The herald., 1897-06-09
Verdict Of Acquittal in the
Hastings Case
EXPENSIVE "cUss" WORDS
SUIT TO RECOVER FROM THE
BoNDSMEN OF 0'KEEFE
Attempt to Recover on an Old Judg-
ment from the Santa Fe Co.-The
Board of Supervisors

One of the most curiously complicated
Angeles county has ended in a verdict
Of not guilty being returned. DR." Cal
win S. Hastings has been adjudged by
twelve good men and true" innocent
of the murder of Lillian Hattery and is
once again free man.
But the jury did not arrive at this de-
cision without prolonged discussion.
After trial lasting thirteen days the
jury retired to consider the verdict
at / o'clock on Monday afternoon. No
verdict was reached and the jury were
locked up for the night. Yesterday
morning at 10 o'clock. upon being sum-
moned into court, Foreman Hall inti-
mated that no verdict had been agreed
upon. At that time it was understood
that the jury stood ten to two for ac-
Quittal, the foreman and Juror Mccain
being the two standing out for convic-
tion.
District Attorney Donnell remarked
that it was very desirable that a verdict
should be determined upon as the trial
of the case had been expensive to the
county and a retrial ought to be obviat-
ed if such a thing was possible. Judge
Smith also spoke to the same effect. One
of the Jurors then stated that he was
confident that there was only one point
of obscurity in the testimony and with
that explained he thought a verdict
could easily be arrived at The informa-
ton required was whether in the case OF
a woman dying from septicaemia (blood
poisoning) induced by an abortion the
spleen would in all cases show signs of
enlargement and disease. He wanted to
know what the medical testimony had
been on that point. Mr. Gage explained
that all the medical witnesses, save DR..
Thompson of San Bernardino had tes-
titled that under such circumstances the
spleen would be abnormal, while the re-
port of the autopsy in this case showed
the spleen of Lillian Hattery to have
been healthy and normal.
With this light thrown upon the case
the jury again retired to the jury room.
From an incidental remark of the for,
man, made to the court, it was inferred
that scruples had been removed, and 50
only one juror remained unconvinced
After the jury had retired counsel on
either side drew up stipulation where
in it was agreed that the medical testi.
mony in the case went to show that if a
person died, as already indicated, from
the effects of a criminal operation, then
assuredly the spleen would be affected.
Dr. Thompson was not asked the ques-
ton, but the others acquiesced in that
view. This stipulation was handed into
The jury, and a 11:45 they returned into
court with verdict of not guilty.
Hastings maintained the same impas-
sive, almost dull attitude and demeanor
that has distinguished him throughout
The trial. AS the jurors passed out from
the box most of them shook hands with
Hastings, and of course his friends
crowded around with congratulations
There now remains against Hastings
the charge of having procured an abor-
ton upon the person of colored woman
,amed Moore. That case will come to
rial on Tuesday, July 9Th.
Meantime the charge Of murder
against Mrs. Weaver, charged as CO.
defendant with "Dr." Hastings, with the
murder of Lillian Hattery, must of ne
,essity fall to the ground and will in all
probability be dismissed by the district
attorney.