The morning times., 1896-12-19
ROBINSON, CHERRY { CO"
Twelfth and T Sts.
WILKINS BROS. ACQUITTED
Famous 0le0 Case Decided for the
Defendants.
jury Was Out But a Short While
After Arguments Were
Concluded.

Jsseph and Walter p. Wilkins, were ac-
suitted Yesterday afternoon Of the charge
OF violating the oleomargarine laws The
Jury We're in consultation bu5 short while.
Judge Coles charge was preceded by an
Interesting argument on both sides IN
which the merits Of oleomargaTine were
fully discussed.
The remains Of the tub stil greasy and
oily were in the court room. Mr.. Davis
would cease now and then in the delivery
90 his heavy shots and cast his eyes upon
head. bottom and staVes.
Letting his voice drop to almost
whisper he would fire point after point
at the Jury like bullets from machine
gun.
He reviewed the evidence Of the chemists
and then explained tia bJtterine was far
purer than butter and much less liable 10
convey disease. He said the chemists had
acknowledged il; the government own
witnesses had said il was purer than but
ter. MILK gathered up germs of disease
and they became incorporated in butter.
Butterine viii no, do this.
Mr. Davis was not without arrows Of
humor among his ammunition At one
point referring to the statements of the
Reform school cook who told about taking
q sample OF butter from the store room
to capt Porter, Mr.. Davis said: If You
know anything about cooks and especially
those Of large establishments, You know
they are almost as lordiy as Richard Mans
field
This little thrust resulted in smiles Of
amusement among the Jurors
District Attorney Birney took the case
in hand for the government, but his rapid
fire OF facts and points was more than once
interrupted by the battery of the defense.
In opening, Mr. Birney said that his op-
ponents had imputed TO him undue zeal.
In the face OF the evidence Of con-
unuaI swindling I would be untrue to my
oath if | were not Jealous" said Mr..
Birney.
Il object" interrupted Mr.. Davis. ''He
is not pursuing the line OF evidence"
Don't interrupt me, Mr.. Davis. Your
honor. am | TO be interrupted in my argu-
memt this way quericd the district
attorney.
Il think the argument is all right,
said Judge Cole.
Mr. Eiruey proceeded with his state
Inents When Mr.. Davis again broke il
that he wanted 10 get the record right al
TO his objection. Judge Cole said he had
made a memorandum OF what had been
said by the district attorney, which hC
thought was not improper
IL am full of zeal; yes, full of zeal,
reiterated Mr.. Birney, who dwelt gloat
ingly on the words. Then he went into
dissection of the evidence, and quoted
his version OF some of the statements OF
Capt. Porter, of the reform school.
Mr.. Davis was on his feet in an in
slant, claiming that Mr.. Biney was mis-
quoting the evidence.
Now, Mr.. Davis, let me alone" re
spunded the speaker, and Judge Cole agaiI
Quoted the attorney for the defense, b.
saying that the jury could judge thai
question.
Mr.. Davis insisted on his objection, say
ing TO Mr.. Birney:
There is the evidence, the stenographi
report follows it,
When he had concluded the case wcnt
TO the jury, and after brief delibera
tion they returned a verdict for the de
PENDANTS.