The Portland daily press., 1896-01-01
DRAMATIC ENDING.
The Thompson Brothers Are Suddenly
Discharged.

An Abrupt Termination to the Murder
Hearing at Agusta-The Accused Men
Talk Freely.
Augusta, December 31.-The Sawyer
murder case came to an abrupt end at
IL 30 a. mr. today. Court sat at O'clock,
and it soon became evident that there
was somethiuing in the air. There was
a suspense and the county attorney was
in consultation with Mr. Carleton, nu-
merous whispered conversations being
held. Mr. Eeselton was doubtful OF the
status of his case evidently. Public opin-
ION was SO pronounced that he did not have
a shadow of case and he took the only
step open to him, SO he moved for the
discharge of the prisoners. There was an
oppressive silence when the county attot-
ney arose and read the following from
typewritten sheets;
stAiay it please the court, after whose
deliberation 1 shall not, as representative
Of the county in this case, urge upon
your honor TO hold the respondents Tor
the grand jury and it is perhaps unneo-
esaary for ms TO state my reason for this
at this present. time. However, | will
say that the government has not seen tit
on account OF the violent abuse, to put
a very important witness {McDowell) on
the stand buts wish TO say here that he
has from me start had the fullest sane
tion of my predecessor and myself, and
we know he has rendered disinterested
and very valuable aid to the government.
The defence has sought IN every way TO
DISCLOSE his as we'll as the other import
anti testimony which we have. This, as
the counsel stated in the opening, is never
done by the defence aJ the preliminary
hearing much less by the government,
and this We have not done. Ra5her than
do 1T and thus put the defence in com
-plete possession Of all the government s
case I would much prefer to discharge
the respondents here, for as I stated in
nv opaniDg, reasons for this procedure
by complaint and warrant instead avail t.
ing the action of the grand jury in April
was to secure the detention OF J. A.
Thompson SO as TO assure US that he
woRld be ready where We eoulis LAY hands
upon him in case of need and was the
sole purpose of the government TO show
simply so much of its evidence against
these respondents as would show proba
bic cause and which the public has full
possession Of Now belieVi ng that j.
A. Thompson viii recognize the fact
that esoape is impossible and fully inyes-
tigate the case in the graz d jury at its
u9Nb session., WlAn TO say bI4aG L am pre-
pared to now ask the Court to discharge
The prisoners and thus relieve you OF any
embarrassment that there might be in
urging their detention and the public
may rest assured that no effort viii be
spared towards the discovery and punish
nent of the murderer or muFderers OF
Augustus Sawyer"
AT the combustion of T,Air. Heseltno's
statement Judge Andrews asked Mr
Heath if he had anything to say and the
reply was 'No"
RThen,n said the judge with much
feeling, 81 discharge the prisoners from
custody"
At once there burst forth applause
from the audience, and friends of the
prisoners crowded about them and off
cred congratulations, Mrs Thompson
being much affected.
Edgar Thompson talked freely of
the AFFAIR, saying that he and his broth
er should win, and would be found here
if anything was wanted Of them in the
futurs.
Mr.. Mcdowell did not appear in court
this morning, but Edgar said: ''If he
had been present should have had few
plain words to say to him, and spoken
right out before the people. !"