The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-03-04
DECLARED INNOCENT.
VERDICT OF THE JURY IN THE CO...
LETON CASE.

The Conclusion Reached on Monday Night.
Col. Aldrich Moves for Bail on Very Nov
ell Grounds--The Application Refused.
WATERFORD, Feb. 25.-"Gentle.
men of the jury, have you agreed
upon a verdict9"
4 "We have"
It is midnight. The old court house
of Colleton county is dimly lighted,
the body of the building being in
semi-darkness. The figures of the
prisoners are imperfectly seen in the
dock, which is elevated five feet above
the floor. At the rail dividing the bar
from the public portion of the hall,
there is wall of white faces. Men
have been pushing and struggling for
an advantageous position, but now a
hush falls upon the assemblage.
A few minutes before, when the
news that the jury had agreed was
heard on the quiet streets, men had
seemed to spring from the ground,
and in an Incredibly short time hun
dreds were struggling and pushing up
the winding stone steps OF the court
house, surging into the building, al
mostoverpowering the force OF depu
ties stationed along the railing.
But Judge Aldricb had arrived and
the stiffness OF a vault now reigned.
Around table lighted by one of the
three kerosene lamps in the hall, were
three or four special correspondents;
The Rev. G.. Il. Alderman, father OF
DR.. w. II. Ackerman, sat by the side
of his wife, his white hair and beard
being conspicuous in the uncertain
Light. The devoted mother, who has
so faithfully attended the court, was
bent forward, a handkerchief pressed
| to her eyes. Several girls, relatives
of the prisoners, were seated about the
dock, serious but not deeply moved
The prisoners looked straight ahead.
"Wait a moment, Mr.. Clerk" said
the judge, who then warned the audi
ence against any demonstration.
"Let the verdict be read" he said.
THE State against W. B. Acker;;
man, Frank Jenny, Frank Brant ano
Wyman Kearse; Indictment for muir
der-not guilty" :,
A smile spread over DR.. Ackermans
face as the last words fell from the
clerks lips. His father let his face
fall in his hands with sob; his moth,
er seemed to press the handkerchle1
closer to her eyes. The other defend
ants were unmoved.
Perfect silence continued for a sec
ond, when some one tapped the tool
with his feet, but stern command o1
silence cut off the applause. Court
was then adjourned.
A hundred men pressed about the
dock from all sides. while the prison
ers stood up and received their enthu
siastic congratulations. Mrs. Acker
man was overcome with emotion ano
the other ladies wept aloud.
The jurymen then filed by Rev. Mr.
Ackerman, who, still weeping, tool
each one by the hand with a ferven
"God bless YOU" The mother wa!
the next, with tear-bedimmed eyes
to give thanks to these IL men, whc
then shook hands with the four occu
pants of the dock and several friend:
of those men.
The prisoners were remanded tt
Iiail, being under Indictment for th'
murder of Isham Kearse.
Such is human nature and so it evel
will be. In this friendly circle the
conviction of these men would have
been considered a crime too terrible t.
contemplate; the enormity OF the of
fense charged against them was over
shadowed, forgotten, in the momen
of danger to those for whom they have
regard, and all the influence of a pow
erful connection has been exerted tt
spread that feeling to the minds Q
neighbors. "Why should our friend
be the first to fall before this newly
aroused public sentiment, when if they
killed these people they did not intenf
to take life9"
On the other side, those living be
yond this little circle of friends ant
acquaintance of the defendants, thos'
who know that neither the leading
counsel nor the prisoners will den.
that the latter committed the crime o
whipping, those who have given IN