their
minds to acquit the prisoner before the
defense submitted its case. Messrs.
Farrall, brothers of the man whom
Mrs. Farrall was charged with poison
ing, fully believed the woman guilty,
and hoped for verdict of murder.
AS Mrs. Farrall left the hall, under
escort of the sheriff, three cheers were
given for her by hundreds of persons
gathered in front of the door. The late
prisoner entered Sheriff Albrittan's bug
gy, and was driven to his home, near
Port Tobacco.
Mrs. Farrall later gavo dinner to
the jury, and while at the table SEEM
ed Historically happy. She stated that,
knowing she was innocent, she at no
time during the trial was at all fearful
of the outcome.
Shortly after dinner Mrs. Farrall met
her brother, Leaf Robey, of Waldorf,
near the Courthouse and kissed him.
She spent the night at Sheriff Albrit-
tan's house, at Port Tobacco, where
she, one of her young sons aud some of
her friends have been stopping during
the trial. To-day she will 20 to her
sisters, Mrs. Scott Hicks, near White
Plains, where her other boy is staying.
Mrs. Farrall says her plans for the
future have not been determined, but
she contemplates going to Washington
shortly. Some of the gossips say that
she will marry Eugene Hall, the man
whose name was associated with hers
10 scandalous manner, but her friends
declare that there was no truth in the
stories told about them, and Mrs. Far
rail- will not marry Hall.
The trial, which began two weeks
ago. has proved one of the most noted
in the criminal annals of the State. The
trial has cost Charles county $4,000.
Mrs. Belle Farrali is young wo-
man, the widow of Frederick Farrall,
who kept q tavern at Hughesville,
Charles county. He was about fifty
years of age, more than twenty years
his wife's senior, and was crippled,
using crutch to walk. On December
II last he died with commissions and in
great agony, his attending physician
being DIR. Carrico. In consequences Of
rumors of foul play the States attorney
had the body of Farrall exhumed and
an autopsy made. Chemical experts
examined the vital organs and declared
they found strychnine in them. Upon
this and other testimony the coroner's
jury of inquest charged the widow with
having murdered her husband, by poi
son. and the grand jury of Charles
county indicted her for that crime. In
the meanwhile she had left the county
and nothing more was seen of her until
Saturday June %, when she returned
to La Plata and surrendered herself,
explaining that she had all along in.
tended to return, but had remained
away until the time of the trial to avoid
an imprisonment in Jail. Since then
she has been in the charge of the sher-
if. who kept her at his house.
The trial was set for Monday, June
"a. and that day she was arraigned.
Then court adjourned one week to
secure the attendance of witnesses.
Two days were consumed In impanel-
ing jury and the trial lasted until yes
terday evening.
WoNnrnrnrr -LrcA nr-I auk Man