The age-herald., 1900-01-11
In Dramatic Style She Thanks
 the Court and Jury.
WILL MAKE A LEcTuRlNe TOUR
She Forgives Her Prosecutors and Leaves Her Prosecutors to Their Conscience and Their God
 Sympathy for Mrs. Antz

Chattanooga, Tenn, January 1O.-The last day of the trial of Julia Morrison James for the murder of Frank Leiden- hefmer of the MT. Plaster of Paris" com pany, of which they were leading man and lady on the stage of the Chattanooga opera house on the night of September 23 last began al S:90 this morning, and ended at 4 o'clock this afternoon, when after one bal lot the jury returned verdict of not guilty.
 At the morning session the speeches were made which closed the trial, Colonel Joe Gift speaking for the defense and Samuel Bosworth Smith for the state.
 The charge of Judge Estill was begun at 11:9O and was most impartial and lucid exposition of the law and the duty of the jury in the premises. Court adjourned at 12:30 until p. m.
 The defendant seemed today to be con- siderably broken in spirit and wore a more anxious look than on previous days, her large and beautiful eyes filling with tears several times during the arguments.
 William H. Cummings spent the first hour of the morning in behalf of the defense, and was followed by Colonel Joe Gift, who also spoke for the defense.
 The case for the state was closed by M. B. Smith in a masterly speech on the law and facts in the case.
 Attorney Cummings. in speaking for the defense, asserted that it is right that the aduterer should die, and that the woman he has hounded is the proper one to kill him. He said he gloried in her spunk, when she did it.
 ''We don't ask sympathy" he said ''We only ask you to apply the cold facts to this case, and if you do you will return verdict of acquittal in ten minutes"
 Question of Insanity
 Colonel Gift, for the defense, argued the legal question of insanity at some length, but insisted more strongly on the plea of self-defense and justification.
 Judge Floyd Estill delivered his charge to the jury immediately after MT. Smith codnpleted his argument. The charge was a lengthy one and was considered one of the most able ever delivered to a jury in this state.
 At 12:9O Judge Estill completed his charge to the jury, and it retired to deliberate and formulate verdict
 When court adjourned at noon, until p m. Miss Morrison was removed to her cell in the county jai where she received many callers until the hour for the re- turn to court arrived Among her callers was a representative of the Associated Press, to whom the prisoner expressed en- tire confidence in the favorable action of the jury. The court room was crowded, and Mrs. James was cheered as she made her appearance. For fully half an hour she sat, impatiently, listening to the pro- cedure of the regular docket when at o'clock the jury was announced. The jury had taken but one ballot and their verdict was mot guilty"
 Miss Morrison, upon hearing the words which insured her freedom, leaned back in her chair with closed eyes and quickly changed color of the face. Advancing to the speakers platform she made a most dramatic speech to the court and jury, as follows:
 Her Dramatic Speech
 May it please your honor, wish to thank you and the gentlemen of the jury, and all who were instrumental in my ac- uuittal today, for your just and generous decision May God in His mercy be ever as just to you and yours as you have been Ito mo today. In the same measure wish to thank my attorneys for their noble ef- forts in my behalf. As for the prosecution, I wish to say that I fully forgive them, and bear them no malice for their strenu- ous efforts for my conviction. As to my prosecutors Burning towards Mrs. George I. Antz, the beautiful sister of the mur- dered actor, who was overcome with emo- tion and suffused in tears) leave them to their conscences and their God. To the poor bereaved sister say that God knows that were 1t in my power to restore her brother to her would certainly do it."
 When she had finished her speech, which she had rendered in strictly Shakespeare an style, Attorney General Donaldson made a demand that she be held for carrying a pistol and the case was entered, but no bail or other formal court recognition was accorded the action.
 The verdict was wildly cheered by the spectators in the court room and by hun dreds outside MT. and Mrs. James went at once to apartments previously engaged at leading hotel where they will remain for several weeks, when Mrs. James will begin g featuring tour, her subject being