The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-13
STILL NO VERDICT
Morrison Jury Returns at Ten
O'Clock Last Night
THEY ASK TO RETIRE
viii Deliberate Again at $50
This Morning,
STATEMENT Is MADE
To Judge Shinn Regarding
the Situation.
is NOT MADE PUBLIC
Probability of Jurors Being
Dismissed Tonight
viii Deliberate Again at $50
This Morning,
STATEMENT IS MADE
To Judge Shinn Regarding
the Situation,
is MOT MADE PUBLIC
Probability of Jurors Being
Dismissed tonight

DISMISSED lOnlgnL
Shortly before 10 o'clock last night at
Fl Dorado the twelve men who have
been trying to decide the fate Of Jessie
Morrison, worn and weary after their
deliberations, fled into the court room
and took their seats in the jury box. The
court room. which was well fued with
people who have been waiting patiently
Tor the verdict Of the jury. was hushed
with an air Of expectancy prevailing
Judge shinn looked at the jurors for a
time and asked in low voice Of Alex
ander Hewitt what he wished to say.
Mr. Hewitt stated to the court that they
as jurors had not been able to reach a
verdict in the case and wished to retire
Tor The night, to resume their delibera-
tons In the verdict getting at $50 this
morning.
After a moments hesitation Judge
Shinn consented. The jurors who have
been wrestling with the mighty question
Of Jessie Morrison's guilt, arose and
marched stifly from the room. With a
bauin in front and another to the rear,
these twelve men went to their hotel
rooms to rest. Some to sleep, others,
perhaps, TO lie awake, reasoning in their
own minds what that verdict should be
The very fact thar the jury has not
been able to secure any kind Of YER
dict after two days Of elaboration seems
to be very favorable for Jessie Morrison.
While it has been stated before in the
Eagle that it may not be the guilt that
is the cause Of not getting the verdict
but the degree, from all indications it
seems that the jury VIII not be able to
agree.
During the afternoon the jurors sent
word by a bailiR that they wished to be
taken into the court This was done
People thought that a verdict had been
secured. There was intense interest as
the twelve men took their seats. Instead
OF making a statement orally. a written
statement Of some sort was handed to
Judge Shinn. He read It. looked at It
again, and. looking at the Jurors he said.
''The court has no desire to force a YER
dict from the jury. 1t has no desire that
any juror shall assent to any verdict
that his Judgment and conscience does
not approve. but you VIII return to your
room for further consideration.
The men were taken back and went at
the work Of getting a verdict again. The
question was just as perplexing and as
much argument was consumed as before.
And again that same ground must be
gone over by those twelve men today II
a verdict Is secured.
Just what Is in that statement made to
Judge Shinn Toy the jury IS not known
The attorneys for the state and the de-
tense held a consultation with Judge
Shinn. but eli refuse TO say anything
about what the contents were. However,
the general supposiuon is that the paper
contained the information that the Jury
could not agree Even Judge Shinn him
self intimates that ne does not think the
jury VIII agree.
Just how long the men VIII stay out
is question that cannot be answered
definitely at this time by any one, but
the chances are that IN case the jurors
90 not reach q verdict by tonight Judge
shinn viii dismiss them from further
consideration.
Jessie Morrison. the prisoner, confined
On that little room next 10 the jury quar-
tiers. received visitors again all day yes
terday They were her friends. People
who had not before called on the defend
ant in the case paid short visits at her
cell She smiled pleasantly and convers-
ed with them and there was always that
same independent look, same strong win
power which she had always displayed
and which has evidently kept her no dur
ing the trial
After the report OF the jury last night
she. with her relatives. went 60 that cell
and they an SAT- together and talked
over the situation. The little prisoner
was more hopeful than any of those
present and is now quite hopeful for an
acQuittal She has been very anxious
for the trial to be over. So fully eX-
pected that the jury would bring iu a
verdict before this time. and while she
thought chat the time would not be SO
long. she had the hope that the verdi {
would not be adverse 90 her.
Letters by the score have been taken
To her cell They are from strangers
that is the majority Of Them and they
convey sympathy % others % her The
number has increased since the close ~
the trial and many people have express
ed hope that the prisoner may be ac-
quilted During the first part OF the
trial people did not write 20 her very
much. but each day marks the increase
OF her mail. Some of The letters are
signed stranger" others with only the
initials. and again people write out their
fun names and ask that Che prisoner
write to them. There were one or two
people who wrote TO Jessie Morrison
asking that she send them specimens ol
her writing. fer the purpose Of deter
mining from tina. writing what her char
acter and traits were.
Flowers continue % reach her cell and
the defendant IN the celebrated case
wears each day fresh roses on her breast
Visitors In her cell are greeted with the