The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-22
lERDICT GREETED WITH CHEERS
RESULT WAS EXPECTED, AND
CROWDS WAITED IN COURT
FOR JURY TO COME IN
STORY OF THE FATAL DUEL
Elaborate Arguments Made by Rep
resentatives of the Common
wealth and Defendant
in the Case.

FRANKFORT, KY, April 21.-Ex-Con-
gressman David G. Colson, VINO has beea
en- trial here for the last four days for
the murder of Lieut. Ethelbert Scott and
Luther Demarre, was acquitted by the
verdict of the jury, which was returned
at 6:S5 o'clock this evening. The jury
was out only eighteen minutes
Although it was long after the usual
time of the adjournment Of the court, and
there was no certainty that an early YER
dict would be Reached. a large part OF
the crowd remained in the court room,
waiting for a report from the jury room.
After being out fifteen minutes a knock
on the door summoned Sheriff Baker to
the jury room. He responded, and reporS-
ed to Judge Hernden that the jury was
ready to come into court. There was a
great silence as the jury filed into the
court room, but there was no den1onstla-
ton when Circuit Clerk Ford finished
reading the verdict which read:
I'VE, the jury, find the defendant not
guilty"
= CHEERS FOR COLSON.
AS the last words were read, the crowd
arose and sent up a wild cheer. Col. Col
son, the defendant, was standing near
the witness chair. The crowd took no
notice Of the court officers, who pounded
vigorously for order, but piled oyer the
ratings surrounding Colson, and insisted
on shaking hands with him. They gave
an ovation to the Jury, and Col. James
Andrews Scott Colson's chief counsel.
The cheering kept up until Col. Colson
left the court room, and as he did so 1t
was taken up by the Beckham soldiers in.
front of the court house. to which the
colonel very gracefully returned a sa-
Lutte
rt ELABORATE ARGUMENTS.
The argument of the case began at II.
o'clock today The first speech for the
defense was made by e. r. Maynatt, Of
Knoxville, Tenn, followed by Judge
George Denny, the widely-renowned Grim
inal lawyer, of Lexington, for the prose-
cution, who bitterly arraigned the de-
fendant. Col. James Andrews Scott, in
an elaborate argument Of two hours, clos
ed the case for the defense, and Common
wealth's Attorney Franklin followed in
an argument Of an hour, closing the case
for the state.
There was no doubt in the minds of the
spectators that a verdict Of acquittal
would be rendered until the speech Of
Commemorative Attorney Franklin, but
when he closed, friends of Colson feared
that 1t would have the effect Of a hung
jury.
Tonight Col. Colson is receiving dozens
of kilograms from all over Kentucky, and
from other states, congratulating him on
his acquittal.
THE TRAGEDY.
The tragedy which resulted in the crime
for which Colson was tried occurred Tan.
16 In duel with Ethelbert Scott, in
the lobby Of the Capitol hotel, crowded
at the time with people attracted here
from over the state by the political con-
tests, Col. Colson killed his antagonist
Scott, and Luther W. Demarre and
Charles Julian, bystanders, and wounded
Capt 3. B. Golden, who accompanied
Scott and whom Colsen's friends charge
with having taken part In the battle.
Both Scott and Colson emptied their pis-
tolls, fifteen or twenty shots being fred
in all.
Scott had seven bullets in his body Col.
son was wounded in the arm. The weight
of the evidence was that he received this
wound early in the fight, and that Scott
fired before Colson arose from his chair
The prosecution, after the instructions
Of Judge Cantrill today, virtually aban-
doned the charge of murder, and endeav-
ored to get conviction for manSlaugh-
ter, on the theory that Scott was killed
after he had retreated, and in good faith
withdrawn from the fight
Col Colson was tried on the indict-
ment charging him with the murder of
Scott While the Indictment for killing
Demarre has not been disposed of, it will
be dismissed in view of the failure of
conviction in any degree for the killing
of the principal. The indictment will be
filed away on motion of attorney for the
commonwealth Monday.