The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-10-25
Can DO moth HING
Acquittal Of the Thompson
Woman Precludes Her
Detention.
THE JURORS POETRY
1t May Serve as Basis for
Trial of the Men for
Misconduct.

In no unmeasured terms Judge Blair ex-
pressed his disapproval yesterday after
noon of the verdict Of the jury in the
Court of General Sessions acquitting
Maud Thompson of the charge of abs
Quoting fourteen year old Mary Shapiro
for immoral purposes He said:
Maud Thompson, your acquittal in this
court yesterday was a surprise to the
court and everyone who heard the evil
dence against you. The verdict was a dis
appointment and the Court canot conceive
how the jury could have come to such a
conclusion. The evidence shows that you
are dangerous woman, unsafe to be at
large in any community where girls of
tender age are likely to be brought into
contact with your baneful influence.
The Court regrets that instead of now
ordering your discharge it cannot now
impose sentence upon you.
The Prosecutor requested your deten-
tion in the hope that in some way the
result of this inexplicable verdict might
be avoided and you might still be held in
custody. But the Court sees no way that
this can be done and there is no alterna-
tive but to discharge you.
Another trial on any phase of this case
for the same offence and consequently
cannot be considered by the Court. 1t is
with reluctance that I order your dis
charge and warn you that should you
come here again the Court will not be
disposed to deal with you leniently. You
may co.
Prosecutor Erwin said this morning.
THE verdict returned by the jury in the
Of rIyl~ !.
short of an outrage on justice. Under
the circumstances, the woman had to be
discharged. However, there was nothing
left to do but request the Sheriff not to
draw any of the twelve jurors of that
panel again. This Judge Blair has done
How the jury could have reached the
verdict it did is beyond my comprehen-
sion and was as much of a surprise to
the Court and every one else who heard
the case as to myself"
The acquittal of the Thompson woman,
in view of the seemingly overwhelming
evidence against her, continues to be a
subject of much speculation around the
Court House. None of the twelve jurors
who found the surprising verdict would
consent to discuss the case and none
OF them was permitted to sit on any
criminal case tried yesterday
The two weeks term of the present pam
ell practically expires today as there will
be no further criminal trials this week
so none of the twelve jurors who believed
the defendant mot guilty." despite the
fact that everyone else who heard the tes-
timony believed the opposite will have
another opportunity of passing on the
guilt or innocence of any accused person
1t is not now probable that the court
will take any action affecting the Jurors,
except that there may be an investiga-
tion into the matter of the improper
poetry and scurrilous reflection on court
and prosecutor found in the jury room
after Foreman John Ryan returned the
surprising verdict. If the writer's of these
poetic gems" are discovered they may
be proceeded against
1t is said that five of the panel of
twelve who voted on the first ballot for
the conviction of Maud Thompson, but
afterwards changed their minds, are pre-
pairing statement denying the author
ship of the verses. This they will pre-
sent to the Court