The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1900-01-20
JULIA MORRISON ACQUITTED
.Jurv Declared Her "Not Guilty" OF the riur-
der of Frank Leiden.

Before 1 O'Clock the courtroom was
again crowded 10 it's utmost limits with
men aud women, and among them
there was but one general e1pectation'
the verdict vould be an atquittal, In
which events proved the belief was
we'll founded,
Ala o'clock the prisoner arrived ut !
the courtroom and exhibited an air OF
supreme confidence that she would
leave it free to go where she pleased
instead OF retracing the unhappy route
to the Hamilton county jail.
While the jury was deiiberating the
court was busy with other cases on 'he
regular docket.
At 4 O'Clock the Morrison jury was
ushered in. A deathlike stiffness en-,
sued and their faces we're searched and
researched by hundreds OF pairs OF
eyes that the verdict might be read, II
possible, in the countensnce. For
seven days that same group OF twelve
men had been scrutinized by thous-
auds Of spectators in Judge Estiirs
court to note the effect, IL any, upon
them by each telling piece OF evidence
and each convincing point OF logic
enunciated by the lawyers who spoke
in justification or condem nation OF her
alleged crime. -,
y Never perhaps in any courtroom did
a more mobile, stole and expression
less set Of human faces appear in
! Jury box. The best reader OF CHAR
acter was set at defiance, for not IN
single instance did one OF the twelve
faces in the jury circle betray the feel
ing OF the heart and head. So they
, came through the aisle before the
Judge and when, after responding to
q their names, Judge Estill said:
! "Geutlemen, have you agreed upon
q verdict"
! "We have" replied Foreman Nc
a Nabb. $40,
/ "What is your verdiot'" asked the
!. court
"Not guilty" was the answer.
!. Miss Morrison, who had leaned lar
n over in her chair, caught the low re
!. Spouse Of the foreman, and the effec
4 OF his words upon her were dramatic
~ in the extreme. She leaned back II
!. her chair and closed her eyes, Will
). her face turned from the whiteness
r. death to almost crimson hue.
The crowd in the court room cheer
:. ed and a rush was made toward th
N woman to congratulate her.
~ Advancing to a position just !
a. front of Judge Estill, Miss Morriso
=. delivered in most touching and ell
IN ouent manner q brief speech, whie
'ai she had evidently prepared, Tor 81
oi spoke rather rapidly and without ne
,d itation. She said: >,
"May it please your honor WIFE
n to thank you and the gentlemen
90 the Jury and all who were instrument
"a In nv acouittal today for your just AZ
q. GENEROUS decision. May God in ID
No mercy be ever as just to you and you
aSS as YOU have been to me today. In q
en same measure I wish to thank n
- ATTORNEYS for their noble efforts In n
ID. behalf. As for the prosecution WI
,nt to say that I fully forgive them al
.hs bear them no malice for their strenuo
in efforts for my conviction.
Gas to my prosecutors turning
~. ward Mrs. George ]. ANTI, the beau
~ ful sister OF the dead actor, who "
' ' overcome with emotion aud suffus
,cb in tears), I leave them to their CO
'sw sciences and their God. To the pr
On bereaved sister I say that God kno
VI that were it in my power to rest
~ her brother to her I would certail
TO do it,"
~. Mr.. and Mrs. James at once repair
rat to the Tschopik house, where they
on stopped on the first night OF their
.ba pearance in Chattanooga and VIII
The they will remain for time.