The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-23
FOUND GUILTY
JuRY's VERDICT IN THE CASE OF
JOHN VI. HIGGINS.
lie VIII Re Punished for Soliciting n
Bribe as Member OF the
City Council.
HIGGINS SPENT NIGHT IN JAIL
WILL REMAIN THERE UNTIL TAKEN
TO THE PENiTESTIARy.
During the Afternoon and Evening
Many Visitors Called 10 See
HIM There.
FOUND GUILTY ON ONE COUNT
NO DEMONSTRATION IN COURT ROOM
WHEN VERDICT WAS READ.
Higgins's Attorneys VIII BE Given .
Few Days I'm which TO File
Motions.
During the Afternoon and Evening
Many Visitors Called 10 See
HIM There.
FOUND GUILTY ON ONE COUNT
NO DEMONSTRATION IN COURT ROOM
WHEN VERDICT WAS READ.
Higgins's Attorneys VIII BE Given .
Few Days I'm which TO File
Motions.

Councilman John NJ. Higgins was found
guilty by the jury in the Criminal Court
yesterday afternoon OF the charge OF a.
tempting to bribe David NJ. Parry. The
punishment, which is from two TO fourteen
years in the penitentiary. fine not exceed
ing $500 and Acknowledgement for an In
determinate period, was withheld by the
court through courtesy 10 Attorneys Span
and Duncan. who made verbal statement
to the court that they wished the record
held open for n few days to permit them to
make any motions in the case they may
desire.
At $50 yesterday afternoon a loud knock
on the door OF the jury room in the
Criminal Court apprised the anxiously
waiting crowd that the jury was evidently
ready TO make report. The bailiff hurried
to the room and was appraised by the fore
man, Juror Ryker. that the jury was ready
to report. There was Immediately an UNI
usual hustle about the courtroom and the
two telephones were kept warm with
various messages to the attorneys inter-
ested I'm the case and endeavors to locate
the defendant. Messengers were also dis
patchd after Higgins.
All during the day a crowd OF men had
waited in the courtroom. while newspaper
reporters stood around in anxious groups
with attorneys specializing on the probable
outcome of the case. The longer they
waited the more probable did disagree
ment of the jury seem. Occupying the
same seats they had during the trial OF
Higgins were his two sisters and they
waited patiently throughout the day and
were i'm the courtroom when the announce
ment was made that the jury was ready TO
report.
CROWD RUSHED IN
The room rapidly filled as the report
gained circulation. Men rushed In from all
the entrances and the courtroom was soon
crowded TO Its utmost capacity. Attorneys
Duncan and Spaan soon arrived Prosecu-
tor Pugh was the next TO arrive. There
could be nothing done. however. until the
defendant was in the courtroom. He c0uIo
not be found at any of his old haunts and
messengers were sent after him Shortly
before o'clock he was found on Washing
ton street. on his way to the courthouse.
At 1856 the main door 10 the courtroom
opened and Higgins entered. accompanied
by Sheriff Clark.
The crowd in the courtroom. which had
become congested. moved forward to the
iron railing and all eyes were turned on the
councilman as he walked toward his seat
and spoke TO his two sisters. Judge Afford
turned to the crowd and said:
Gentlemen. you must remain quiet when
the verdict is read. and any demonstration
will result in the arrest Of the guilty par
ties and they will be Immediately brought
before the court. Sheriff. place your men
in the crowd TO maintain order" The
bailiff had already gone TO the jury room.
and no sooner had Judge Afford concluded
his warning 10 the spectators than the
jury filed into the room and slowly pro-
ceeded to their seats. Higgins was per-
fectly- composed. but he could not refrain
from staring at each juror as he passed
him.
AS soon as the jurors took their seats
there was a deep silence, but IL was soon
broken by Judge Afford addressing the
twelve men who had decided the defend
ants fate. asking them IL they had agreed
upon a verdict. The answer was I'm the
affirmative The foreman, Charles Ryker,
was then instructed TO hand the verdict to
the clerk. Sam Shank, clerk OF Room 2.
Superior Court, acted in the place OF Clerk
McGaughey, and when Mr.. Shank received
the verdict a nervousness came over the
crowd. He read the title and when he
said. I'VE. the jury. find the defendant
not guilty on the first count as charged in
the Indictment" there was a slight rustic
and murmer, but Clerk Shank did not al
lew the crowd to speculate much longer.
for he almost Immediately said, I'VE, the
jury. find the defendant guilty on the
second count as charged in the indict-
ment" On the next two counts the de-
PENDANT found not guilty. The clerk
then read that the jury found the defenc-
ant TO be forty-two years OF age.
Higgins did not for one instant take his
eyes away from Shank as he read the ver-
dict. When the second count was read. IN
which he was found guilty. the express
sion I'm the defendants eyes changed per-
ceptibly and had a faraway look and his
hands twitcaed nervously. He showed no
other signs OF agitation or feeling how
ever. and regained his composure with
wonderful quickness. As soon as the ver-
dict was read Judge Afford turned 10 the
jury and asked them collectively II that
was their verdict The twelve men an
swered. lit is Attorney Span then re-
quested 20 see the verdict and after read
ing IL asked that the jury be polled The
hailiff called the roll, and as each mans
name was called Judge Afford asked him
II that was his verdict. In each instance
he answer was: 1T is"
THANKS FOR THE JURY.
Judge Afford then extended his thanks TO
the members or the jury for the patience
they had shown during the trial OF the
case. He said he had done everything he
could to make them comfortable. as II was
necessary for them to be confined together