Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-10-25
BANNISTER ACQUITTED.
Jury was Out but a Short Time
Thursday Morning.
The First Ballot Resulted inUnanimous
Vote for acquittai End OF a Notable
Trial-General Endorsement OF the
Verdict Expressed Over Town--G Crib
BILE Sentenced.


Verdict Expressed Over Town-Grlb.
Bile Sentenced.
j 1--WE the jury find the defendant
i not guilty as charged These were
the words that freed Frank b. Ban
mister from the embarrassing position
in which he had been placed for some
i months by the prosecution on the
/ part of the Seneca Glass company
The jury retired Thursday morning
after receiving the charge OF Judge
Mason.
This charge was lengthy one aud
was given Immediately on the conpen-
ing OF court Thursday morning. The
counsel had finished onWednesday af-
/ ternoon and court Immediately adj
] iourned until the next morning.
After reaching their room the Jury
deliberated but few moments.
They then took ballot and everyone
of them was in favor of acquitting
the prisoner. They filed back into
the court room and the verdict was
delivered to the clerk.
1t was dramatic scene and the
court room was full OF the tensest in.
terest. Mr.. Bannister was immedi-
ately congratulated by scores Of
friends who had followed the Gaze
closely and who had been very greatly
interested in the outcome.
No one had expected any other YER
dict and they were agreeably surprised
to find that they had formed the right
opinion of the merits of the case.
Mr.. Bannister Is one Of the most
substantial and reputable members
of the community aud his clearance Of
the charge which had been brought
/ against him il received with pleasure
by everyone in town He has been
closely identified with the industrial
growth Of this place aud has done
more to advance 10 than the majority
of people who have spent their lives
here.
He is an official in the Morgantown
Glass Works which was recently es-
tablished and which Is sending its
wares TO every part Of the world.
The plant is enlarging its capacity
daily and it is destined to become one
Of the largest In the country.
Messrs Cox s. Baker aud Hon. Jos.
Moreland were counsel for the defense
and they left no stone unturned In or
der to clear their client The prose-
cution was equally able and consisted
OF Prosecutor /. G. Lazzelle, Col Jas.
g. Frazer and Col. w. w. Arnett Of
1 Wheeling. The case has been up
since last Friday and large number
Of witnesses were examined A syn
opsis Of the evidence presented has
been given daily in this paper.
E. c. Gribble was on Thursday
morning sentenced TO three years In
the penitentiary by Judge Mason.
His attorneys Withdrew their motion
1 for new trial and the prisoner was
sentenced. The Judge in passing
sentence did 1t in a very feeling way
and there was great deal OF mercy
displayed toward the prisoner.
Gribble when asked why sentence
should not be passed threw himself on
tie mercy of the court and protesting
his innocence stated that he had no
! further means TO fight the case. L he
penalty provided for by law for for
gerry is from two TO ten years In the
! penitentiary.
/ His wife was with him in court
when sentence was passed and was
overcome by emotion while the Judge
was delivering his Judgment
NOTES.
Col. Arnett made, everybody con
cedes, one Of the greatest arguments
ever made to a jury here. He is one
Of the few, one among many hun
dreds of thousands who are brilliant,
out of very many who possess dia
mond intellect
The case against Mr.. Bannister
was far from being strong.
Col Arnett stated in his argument
that this was the second time he
state
! rhe instructions were very lengthy
1t was the universal opinion that it
would he verdict OF acquittal.
All the lawyers made splendid
speeches to the jury.
The numerous business and social
friends OF Mr.. Bannister rejoice that
he has been exonerated.
1t has been the dullest, the most
tiresome trial imaginable, outside of
the profound subrosa interest enter
tanned by nearly all the people; lots
of quiet excitement, but no feeling
displayed mot a thing sensational
during the trial.
The case went to the jury az $40
In less than an hour the jury re.
turned verdict of not guilty, the
verdict expected after hearing the
instructions, by everybody.