Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-12-05
''NOT GUILTY" !"
Ys THE VERDICT OF THE JURY
 IN THE CLOUD CASE.
Por Several Ballots the Jurors Stood Equally Divided But Finally
 Yielded and all Agreed.

The jury in the trial of Fred Cloud, charged with the murder of Irene Never in a bawdy house in this city. returned a verdict of mot guilty saturday morning at l0:3O o'clock. after having been out deliberatinS m q verdict since Friday alter noon.
 The jury was composed as follows: F <. Waddell, J. ". Bates, A. H.. Meeks, H. L. Phillips. A. L. Cason, A +. Gresham, J. i. Alexander, J. Clement. J. s. Johnson, J. D.. Kelly. A. J. Afford and A. C. Cald- well.
 The verdict was as follows: " We, the jury, find the defendant not ouilty as charged inthe indictment
 The jury had been out since Fri dav at noon. Five ballots in all were taken, the first ballot result ,nq in six standing for convicti' Il and six for acquittal. Those voting for conviction were Alexander, Clement, Johnson, Kelly, Afford and Caldwell; those voting for acquittal were Waddell, Bates, Meeks, Phil- lips. Gason and Gresham.
 The second ballot was taken with out change.
 On the third ballot Clement and Kelly voted for acquittal, the ballot standing 8 for acqaittal and for conviction.
 On the fourth ballot Mir. Johnson changed his vote and voted with the majority. the ballot resulting in 3 for acquital and 3 for conviction.
 On the fifth ballot the reealciffants yielded and all voted for 6 verdict of mot guilty
 As soon as the verdict was deliver ed Fred Cloud. the defendant, jump ed up and caught the hands of his attorneys. Messrs. Foster & Cole man, and thanked them most heart fly. He then ir manly manner walked over to the jury box and personally thanked and shook each juror by the hand for the verdict. It was not long after it became known that the jury had agreed on ver- dict until the court room was crowd ed with spectators, many of whom walked up to Cloud, took his hand and congratulated him.
 A DRAMATIC SCENE.
 Prosecuting Attorney Martin, who had made the effort of his life to con vict the defendant, was not in the room at the time the verdict was rendered. He arrived shortly after wards, however. and as he ascended the iron steps he met Cloud, who had just gained his liberty, coming down in company with bis lawyers. There was an instant pause and an ex- change of gIances. Then Cloud ex- tended his hand to the Prosecuting Attorney and, in hesitating manner. said: Well, Mr. Martin, you did all you could to hang me, but 1 guess it was from a matter of duty" "Yes, replied the Prosecuting Attorney, q tried to hang you because l thought you deserved it," and then hesitat- ing, added, "and think SO yet" Cloud instantly turned and walked down the steps in silence, close on the heeIs of his attorneys.
 The verdict of the jury seems to meet with considerable popular fa- yor, but there is great diversity of opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the accused. We are reliably in- formed that the mem bers of the jury who first voted for Clouds convic- tion did so with the intention of making his punishment for mur- der in the first degree. On account of the extreme mystery which sur rounds the case and the character of the States witnesses, there seemed to be no disposition on the part of the jurors, who first voted for con- vietion, or the public, to hang the defendant.
 The trial will prove a memorable ---------------------