The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-17
FOUND NOT GUILTY.
Alderman Brannon
Acquittedon Charge
of Larceny.
HEsMUST RETURN THE ROOSTER.
A Large Crowd Enjoys the
Mock Trial at Me-
chanics Hall.
HEsMUST RETURN THE ROOSTER.

Alderman Henry Brannon was ac-
quilted of the crime of stealing
rooster from ex-Aldernan A. A. White,
last night, but the jury of his peers,
before whom the case was tried, de-
cided that he should return the rooster.
Mechanics hall was crowded with an
attentive audience which listened to
the wise pleadings of the lawyers and
were thrilled by the examinations and
ross-examinations and the grave
and learned charge of the judge.
Judge Gen. C. w. Wood, Associate
Judge J, K. Greene and the other Off
GERS of the court took their places at s
O'Clock, and the court was opened by
the crfer, Capt. E. c. Barrett, who was
respondent In q blue coat with brass
buttons Clerk Major E. T. Raymond
read the indictment, and the following
jurors were inpaneled: William Nc
Kinley, Grover Cleveland BENJAMIN
Harrison, David B. Hill Chauncey M.
Depew, Roger Wolcott, Gen Nelson A
Miles, Admiral George Dewey John L.
Sullivan, Richard Croker, John D. Long
and Thomas B. Reed. The jurors were
duly sworn under these names though
to most OF the audience they looked
like such men as Mayor Rufus B.
Dodge, Jr., Hon. Francis A. Harring-
ton, Gen. lockwood Hoar, Prof. z.
Harlow Russell, Gen. A. B. r. Sprague,
Enoch H. Towne ]. B. Bowker, ex-
Alderman c. F. Rugg, George L. San
ford, Gen. Robert Chamberlain, Arthur
E. Gray, Maj. Harry B. Fairbanks and
R. James Tatman.
The defendant looked rather con-
f1dent as he sat on the right of Deputy
Sheriff w. W. Scott and his attorney
announced that he would waive the
attorney, c. B. Perry, then called the
plaintiff as the first witness for the
commonwealth, who, being duly sworn
with both hands raised, told of his
ownership of the Plymouth Rock
rooster, which, it was alleged, the de-
fendant had purloined. This aforesaid
rooster, the plaintiff claimed, had come
down to him through due process of
law, by inheritance, ii having been
one of the fowls brought over by the
Mayfiower when she laid to in Plym-
outh harbor. 1t was the first rooster
that crowed over the plaintiffs illus
trious ancestor, Peregrine White.
He went on to tell how he and the
rooster had become attached to each
other and incidentally brought out that
he had been offered $40 for the said
house, who wished to use him. the
fowl, as stock dish. He had also been
offered SIS by the defendant, who was
under the impression that the rooster
was descended from Miles Standish
and would make a good thing for the
sporting ring. He told of the alleged
stealing Of the animal, and then the
next witness was called who substan-
tiated the testimony of the plaintiff
Among the witnesses for the common
wealth were Amos NJ. Parker, w A
Warden, Tom Walters, Jr., the latter
being arrayed IN clothes of fearful and
wonderful make, and giant chrysan-
themum.
For the defendant, DR.. Henry S.
Knight and Gilbert G. Davis were
called. Dr. Knight testified that the
plaintiff was mOpomaniac and had
never owned rooster, and Mr.. Davis
said the same thing and also told of a
suspicious conversation which had taxi
en- place between two of the witnesses
for the plaintiff
The counsel for the defendant, Col. A.
v Newton, made the first pleading,
and spoke eloquently on the reputation
Of both parties in the case, stopping oc-
casionally to wake one of the jurors
The plaintiffs counsel rested his case
without pleading, and the judge
charged the jury to find for the plant
if, as he needed it most, and also
charged that all money received by the
jury be divided with the court, on pen
atty of fines for contempt The jury be-
gan its deliberations without leaving
the seats.
Before the verdict could be an
nounced, however, the defendant caused
a commotion IN the court by fainting.
A physician was called for, who, in
turn, called for a surgeon. By good
luck there happened TO be an inventor
of new surgical instrument in the au-
dience, who, on applying his apparatus,
succeeded in extracting half a dozen
eggs and a string of sausage from the
throat of the defendant, who immedi-
ately recovered.
Foreman William Mckinley nee Ru-
fus B. Dodge, Jr., announced that the
jury could not agree, but they had come
to a decision, which was that the de-
PENDANT was not guilty, but he must
return the rooster. The plaintiff there
upon took the rooster, which had been
reposing gracefully in his cage during
the progress Of the trial, the audience
laughed Just once more and the court
was adjourned, justice having been sat