Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-04-27
Especial Correspondence,

Especial CorrespondenceD
Philadelphia, April 25-Colonel Mat
thew Stanley Quay has been complete
ly vindicated by jury OF his piers i'll
the trial growing out of a dastardly
conspiracy of his political enemies.
Twelve American citizens. good men
and true" have found a verdict of mot
guilty" in what will be memorable as
the most celebrated ease in court i'll
the political history of this country.
This closing chapter in the history
Of persecution and character assassiIa-
ton was marked by scenes such as
have never been paralleled in and
about Philadelphia court room. The
minute the verdict was announced it
was pandemonium let loose. Men
shouted and tossed their hats and
surged about this silent but happy
man. Women cried, waved their hand
kerchiefs and tried to throw their arms,
about his neck. In the midst of 1t all
Quay, dignified. silent, with face as
imperturbable as ever, grasped hands
as they came and vainly tried to elbow
his way to a place where he could be
alone.
He said but few words, but there
was softness in the tone of his voice
as he repeatedly murmured Thank
YOU" He felt more than he said. for to
him it was the food tide of light after
The hour of darkness. His triumph had
come ana. best of ALL this man who
has been bounded as few have been
bounded before. saw and heard and
felt that the people were with him.
THE VERDICT RECEIVED.
1t was few minutes before II
O'Clock on Friday last when the jury
appeared i'll court and Crier Hart
stepped forward and in cold official ac
cents said Gentlemen of the jury. are
you agreed upon your verdict?'
Foreman Hill who is Il blonde haired
young man. nodded his head as he
answered. Yes, sir"
THE VERDICT.
How say you? Do you find the de-
fendant guilty or not guilty."
Not guilty." came the answer in Il
voice that could be heard all over the
room"
II the jurors answered TO the next
question. And so say you all?" no one
heard 1t. for the first burst of
cheer" suppressed by the louder yells
of silence" from the tipstaves,
drowned the words. Every one rose to
his feet and the yells of silence
were followed by cries of ''sit down"
"sit down."
Quay himself came near giving way.
His jaw quivered an instant. his eyes
grew moist, but he recovered himself
as the big and burly Shapley grasped
his hand, eXcXlaiming, Let me con-
gratulate you, senator" Mr.. Shields
was pouring ont his congratulations at
the same time.
| Outside in the corridor there was no
| Judge to be respected and no officer to
quell the tumuit. for they were all too
busy cheering with the rest. He at last
managed TO edge his way to the Cor
! ridor. But il was getting from the
| frying pan into the fire. 1t wasn't a
crowd that was waiting for him. 1t was
mob drunk with joy, mad with en-
thusiasm. Cheer after cheer rent the
air and hats flew up with the reckless
ness of frenzy. The guards made no
effort to quell the tumult. They were
| yelling and cheering with the rest. 1t
took the senator nearly ten minutes to
reach the corner where the elevators
are located. He ut last managed to get
clear of the mob.
ANOTHER OVATION.
| The news had already reached the
| first floor, and another bowling, cheer
ing mob was waiting for the senator,
who began to show signs of fear for
the first time in his life. 1t was the
same thing on the street, only worse.
and whom he reached the corner of
Broad and Chestnut streets the sena-
| tor was in the center of a surging
throng that must have numbered more
than thousand persons. Crowds OF
| women, who moment before had
| been shopping, caught the infection
and shouted and stamped and waved
their handkerchiefs. Only by the mar
rowest chance did the silent statesman
escape from being Hobsonized then
and there. for more than one excited
woman tried to throw her arms about
his neck. 1t was a grand testimonial
to the American sense of fair play.
At last, by superhuman effort, the
"old man" managed to tear his way
through the people and with run he
! gained the entrance to the Land Title
building. Several women. better rum
ners than the others, were at his heels
and were only prevented from getting
in the elevator by the slamming of the
door.
| The senator went direct to Lawyer
Shapley's Office. where he was met by
his son. Richard r. Quay, and num-
Der of his personal friends. The greet
ing between father and son was affec.
tionate in the extreme
OFF FOR WASHINGTON.
The senator was still disinclined to
talk. but when some one eXcitedly de-
nounced Martin, Wanamaker and Cor
don, he remarked with smile: "Well
they made lots of trouble for me-" A.
soon as the excitement had died down
Colonel Quay slipped down to the Wal
ton, packed up. and with his son
Richard and Private Secretary Wright
took the first train for Washington
At the Walton and at the depot the
senator had to hold two more recep-
tions. Those that witnessed the scene
at the station say il was almost with