The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-05-03
Kent County Court Jury
n. Acquits Him on the
\ First Ballot.
Mr.. DAVIS DENIED ALL
Mr.. Davis Sw0re That He
Didn't Meet Mr.. LattO-
mus on the Day ',
Mentioned.

0Ouf anu twenty NV Lhtuutob'
4 Foreman Chrisbaum later announced
I that the jury reached verdict ten min
iu,es after 1t retired. There was but one
ballot AIKEN and it was unanimous for ac-
quittal.
The return of the jury created no sur
prise to the friends OF Mr. Davis who oc-
lcupied,th available seats in the court room.
tFrom the introduction to the close OF the
case they had not doubt OF the innocence
of tho accused.
Tiis feeling of safety was doubtless
prompted by The earnestness with which
Mr. Davis's lawyers, Walter H. Hayes and
Herbsrt H. Ward, entered into the case.
They displayed signal ability at every
stage Of the proceedings and when the YER
dist was rel uin d they came in for good
ly share Of the congratulations VIII iiwele
extended,
That the states case against Mr.. Davis
was weak In the few particulars which
combined to MAKE it was evident from the
opening. Tho testimony Of Francis II.
La; toMus was denied unequlvocallv- MI.
Davis hurled the hottest shots INTO i's
tuthfulness and redu ced it tot such shape
that only verdict of not guilty was de-
ducable from it.
HEARING TIE TESTIMONY,
1t was 10. 10 o clock when the court call
ed for trial OF he case Mr.. Davis sat in
sidethe railing which separates the audi
ence from the court officials and between
Messrs. Hayes and Ward. Mr.. Lattomus
contented himself with seat outside the
railing
TIE work of drawing the jury was tho
preliminary step to the trial and tho COM
position of the body Us well US its political
complexion was spoken Of in yesterday
Repul Lean rectal of the lact ut this
time is unnecessary.
Tho lid ictment was reed by Deputy
Attorney General Cooper and aisor the
courJ ordered two counts-thoso OF Offer
ing MIR. Lattomns bride of 5000, and oil
offering Mts. l.. $500 stricken out, the CO
proceeded ,to trial ION the count alleging
that Mr.. Davis had attempted to br!b1 Mr..
Lattomus by Offering to lift the mortgage
on his farm.
MIR Lattomus was the first witness call
ed and said he resided at Townsend In
the fourteenth representative distinct OF
New Castle County, which district ne
reprpsentea in the recent General AS enD-
ly. He also told Of tho attempt made by
the Republican mcmhors Of the General
Assembly to elect United states Senator
from the opening until the close OF the
sss, ion. He, of course, knew Mr.. Davis
who was also member OF the Assembly.
They had voted tor different candidates
until The aSth day of Mach, the witness
for Nes.r'. Cannon, DuPopt, Willis and
several Others, while Mr. LAWS had voted
for John Edward Adde'S. The witness
did not know that Mr.. Davis ever voted
for anyone Other than John Edward Adj
dicks After this preliminary cXamina-
ton Deputy Attorney General Cooper
took the witness back to the day Of the al
legcd commission Of the cline.
MIR. Lattpmu, could not tell what day
he met Mr.. Davis, but tula Of the defend
Ia ,r1. ~ ct, pAtn
inviting him to take II walk about tho
town. They walked around the ttcha rd-
son house and while together the election
OF n United States Senator was discussed.
"What did MI. Davis say TO your asked
Mr. White.
"Fie asked mo if would vote for MIR.
Aldicks for United State. Senator, told
him no. He then said he would satisfy
the mon gage ON my farm. don't rccoI-
lect hin, saying tho amount of tho mort
gage. l tJld him Lr, under nc consldera-
lion.
Then ho suggested he would make Il q
present to my wife.
Mr. Cooper inquired what the witness
understood by it. but Mr. Hayes objected
and was sustained by the Court. In reply
to other questions by Mr.. Cooper the wit
ness said.
when he said he would make 'it'' a
present 10 my vito said no, under no cir
cu,nstgnce We then discussed matters
which had prevented us from agreeing Oh
u United States Senator.
do YOU know how Mr.. Davis learned
that there was mortgage on your farm,
asked Mr. Cooper but before the witness
could reply Mr. Ward enterecd an ob]ec-
ton to the question. The court again
sustained the objection whcrogpon Mr..
Cooper withdrew his question and substt-
Suited tn one:
"Did you have any. previous talk with
Mr. Davis concerning this mortgage:
YES sir.
"When. asked Mr.. White
Tho latter part of January
'What was said NJ that time?
Owe wcro standing in front Of the State
House one evening talking Of matters In
general when Mr. Davis asked Inc II was
a farmer and | replied yes. He remarked
there is not much in farming and told
him did not tlnl much and hat found
1t difficult to make ends meet being trou'
bled by mortgage | also said that in.
te,est and taxes were about all | could
raise. Mr.. Davis sail he had also bought
property which had not paid him.
think told him at Tint time that The
mortgage on my farm amounted to 5000.
These remarks closed he direct cHAml.
nation.
Then Mr.. Hayes began the crass-cxam
ihGtioh OF me "'VAvss' 'r'' Eoins "NeS th'
ue"o'ls VI lho "s'o, i.s ,"' ~, "h'
MT. Dayls Gu i i1, H't 49,, "' i
WAS " Nlr. b"''7 '"'u " w" '''' "h0'
MI LAYS ,,r,,,,, .a,, TO-, 1t,
~ "sHeu iiiu ~ i "ou'u WIZ ioA 4''
AuuiGH' l"T Iehn,or'
~ ~ n1' u'u w" ''l"F'
~, ~ II, NJ. D,,,,..-n.,u
"llcsai0 no would SATISFY OF. lift the NOR
Eaen gu NY arm
NV uiu yo" s"s'
M Np. At, .,D,,.,.,a-,o
,,i, mn WIN, uI ,., ~. 10 81!
ne Wo'i "a ii'akc IL PIt9tt! ID my Wis
.,> ~ h"t u,u 'nN s"S ~ ,m.ta VI
.W NJ " ru nd NJ. Nv aoy .,ftor, b,ts,
"ao Wy l., tha, ba c'iI;r",I',,
ms y. - NV .e "",.
""lu ,, co. 49, 70 i've
,,,,,,'rn os,on .i'o lao "r',s., NJ ~, 81
isnsn," "t'". o ,nv usy ters my ''' INV
"lpv, :; N
,u,,' ,,,h,, ,;,,,+ ro,, ov,,,so NJ
po,,i, nr ,t'n In,,,rn 90 tlto li,rsnp for ii
a,,,d,,oIy,
Ar Coonor o,,isctna IN tbc oucstior
,r, ,ho CD,r, s,,.toincd ,bo nno.,,nn an
A. La INN tH,,s rani'od "'''''''
al Il II ,'t wnut To- max, tho man my
tro,,tI, "'''' "
. ,iio v,u l,u,w Ci1hert : J,nocgv
uNeS -
uniI vor hoye n conversation with NJ,
ZONES on Thmrs law March ~ TINT helm