The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-15
He Is Acquitted of the Killing
Of Herbert G. Jones
WAS DONE IN SELF-DEFENSE
The Jury Was Practically Agreed Be.
fore Leaving the Box
Scenes In the Court Room on the Announces
ment of the Verdict-0eneraI
Court News

J. Bidwell Errington is a free man.
A jury of his peers has declared that he
acted in self-defense when he shot down
Herbert @. Jones, and he walkeu out OF
Judge Smiths court rom last evening
shortly after o'clock legally absolved
from all blame. The case was given to
the Jury at 5:15 O'Clock, and at 7:45
o'clock the jury had agreed on verdict.
At they had been out to dinner in the
meantime it is presumed that they were
virtually agreed before they retired for
elaboration, which was purely matter
of form. Judge Smith had announced
when he left the bench that he would re-
turn at o'clock. but he got back some
what earlier, and was consequently on
hand when the knock on the door an
nounced that an agreement had been
reached. Errington was not in the court
room, and Sheriff Burr was telephoned
to bring him. which he did shortly.
Senator Dennis Spencer was also absent,
but Mr.. Bowen, of counsel for the de-
Tense, was present, with the brothers and
sister of the defendant. who have been
constant attendants during the trial.
There were but few spectators. As the
jury filed into their places in the box the
sister of Errington bowed her head and
appeared to be crying. When the verdict
was announced mot guilty. there was
slight outburst of applause, but this was
quickly checked by the court, and the
polling proceeded withous farther Incl
dent. As the jurymen passed out OF the
box each shook hands with the prisoner
and his brothers and sister, as we'll as
counsel for the defense.
Judge Smiths court room was crowded
yesterday morning at the opening Of his
court, the announcement that Senator
Dennis Spencer, the pride of Napa, would
make the principal argument for Firing
ton having been sufficient to attract q
large number Of the local bar. in addition
10 the regular attendance. After dispos
ing of the usual ex parte business, the
Errington case was called and Mr.. Spen-
Ger proceeded with his argument. Mr..
Spencer is a forcible if not an elegant
speaker, and he has way of putting facts
that Is very effective with jury. He
was at his best yesterday, and as he pro-
ceeded 1t was plain to be seen that be
was making an impression. He reviewed
the evidence very closely, and every mi
mute fact bearing on the theory of self
defense was brought out and emphasized.
In the afternoon he continued. devoting
the latter part of his argument to analyz-
ing the relations between ErrinGton and
young woman was very bitter. Mr..
Spencer quoted literally from holy writ,
the proverbs OF Solomon, In illustrating
the dangers of-young men from strange
women. intimating that feminine nature
has not changed during the lapse of CEN
turtles, and that the advice of the great
King Solomon, perhaps the greatest mind
and the closest observer of human nature
that the world ever produced, was as
good today as when it was fist uttered in
the musty,ages of the past Parenthetic.
ally it may be stated that Mrs. Jones was
not present and therefore escaped.
Deputy District Attorney McComas
closed the argument for the people. Mr..
McConias ridiculed the theury of self de-
tense, or that Burlington was a modern
Joseph whom Mrs. Jones-'har prosecuted
with her attentions. The evidence
went to show that ErTlngt6ps was ap-
parentiy as fond of her society as she was
of his. Mr.. McComas further said thatif
Errington's plea of self-defense was sus-
tanned, the bars might as we'll be let
down, and RIGHTEOUSNESS run riot. If a
man could debauch another mans wife,
and because the injured husband object
ed, he could be shot down and the plea
OF self-defense urged, there was no tell
ing where the matter might end. Mr..
McComas spoke until A :45 O'clock his
argument being very creditable one in
deed.
Judge Smith then charged the jury.
The instructions were very lengthy, half
an hour being consumed In the read ing
For the defense they were very full on
the questions of reasonable doubt and
self.defense, and it was the general i'm
preston that under these instructions
verdicJ OF ac,quittal was certain. an i'm
preston which was verified by the YER
dict returned less than two hours after.
ward,