New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-26
BROOKLYN NEWS.
ACQUITTAL FOR W1NANTl
THE VERDICT RETURNED LAST NIGHT
AFTER FOUR BALLOTS HAD
BEEN TAKEN.
PROSECUTION FAILS TO SATISFY THE JURY
THAT THE CHARGE OF ATTEMPTING TO
BRIDE A GRAND JURYMAN WAS
sUsTAINED-THE ACCUSED
MAN SET AT LIBERTY.

MAN SET AT LIBEhI1
Last night after a long exhaustive and searching
trial. In which the prosecution was as sincere as u
was able Charles NJ. Wlnant was declared innocent
Of tine charge Of bribery by jury OF his peers anu
was formally discharged by Justice Keogh OF inc
Supreme Court. Winant was charged with ha'i's
tried TO bride F G.. Isles. secretary OF the "Id''I
Jury OF March 1885 In order presumably, 10 quasi
the prospective indictment against Iheodore =.
Willis formerly City Works Commissioner OF
Brooklyn. and w T. Philips who was dismisse'
from Police Commissionershp in Manhattan oy
Mayor Van Wyck on the allegation that ne Hau
been branded by an indictment with Wills anu
others In connection with the old city "oiAS
scandals.
Both the Mayor and the local Democratic lead
ers may chew the cud OF reflection to-day ana
philosophize over the pregnant fact that charee9
brought mainly 10 influence an election are HAeS
finally to take the form OF boomerang
Those who had carefully watched the development
OF the case against Winant realized few days ago
that the basis upon which the prosecution hau
rested It's case had more less OF quicksilver In us
composition. and that while the lawyers LOT 'e
people honest. jealous and capable they nau
ever before them the knowledge OF Isles 'e"i ,
and whimperings and hope Of self-savanon' anu
also strong precedents formed by acqulttaIs III Na
of the same nature.
The verdict of not guilty last night was therefore
not a surprise. After the charge by Justice keogh
the jury went out 10 deliberate. That was at f-O
o'clock p. m. II was exactly four hours later "neh
the jury returned TO the box. In the interval loui
ballots-one In each hour-had been taken. Inc
first stood ten 10 two for acqutal the secono Jus,
the same; the third eleven 10 one, ana the Io-4 u"
brought out the verdict OF not gIty: h ono ~ the
most amiaole Of men. tried to be severe anu Sat
their slightest manifestation OF approval OF fro
prOva would be punished ny dismissal OF al oor
disapproval when the verdict announced. II
was accepted as given as a mater 0 uformaii;
5asSe "a ReQg3 in few crisp sentences
Friends Of the latter gathered around him him
ridor Of The County Court Building. Suppressed
feeling then broke forth and win "a sSIT
Ians his friends broke loose. while Winant psie,
nervous. smiling tried to MAKE ms Ta ME- friends
picked him up. carried him away 70 nrlgnt mg1t;
winant' was on the stand a part Of the day He
said that he had met Isles in saloon on Marc n
iC last. and again with others in the afternoon OF
that day in Defsndas' M 9an 'ae' but
his. pull was neither long nor strong oord 20,
him a place with Russell Irwin & Co. hardware
firm in Chambers-st., Manhattan ,.,..a
Mr. Gom s sS2f h on many otheT he Believed that
political place does not call for that eSper tis n :
requisite rt' in Other fields Of human endsayor .r,
as d"S MASON to to be y most SngTatet9l man
Ex-Judge Jesse Johnson, George r. EiIott. Aut h ,
man Thomas Burns and Others testified as t 70 ss
that Isles apparently. and indeed probably, nad
gone into the Grand Jury with an eye single 10 the
betterment Of his own fortunes ~
Joseph Rosenbergh caused laugh by saying
that there was only one bad feature about Ninant.
what is it, asked the Prosecutor -,
"TIe never treats the boys, was the frank reply.
John Guilfoye Building Commissioner and a
sturdy machine Democrat. said that he knew
WI1ant when the latter Alderman. that ne
respected him and had always heard him spoken
OF highly. r,,h,,.o, . zooa
ma " asked Mfr Emerson. jOcularly.
"Well-to find him a capable man, answered
Mr. Gulfoyle $780,. u
Ex-Judge Brown summed W for the defence he
e ernhafic insistent and melOdramatic in his de
liver and his pastures are remarkable as his
manner OF speech He stands on his tiptoes'
court officer remarked. Shakes himself to pieces
generally The Judge laughed when he heard this,
and said: The manner is nothing; the verdict is
everything.