The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-04
A FREE MAN.
Wilbur M. Waite Gets A Verdict Of
Not Guilty.
DRAMATIC EPISODE ON RECEPTION
OF THE VERDICT.

Waite Faints Away-Cousel Heckbert Re-
ceives Congratu1ations-The Argument
of the Counsel-Judge Bonney's Charge
Full Proceedings of the Day.
Wilbur M. Waite, after trial which
lasted all through the week, and which
has proved to be one of the most sensa-
tional in the history of the courts OF the
state, has been declared not guilty BY the
jurors who heard the evidence and the
arguments and is today, for the first time
since his arrest last summer free man.
The extended reports of the case in the
daily papers have familiarized the public
with the evidence which has been intro-
duced by the state and in behalf of the
respondent. At the coming in of court.
Saturday morning, County Attorney Lib
by began his closing argument and this
with the charge of Judge Bonney oocu.
pied the time until noon, the casesgoing
to the jury at about o'clock. The spec
tators were on hand early in the after
noon in expectation of a verdict and
waited patiently as the hours went by.
1t was about 10 minutes Of O'Clock
when the word came from the jury that
they were ready to report. The Judge
was Immediately notified and after d.
recting that the jury be brought in, took
his seat upon the bench. The buzz of
conversation in the court room ceased
and every body intensely looked toward
the door through which the jury were to
enter. Waite was in the seat which he
has occupied since the beginning of the
trial, and behind him sat his wife and
his mother. Mr.. Heckbert, his counsel.
sat inside the rail beside him. He was
calm, though 1t was easy to detect in his
face signs of intense anxiety. The state
was represented by Assistant County At
torney Allan, County Attorney Libby not
being present. AS the jury filed in and
took their seats intense Stiffness reigned.
When the jurors were seated Deputy
Clerk Libby made the usual inquiry:
gentlemen OF the jury, have you agreed
upon verdict?"
eve have,' responded the foreman, in
clear, trim voice.
Pass in the Indictment" said Clerk
Libby. court officer Immediately took
handed it to the clerk.
Then Clerk Libby made the usual in
quiry:
las to the first count in this indict-
ment, what say you, MIR. Foreman, is the
defendant, Wilbur +. Waite, guilty or
not guilty?'
The throng in the court room instinc-
lively leaned toward the jury in their
eagerness and anxiety to hear the re-
If in nlaa~ to ba
heard all over the room, mot guilty.
Aearken to your verdict as the court
has recorded it, Clerk Libby proceeded:
You upon your oaths do say that the
defendant is not guilty, so you say Mr..
Foreman, SO you all say, gentlemen"
The jurors nodded assent. Waite had
been pronouncea not guilty on one count,
but there were 30 in the Indictment, and
before ne would be d free man he must
be pronounced not guilty upon all OF
them, save those that the county attorney
had mol pressed, six In number.
The clerk made the same inquiry con-
corning the second count and the answer
not guilty." came in the same clear,
firm tone.
The inquiries proceeded and the unvary-
ing reply mot guilty." was pronounced
by the foreman ana assenteu to by the
whole jury by d nod OF the head. Long
before Inc last count was reached 1t was
pretty evident that the jury had acquitted
Waite on every count and the strain upon
the spectators somewhat relaxed. Not
SO Win the defendant. He was waiting
with feverlsh anxiety for the response
which would conclusively SETTLE his fate,
whether OF freedom or it might be OF
long years of imprisonment.
he WAS in no condition to draw the in
ferences which the spectators could
from the manner and tone OF the fore
man. The 18th count was at last reached
10 all before it the foreman had respond
ed mot guilty" One more Response
and the DEFENDANT would know his fate.
AS TO the 3sth count" began Clerk
Libby, what say you MIR. Foremani''
The clerk had proceeded SO far, when
Mates head was seen to suddenly fall
forward and in an instant he was upon
the floor, unconscious, in dead faint,
His wife, mother and brother and sew
eral of the court officers immediately
rushed to his assistance. His mother.
who seemed to be perfectly cool and self
possessed, told them to lay him fat upon
the floor. This was done, and the usual
restoratlyes We're applied. In brief
time he recovered consciousness and was
assisted into his chair. Meanwhile the
foreman had responded mot guilty." to
the 39Gh count ana Waite was free man
again.
AS soon as the last response was Civ.
en-, Judge bonney instructed the CLERK to
discharge the prisoner, saying to the lat
ter that he need not stand up. Clerk
Libby then repeated the usual formula:
"hilbur M. Waite, the jury having rem.
dered q verdict of not guilty, you are dis.
charged by order of the court. 10 there.
of without day..
AS the last words fell from Clerk Lib.
bys lips, there was a furious clapplng OF
hands and stamping of feet, followed by
loud cheer. Judge Bonney raised his
hand in reproof while the court officers
rushed about commanding silence. AT
ter a few words Of rebuke to the specta-
tors, Judge Bonney dismissed the jury
until MONDAY and adjourned the court.
After adjournment Waite received con.
gratulations from many friends in the
court room, and Mr.. HeckLe rt, who had
so ably and faithfully defended him, was
also congratulated on the result. In q
few minutes Waite left the court room
A carriage was in waiting and he was
quickly driven to his home.
Mr.. Libby's Argument and Judge Bonney'.
Charge.
| At the opening of court on Saturday
/ morning County Attorney Libby began
| bis oDeDing arQumment to the iury The