The sun., 1898-01-20
A Jury Of l'elawareans Allows
Him His Liberty.
The VERDICT WAS APPROVED
What Ralph DE Soto Says Rega riding
The Outcome Of the Celebrated
Case.--Reception Last Night.
Captain Hart's Affair.

S"PVAh ~" "iu -Aui I'Iy ID IIec HAL
He was made so yesterday by the YER
dict rendered by twelve good and true
Delawareans in the United States Court
Judge Bradford began his charge al
1870 and completed his remarks at Il. 10.
The jury retired and after remaining out
for twenty-five minutes they returned
and announced the verdict which liber.
ated the master of the famous Laurada.
When the jury had been discharged it
was learned that Immediately after en-.
tering the jury room suggestion was
made that and informal ballot be taken,
which was complied with. The ballot
was unanimous for acquittal and all that
then remained to be done was to take
! the formal ballot, tally the members
and announce to the court that they
were prepared to render the verdict.
The verdict gives almost universal
81 satisfaction, and was the main topic of
conversation on the streets all the after
noon.
The action of the Delaware juries in
the case of the twenty alleged tiliblsters
who were tried in 1898, and the present
case Of Captain Murphy, was compared
with the way in which PENNSYLVANIA
jnries and courts acted in relation to the
Wiborg and Hart cases.
Judge Bradfords charge was volumi.
nous and impartial. After reviewing the
evidence presented by both sides, he
spoke as follows in defining the law:
Providing the means Of Transportation
for military enterprise to be carried
on from the United States against
Spanish rule in Cuba, within the
meaning Of section j2SG of the Revised
Statutes OF the United States, under
which the defendant has been indicted,
in preparing the means for such mill
tary enterprise to be 50 carried ON, and,
il done with knowledge, on the part OF
transportation, of the character and
purpose OF such enterprise, is denounced
by the statute. II you shall be satisfied
by the evidence in the ease that the
men taken on board Of the Iaurada on
the high seas OF Barnegat con-
stitutcd Il military enterprise, as
hereinafter defined, from the
United States against the Spanish au-
thorites in Cuba and, further. that the
defendant with knowledge OF the char
acter and purpose of such enterprise and
with intent to furnish transportation for
it, took the Laulada with her crew from
Wilmington to the place OF transship-
mcnt on the high seas off Earncgat, you
should render verdict OF guilty. But
unless you should be satisfied from the
evidence in the case, beyond reasonable
doubt, that all OF the requisite ngredi-
ents or elements OF the alleged offence
existed, you should render verdict of
not guilty The broad purpose of sec
tion 52s6 is to prevent complications be-
tween this government and fore gn
powers. 1t is not the intent OF that sec
ton in any manner to check or interfere
with the commercial activities of citizens
Of the United States or Of Others rcsidin"
within the United States and interested
in commercial transactions. 1t is not an
transport arms, ammunition and muni-
tions OF war from this country to any
foreign country whether they are to be
used IN war or not; nor is it an offence
against the United States for individuals |
to leave this country with intent 20 en-
list in foreig ign military service; nor is ii
an offence against the United States to
transport persons out Of this country and
land them in foreign countries although |
such persons have an intent to enlist in
foreign armies; nor is it an offence
against the United States to transport
from this country persons intending to
enlist in foreign armies and munitions
)f war in the same ship. The
nf in,
is to prevent the use Of the soil
,r waters of the United States
Is base from which military expedi-
ions or military enterprises shall be car
lied on against foreign powers with
whom the Unitt d States is at peace
What it prohibits is military expedi-
ion or military enterprise from this
country against any foreign power at
oeace with United States. 1t does not
prohibit the transportation from
his country in the same ship of
cw or many men whose known
Intention before leaving our shores is to
'ngage in hostiities against the Spanish
,rccs in Cuba, provided that such men
10 not constitute military expedition
n a military enterprise against the do
ninion Of the King of Spain in that
sland. If they go from this country to
'uba merely as individuals and without
onccrt of action between them, although
Or the purpose of taking part in such
'ostlities, no crime or offence against
he United States attaches to anyone who I
las provided the means of their trans
'ortation with full knowledge at the ,
ime he provided such means of their
purpose in securing such transportation.
'ut if the men SO transported are so
and organized rs to constitute !
military expedition or military en-
,rprisc against the dolninions Of the
ling of Spain in Cuba, the furnishing
f the means Of transportation with I
on the part OF the person +
such means, of the character
nd purpose Of such expedition or enter
rise, is an offence against the United
Iates punishable under the section in
llestion."
After defining the difference between |
military enterprise and military ex- I
edition. the judge concluded his re- {
arks by saying: !
'The guilt or innocence of the de-