The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-04
After Nearly sixteen Hours the Jury
i'm Cabinet Company Case Reached
an Agreement.
PERCIyAL COFFIN's JOY
FRANCIS THANKED THE JURORS
FOR AcQUITTING HIS BROTHER.
Motion for New Trial VIII He Ar
Gued saturday-superscdea to
be Applied For.


funds of the Indianapolis National Bank.
by the grace Of the same twelve men that
found him guilty. his brother. Percival b.
Coffin, goes free. The deliberations of the
federal jury came to an end at 2:15
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. 1t required
nearly sixteen hours of constant work to
reach the agreement that was announced
at that hour.
AT o'clock yesterday morning the MEM
bers of the jury returned to the govern
rnent building to take UP the work where
they had left 1t the night before. Many of
the jurors looked as IL they had slept little.
Throughout the forenoon there was no in
dication that a verdict would be reached.
There were casual inquiries of the bailin
from government employees and attorneys,
but the general public appeared to take lit
tie interest in what was going on. Neither
of the Collins came down in the morning.
At noon the jurors separated and went 10
dinner, but their faces failed to betray the
slightest intelligence as to what they had
done They were back again at / o'clock.
and for forty minutes not a sound came
from the jury room. few minutes before
2 o'clock foreman Boyd opened the door
and beckoned to the Dailiff That official
stepped to the door. nodded his head in re-
ply to the words whispered by the foreman
and then made for the nearest telephone.
This was the cue for. the crowd that had
begun to collect at the top of the stairs.
and twenty-five or thirty men made rush
for the court room.
At O'clock 1t was announced by Clerk
Butler that the jury had agreed and
messenger was sent to notify Judge Baker.
The attorneys for the defense were notified
by telephone, and District Attorney Burke
was called from his home, where he was
at dinner. When the court officials learned
that an agreement had been reached they
| cautiously conveyed the news to those
! whose presence necessary, and the
| fury had been dismissed almost before an
intimation of what was going on reached
the street. Attorneys Miller and Winter
came in with their clients and William Ed
ward Coffin. The three brothers sat down
together, but they die not discuss the
psranaunt topic i'm their minds while walt
| ing for the jury. Their faces betokned the
nervous strain under which they labored
| Promptly at 2:30 o'clock the jurors filed
| into the box.
Gentlemen. have you agreed upon a ver-
dict?" asked Judge Baker when the Jurors
! were seated.
/ w e nave, Tepned foreman BOYD, pass
ing up piece of white paper to Clerk
| Butler.
I'VE, the jury, find the defendant. Fran
els A. Coffin. guilty." he read. las charged
in the counts of the indictment. 4, 8, IL, u.
| %, IA and 80, and the defendant, Percival b.
| Coffin, not guilty
! AS the words left the lips of Clerk But
Ter the eyes of everybody in the court room
/ frtrr roI
instant the face of Frank Coffin paled. He
| quickly recovered himself. and to the crowd
| that stood about it was plain that his first
come to his brother. There was devotion
and sincerity in every feature of his face
as he turned to Percival and clasped his
| hand.
Thank God. you are safe" he said. and
his voice choked up. Perciva Coffin re-
turned the hand-clasp. but he could not
| speak. William Edward Coffin reached
over to his younger brother and gripped
his hand, and then turned to the other de-
fendant.
THE defendant, Percival b. Coffin, is
discharged said Judge Baker
LAS to Francis A. Coffin, / suppose he
will stand on his own recognizance. as it
is" suggested attorney Winter
do you think the recognizance sufficient
Mr.. Burke?' asked the court, turning to
the district attorney.
1T would not be in the practice of the
State courts, your Honor replied the at
tcrney
II am inclined to think that the govern
ment will permit the bail to stand as II
| is" said Judge Baker. Il believe that the
\ defendant could be secured did he attempt
| TO escape so we will let the matter rest
until after the argument for a new trial.
Judge Baker thanked the jury fer their
| patient attention of the last few weeks
and allowed each member a days pay for
the time they spent in celebrating We'd
| nesday night. Before the attorneys left
the room, Mr.. Winter notified the court
that motion would be entered for new
trial and 1t was arranged that this should
be done Saturday afternoon
A more delighted man than Percival 3.
! Coffin never left the United States court
room. He didn't wait for the elevator, but
fairly flew down the three pairs of stairs
But one thing kept his Joy from being per-
feet and that was the regret that his
brother had not been acquitted. People
who have known these men for years and
those who have watched them during the
noted their solicitude for one another The
| unselhsh conduct of Frank Coffin I'm trying
| TO shield his younger brother throughout
the case has been the subject of much com
menf. The first thing that Percival Coffin
did after reaching the street was to send
a message to his wife, who was anxiously
waiting for news. Then he went to the
| Office of the United States marshal. where
| the jurors were receiving their orders for
| pay.
II want to thank you for what you have
done for me to-day, said the young man
grasping the hand OF a grizzled. gray-haired
Juror with sons of his own. II can't ex-
| press my gratitude. but you have made me
a very happy man and 1 shall always re-
| member you."
The best way TO thank me-" replied the
| old man. with the suspicion of moisture ir
his eye. SIS TO be a good boy. We did whai
we thought was right
"Ill do my best. said Percfval Coffin as
| he passed on TO another juror. He declined
/ 10 say much about the case except thai
| he was pleased and at the same time dis
appointed
I'm fairly overjoyed on my own ac.
count he said to an acquaintance, but
| am very sorry on Franks account
hoped that he would be acquitted too
am hopeful that there are better times
ahead fo~ him. because / never spoke q
truer word In my life when / say that
the Indianapolis National Bank to defraud
anybody. There wasn't dishonest motive
In what Frank did or what ] did. don'l