The sun., 1898-01-19
VERDICT WILL SOON Be GIVEN
Trial of Captain Murphy Over,
and He Awaits the Decision.
PROBABLY BE NOT GUILTY
Captain John ID. Hart Will Go To Jail
For Jmplicacy In The Laurada
Filibust ering Expo.
sitiOn.

The ,Jndge's charge and the verdict Of
the jury and then another Cuban fill
clustering trial will be over.
The case is that Of Captain Edward
Murphy. who is being tried in the
United States Court for violation of the
neutrality laws while in command OF
the famous Laurada.
At 10 O'Clock this morning Judge
Bradford will charge the jury and the,
will retire to decide upon the verdict
which it is thought will be mot guilty"
Yesterday morning, when the court
opened, the room was crowded: many
ladies were present, most Of whom were
Cuban sympathizcrs, who were anxious
to hear the closing arguments of the case
Senator Gray, counsel for the defense;
made an eloquent appeal to the jurors
for his client, who was former master OF
the Laurada, and also on this so-called
military expedition. He spoke of the
case AZ one where an American citizen
was brought before a court of justice to
be tried for exercising a right which was
lawfully accorded him. Mr.. Gray said
the great central question is whether
there has been evidence that Captain
Murphy, although performing lawful
transaction, knew he was transacting
said unlawful enterprise. Anything man
may do that is his lawful occupation.
whether there is an insurection in Cuba,
Ireland or anywhere else, is not unlaw-
full. Notwithstanding the struggle in
the Island Of Cuba we are permitted to
par rrv an !, nit t,,kn
Spain, whether that merchandise be con-
traband or not. A man does n 1t have to
prove that he is innocent until he has
been proved guilty.
Mr.. Gray made Il powerful argument
to support the contention that Captain.
Murphy had been guilty of no violation
OF the neutrality laws. In concluding,
he stated that about year ago he saw
party of Greeks leave Philadelphia, by
railroad, with the intention OF eventually
setting sail for their native country to
fight for liberty. lie drew parallel be.
tween the two eases, and wondered what
had become of the captain "f the ship on
which the Greeks had sailed. He closed
by earnestly asking a verdict Of acqutta!
for his client.
District Attorney Vandegriit closed
thessdfg aihehs ior ,Iie GuvernmealS yes
terday afternoon at I o'clock. The de-
fensc claim that his witnesses have
proved nothing to the eff.ct that a mill
tary expedition had been formed or set
on foot in this district and not even in
the Jurisdiction or territory of the
United States, and furthermore, the wit.
nesses had not proved that there was
any military expedition at all
1t is expected that the jury will bring
in a verdict of not guilty Judge Brad
ford will charge the jury this morning at
10 O'Clock, and the jury will take the
case, at which time the Federal court
room will be crowded. Much sympathy
has been displayed throughout the entire
trial, for the Lanrada's master and it is
the concensus of opinion that the Cap
tain has not been proved guilty.
The case has been conducted eloquent
|y and stragetically on both sides.
Greater interest is now given to Cap
tain Mnrpheys trial, as Yesterday Judge
Dallas filed an opinion in the case of the
United States Court against John d.
Hart, in the Lauada lilibustering pro-
Captain John D. Hart who was the
,wner of the Laurada and who was
aboard the craft only few hours before
'he sailed for the coast of Cuba, will
nave to 60 to Jail.
Judge Dallas in his decision upholds
he sentence of Judge Butler and says
hat it is sufficient to know that Captain
Hart had knowledge Of the ultimate pur-
bose of the expedition. Judge Dallas, in
lis opinion, which in all probability is ,,
imilar to the charge which Judge Brad .
ord will deliver this morning, said ,
'Thc gravity of this case has been elo- !.
luently but needlessly adverted to by
counsel on either side its Importance
10Th to the public and to the plaintiff in
rror is obvious, and it has received our
ull attention. The law generally peril
rent to it is: !
Every person who, within the territory
r jurisdiction of the United States, b.. {
ins or sets on foot, or provides, or pre- !
ares the means for any military expedi- !,
ion or enterprise to be carried on from /
hence against the territory or dominions 3
I any foreign prince or of any colony .
istrct, or people with whom the United
tates are at peace, shall be deemed
utility of a high misdemeanor, and shall
G fined not exceeding S3O0n and i'm. I
risoncd not more than three years. i,
''In the Wiborg case, as in this one, I,
le defendant below was convicted, not +,
setting on foot, but only of providing q q
1c means for such a military expedition is
r enterprise as this section dcnonnccs; 9,
nd there, as here, the main questions II
ere as TO the sutlicicncy Of the proof, II
rst of tie existence OF military cx- p
edition or enterprise under the statute;
nd, second, of the defendant's ) knnwl.
lge OF the facts by which, if at ALL II
i'tary expedition or enterprise was L
adc out" 10
The great significance Of Judge Dallas CT
'cision is in the fact that today the a,
te Of Captain John y. llart's right III
md man Captain Murphy is to be de- IN
dcd m
Captain Hart is semencd TO two wears
lprisonment, q fine OF 500. and To pay
c costs OF the prosecution.
Henry ID. Saylor Confirmed. III III
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-The Senate, or
lis afternoon, confirmed the nomina- be
IN of Henry d, Savior, of Montgomery di