The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-04
So Said Jury After Very
Long DeliberatiOn.
Mate of Fuller Still Protests
His Innocence.
Accused Murderer Broke Downs,
When Verdict Was Announced.

Boston. Jan. 4.-Thomas Bran, first
mate Of the barkentine Herbert Full
Ter of Harrington. Me-. was found
guilty of the murder Of his captain,
Charles I. Nash.
The verdict was complete surprise
TO nearly everyone. Bran heard tha
fatal words OF the foreman with noth-
ing more than a slight blush, keeping
Ills stole attitude throughout the trying
ordeal. -Four times the Jury asked for
questions.
When the Jury retired OH Friday after
noon a test ballot was taken at once.
1t stood 8 TO for conviction. They
talked for three hours before II was
proposed TO take ,ecCnd ballot. This
ballot came nearest conviction OF all
sallots taken until the last. The vote
stood IL to ] for convic ton, and IL was
stated that the 5urocv no stood cut was
Charles w. Howes Of Chatham. a sail-
maker.
After the II to 1 BALLOT the jury re-
turned to the discussci of the evidence.
The Jurors who voted for acquittal
hung their hopes on the belief that II was
not possible for Charles Brown the only
witness WHO gave direct evidence in tho
case, 10 see into the csbin, az he said he
could. lsi.
1T 8 o'clock Saturday morning a bai-
lot taken then result, In a vote of 3 to
8 for conviction. t-out breakfast time
ballot showed tiat the jury had fallen
back to s to 4 for conviction. and tho
jury stood IN that attitude during the
day until nocn. While the jurors waited
for dinner they took a ballot, and all
the votes were cast for conviction. They
reported at once to the officers that they
had agreed. and the jury was called into
court and the verdict recorded before
they ate their dinner.
Upon returning to the Jury r. ON Juror
Warren NJ Blake was informed of the
death Of his sister, Isabella. Mr.. Blake
lives In Woburn.
The case WAS one oe the most closely
fought of any tried In this state since
the famous Parkman murder case In
1850, and even now the lawyers for the
convicted man Rave not given up the
fight for his life. None Of the exceptions
taken at the trial were vital points, for
the court in nearly every instance ruled
In favor of The prisoner and gave his
counsel far more latitude than was all
lowed District Attorney Hoar.
The scene outside the courtroom when
the verdict vas announced was sensa-
tional, as from the great crowd there
arose an almost gasp of SURPRISE. 10
took only few seconds for the news
to spread throughout .he city, and al
most before Bran himself realized that
he stood I'm the shadow of the gallows,
the fact of his guilt was on every tongue.
AS soon as the jury had been polled
Lawyer Cotter Immediately moved'for
a new trial, end as usual the court ap-
pointed a day when the argument on
both sides will be heard on the motion
Jan. 9 being the day set.
For some minutes fter the announce.
ment of the verdict Bran kspt his nerve,
but the strain was too much and he
gave way to tears for the first time
during the ordeal.
At the time he could say very little.
only to repeat over and over again.
al am innocent, I am innocent, am not
guilty OF this.
II did not believe it possible that any
such thing could happen to me. I could
not believe it. but / know I am :nno-
cent"
Bran is bearing up remarkably well.
and seems confident OF securing a new
trial. Ee slept soundly Saturday night.
and yesterday morning arose and alta
a hearty breakfast He does not show
the least trace of nervousness.
Jurors Sensational Statement,
Harry 4. Booth. one of the jurymen
who convicted Bran. says:
II srn prepared, i.,id think I can get
four others OF The Biam Jury to do the
same, to make an AFFIDAVIT that in agree
ing to the return of verdict OF Guilty
against the prisoner, we voted against
our convictions.
THAT is to say, that while we may all
have believed that the mate was the
man who committed the crime, at the
rame time we did not consider the evil
dence established that beyond all
doubt.
'The verdict was in reality the result
Of the belief of the jury that they were
permitted only two courses-to find the
prisoner Guilty or Not Guilty'--and
could not come into court finally without
having agreed.
Another and very potent factor In
bringing about the result was the
meaning given by the jurors to Judge
Colts instructions as to how a minor
lty should be guided I'm endeavorirg
TO come TO the views OF the majority.
The court was understood TO have
practically instructed the jury that tho
minority must give in to the majority.
or in other words. that one or two men
In the minority must consent TO hang
q man, because the majority considers
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