The Atlanta constitution., 1900-01-15
JULIA MORRISON IS
GIVEN HER FREEDOM
Cheering in the Courtroom
When Verdict of Jury
Was Read Out
SHOT HER PROSECUTOR
Many Persons Rushed Toward Miss
Morrison To Congratulate Her.
Miss Morrison Thanked
Judge, Lawyers and
Jury.

Chattanooga, Tenn, January 10.-Spe-
cial THE Julia Morrison case, which
has been on trial in the circuit court here
since last Thursday. was given to the
jury at noon today in an exhaustive
charge from the court. Great interest
was taken in the closing scenes of the
celebrated trial. The courtroom was
packed with curious humanity long be-
fore the judge called the lawyers to at
tention and ordered the trial to proceed.
The morning hour was taken up with
the concluding argument of counsel, two
for the defense and one for the state.
The first speaker was William Cumming,
for the defense. who followed the same
lines pursued by his associate counsel of
the day before. The great speech for
the defense was made by Colonel Joe
Gift, the patriarch of the Chattanooga
bar, and in his time one of the most
powerful criminal pleaders in the state.
The entire interest Of the morning CEN
tered in this speech. and when Colonel
Gift arose in his seat 10 begin his ar
gun ent. he was greeted by loud and pro-
longed applause which brought for an or
der from the judge to the sheriff to ar
rest the men applauding.
Il will have 10 arrest the whole court
room, answered. inc SHeflL, ana tnefc
was another burst Of applause.
After briet eXordial. Colonel Gift
proceeded to "a review OF the evidence
which he brought out into powerful light,
and the jury was at all times attentive
and thoroughly impressed. He began
with the company at Peekskill. y. y,
where they started on their tour anu
followed them TO this city; recited the
daily insults and foul epithets LeideE
TO do her bodily harm and finally "a;
Chattanooga. mis- knocking her down ana
threatening TO XIII her. And then when
she was going 10 the stage to appear III
her part, thOugh late on account OF sick
ness, ~ which several Witnesses had
testified. he advanced upon her with a
drawn stick as il 10 strike her. She had
no pistol in her hand as was tes titled
by several witnesses, and no one saw
the pistol until after Leiden had cunsed
her and threatened her with his cane
Then it was. goaded TO desperation, in
fear OF her life great bodily injury,
that ner mind became surchargea with
the weight of her injuries she lost con
troll of herself, and drawing the revolver,
which she always carried for protection
she instinctVely as even the dumb brute
would do, used it TO save herself. No
proof had been adduced to show that she
WIS Il Nlolcul woman, All the testimony
was TO the contrary. and this was to be
taken III her favor and in suDstantiation
OF the proof that she was acting under
9uch strong provocation Us at the mo-
ment to feel that she was in great bodily
danger or unable to discern between
right or wrong or to think at all The
old man became very tender in his refer
ence to the character of a good woman
and the libertine. and that it should not
with this woman who had struck in de-
fense OF her own honor. good name and
well being.
At the conclusion of Colonel Gifts
speech. Samuel IL. Smith, closed FOR
the state, summing up the evidence. and
making application Of the law in such
cases provided. lie made no new points.
but argued the case purely on the pro-
visions OF the law lie made a strong
arraisnment of the accused ana maoa
an effort 10 show Dy the testimony that
Miss Morrison knew what sho was doing.
that she had gone TO the opera house
on the fatal night to XIII Leiden; that
she had bided in the lower part of the
stage for an opportunity TO kin him
where it would not be Witnessed. but
no opportunity coming to her
she had gone to the stage with murder
in her heart ana tho instrument for
carrying cut her purpose in her hand:
that without warning or a word she had
fired upon a defeuseless man ana haa
killed him.
Charge to the Jury.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Smlths's
speech. Judge Estil although the noon
hour had arrived, proceeded to charge
the jury, which occupied about an hour.
Court adjourned until o'clock
Before ] o'clock the courtroom was