The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-17
WILLIAM FALLoN ACQUITTED.
JURY STOOD TEN TO TWO FOR SEW
ERAL HOURS.

The Verdict Brought I'm at 6:3o
O'Clock Yesterday AfternOon-Two
Jurors Had Held Ont for Man
slaughter, Bat athe Rest Had been
for AcquittaI Since O'clock in
the MOrnlng-FaIIon Thanked the
Jury anu the Court officials.
The jury in the Fallon case returned a
verdict of aequittal at $50 O'Clock yester-
day afternoon. The verdict was reached
twenty minutes before that time. Judge
Faligant aud The attorneys were prompt
" notified ana baiIff was sent post
haste to the jan to bring the accused.
1t was not known at that time what the
verdict was. It was pretty well under
stood that the jury had been standing 10
to ? for acquittap all day. and all the
predictions had been, that 1t would he
either mistrial or a verdict for man
slaughter.
There were only few people in the
court room when the verdict was rem
dered. Fallon was seated by his attor-
ney, Mr.. F. NJ. Oliver, when the jury came
in. Judge Twigsg wSs absent, and so was
Solicitor General Osborne, the latter hav-
ing gone over to Charleston to the yacht
race.
Gentlemen of the jury. have you
agreed upon a verdict?" inquired Judge
Falligant.
we have" replied Foreman R. W.
Adams, Jr.
MIR. Clerk, receive the verdict" said
Judge Falligant
Deputy Clerk J, l.. Murphy received the
verdict and read; The case of the state
versus William Fallon, murder We the
jury find the defendant not guilty"
Gentlemen, you are discharged until
Monday morning" said Judge Falligant
Al the instance of Mr. Oliver, Fallon
shook hands with the members of the jury
and expressed his thanks for the kind
treatment which he had received at their
hands. lie did not show any excitement,
but the tones of his voice showed that he
was elaled at the result. The officers of the
court also congratulated him.
The news Of the verdict spread rapidly
and was variously commented upon. 1t
had been generally expected that there
would either be conviction for man
slaughter or a mistrial and some surprise
was expressed at the result. There was lit
lie feeling generally upon the matter one
way or the other, however.
There was little difficulty IN ascertalnlng
how the jury had stood n the matter. II
was about l o'clock in the morning when
they received the case, and vote was
taken shortly after arriving1in the jury
room. This vote stood for acquittal and
4 for mansraughter. There seemed 70 have
been some misunderst auding IN the minor
minds of the jurors as to this vote, now
ever, ana anolher vote was taKeil' result
ing in for acqWttai and for man
slaughter.
The jurors then engaged in a general
discussion Of the case until about O'Clock,
when another vote was taken. one more
man had been won over and the vote was
10 for acquittai and for manslaugh-er.
The TWO jurors who We're opposed TO ac-
quttol were very determined IN tnelr posi-
tion and announced that they would stick
to il until the mercury dropped to the bot
tom Of the bulb. Ii was registering about
lC5 in he Jury room at that time, and as
there was no immediate prospect Tor, cod
wave the jurors made up their minds that
mistrial was in prospect.
1t was most too hot 70 sleep, ana pc
sides, the sleeping accommodations were
not of the best, consequently the 1urymen
passed an uncomfortable night Some OF
them had intended attending the yacht
races at Charleston, and they were very
much disguised at the turn affairs had
taken. Desultory argument was kept up
during the day, but without any percepu-
be effect until o'clock in the afternoon,
when Juror Luther b. Greer decided that
il was useless to hold out any longer This
left only Juror r. K. Bragdon opposing a
verdict of acquittal. Juror Bragdon held
to his position until about s o'clock, when
he decided that 1t was not wise for one
hand to Withstand the judgment of eleven
men, and accordingly gave in.
The Jurors were not the most presenta-
BILE looking lot when they filed into the
court room. Their shirts and collars were
wilted and their clothing was rumpled,
and ell of them looked as if a shave was
one of the things they needed. They all
agreed that it had been hot enough for
them, and that they were glad they were
out OF it.
Fallon was Immediately released from
custody and spent the first night al home
last night for several months.