The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-25
WILCOX NOT GUILTY.
The Jury Finds Him So After
Short Deliberation.
A SCENE BETWEEN ATTORNEYS.
Murder Trial Closes with "A Dramatic
scene wilcox Overcome With
News of His Acquittai-

william A. Wilcox, once convicted % the
murder Of old Mother Fetting. who has
been undergoing a second trial IN Judge
HuHaes court. was found osg}3ilty by the
Jury. which returned its verdict AZ 9.lS
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. after being
out one hour and fifteen minutes. and last
night for the first time IN eighteen long
months he did not sleep IN a felon's cell.
All day long the jury had been listening
70 arguments OF counsel. and when they
had been concluded Judge Humes deltv-
cred what was conceded by counsel on
both sides TO be one Of the fairest charges
ever given 10 n jury in murder case
JIG covered the Law in the case. but had
nothing 10 say as 10 the evidence Twenty
minutes we're consumed Ia the delivery or
the charge, and al O'Clock the jury re-
tired
The crowd which had been IN the court
room all the afternoon waited until
O'Clock. and then many departed. Judge
HUmes went home az that hour. and told
the clerk 10 send for him in case Of an
agreement He had been gone but fifteen
minutes when the bailin in charge Of the
jury was informed that verdict had been
reached The bailih whispered the news
TO Deputy Sheriff Brockway, who told IL
10 Clerk Mcclure Then IL was whispered
about the court rom. some one telephoued
IL down town. and in twenty minutes IL
was matter OF gossip on the streets.
The crowd ia the court room grew as IL
hy magic Inside the bar were lawyers
reporters and courthouse attaches. They
talked about the verdict IN whispers. Some
said early agreement indicated a YER
dict OF guilty. others said st meant an ac-
qufttal A spell OF restlssSness vas taking
possession Of the crowd when with long
and rapid strides Wilcox, who had gone
back to his cell "a soon as the jury re-
81 sd raA he rgaflnr
behind him were Judge Humes and Dep
MY Sheriff Broekway. The prisoner walk
ed 10 the north end OF the bar. which had
been the headquarters of the defense dur
ing the trial and took seat between Mr..
Winstock and Mr.. Ingersoll. Directly he
hind him was his sister. Miss Emma VIII
cox, n young. pleasaDt-faced woman. who
came here from her home In Montague
Mich. last Sunday. and who has been I'm
the court room throughout the trial. VII
cox remarked TO a reporter that the YER
diet would be murder in the first degree
or acquittai. And he had good reason TOR
thinking so, as Mr.. Winstock had In his
argument 10 the jury. upon the authority
OF Wilcox. stated that no compromise YER
diet was desired.
Judge Humes went on the bench at SIS
and by his order the jury was brought in
Wilcox scanned the faces of each of the
twelve men as they filed in and took their
seats.
Gentlemen Of the jury have you agreed
upon a verdict" said Judge Humes. and
the answer. We have" fell from the lips
OF Foreman Knapp He slipped a small
white paper into the hands OF the clerk
II was turned over to Judge Humes who
glanced st II and returned ~ to the clerk
with the remark: Read the verdict Mr.
clerk. Dir. Mcclure stood up, and with "a
slight trembe I'm his voice. read. King
county. state OF Washington. cause No
s2l We. the jury In the case wherein the
state OF Washington is plaintiff and
William Wilcox is defendant. Not guilty.
{. X. Knapp. foreman"
The Prisoner 0vcrpowercd.
wilcox, who from the time OF his arrest
has not lost his nerve except for a few
seconds when che jury at the former trial
convicted him. completely collapsed when
the words mot guilty" fell from the
clerks lips. His face grew deathly pale.
his whole frame trembed. his head drop-
ped and had not Mr.. Ingersou caught him
he would have fallen. He was stunned
hnt for moment and 80 quickly recovered
that. when the jury started to pass out
he had already shaken hands with his
counsel. caressed his sister and reaching
over the railing, graspcd the hand OF each
Of the turymen. Miss Wilcox laughed one
minute and cried the next II am so glad
came" she kept saying while thc crowd
IN the court room crowded around and
congratulated her and the prisoner Il
guess can So now without having some
one tagging after me" said Wilcox. and
then. catching sight Of his former en-
ployer. Mr. Fennelson. OF Tacoma. ne
called out; You viii wire home 20 father
and mother won't you"
Wilcox remained tn the court room for
about twenty minutes shaking hands with
every body present. after which be went
with his sister 70 Mrs. Rythcrs home on
Alder street whore they had. supper.
No Arrest for King Murder.
The expected arrest az wilcox on tho
charge ~ numbering James kjug. vhi,h
was promised by the Tacoma officers
who were iu ATTENDANCE At the trial. did
not take place after Wilcox hat heon ar
quilted and AZ midnight Ne was stiu
free man u is now beloved that re urul
not have 10 stand trial for the KING uur-
der. II had been reported fnr several
DAYS that a warrant hal already been IS
sued for Wilcox and thar u was tn the
hands 81 the king county authorities
Deputy sheriff F'rahtr,e toI3 Nr tnge~.
soil. OF counsel Tor the defers So YESTERDAY
afternoon that such was not a fact
Wilcox spent last night IN me company
a. his sister ana AZ 81 n'cloek went 70 To-
Southern hotel ~ spend the night We
said that he would not ran away AStp
his future Intentions re sai3 thar De
would likely 80 20 work IN the Ta,>ona
box factory. but II 20 cou}l scruro "a po-
sition in this city ne would not leave
Tho Closing Argument.
The LAST day Of the trial was an inter
estinE ono. Ar Wiltshire consumed fifteen
minutes ~ thc morning session i'm -1v-
Guiding che states opening argument t{e
Went INTO ortAN toucNruiuE the alleged
conspiracy between Wilcox AVA James