The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-01-12

CHATTANOOGA, Jan. 10 The last day
of the trial of Actress Julia Morrison
James, for the murder of Frank Leiden-
hemer, of the "Mr. Plaster Of Paris"
Company, of which she was leading lady,
on the stage of the Chattanooga Opera
House on the night of September 13 last,
began at $50 this morning and ended at
o'clock this afternoon, when after one
ballot the jury returned a verdict of not
guilty.
At the morning session the speeches
made closed the trial, OIL. Gilt speak
ing for the defense and Samuel Bosworth
Smith for the State.
The charge of Judge Estill was begun
at ll:35 and was most impartial and
lucid exposition of the law and the duty
of the jury in the premises.
The defendant seemed to-day to be
considerably broken in spirits and wore
more anxious look than on previous
days, her large, beautiful eyes filling
with tears several times during the argu-
ments.
VIM. II. Cummings spent the first
hour of the morning in behalf of the de-
Tense and was followed by Col Joe Cliff,
also for the defense. The case fol the
State was closed by S B. Smith in a
mastery speech on the law and facts in
| the case.
Judge Floyd Estill delivered his
charge to the jury Immediately after
Mr.. Smith completed his argument. The
charge was lengthy one and consider
ed one of the most able ever delivered to
jury in this State.
At 1870 o'clock Judge Estill com
pleted his charge, and the jury re-
! tired to deliberate and formulate yer.
dict. During the entire trial Mrs. ANTI,
of New Orleans, sister of Frank Leiden-
| heimer, has been in attendance, and
that fact has served to develop public
sentiment. The general public opinion
to day is that the jury will fail to agree
on verdict.
| Court adjourned at 1890 until g.
At o'clock, the jury was announced
They had taken but one ballot and their
verdict was mot guilty"
Miss Morrison, upon hearing the
words which insured her freedom, lean
ed back in her chair with closed eyes
and quickly changed color of the face
Advancing to the speakers platform
she made most dramatic speech to the
court and jury, as follows:
MAY it please your Honor, wish t.
thank you and the gentlemen of the
jury. and all who were instrumental il
my acquittal to-day, for your just anC
generous decision. May God in hi
mercy be ever as just to you and yours
as you have been to me to-day, In thu
same measure | wish to thank my at
torneys for their noble efforts in my be
half.
''As for the prosecution, | wish to say
that fully forgive them and bear then
no malice for their strenuous efforts fo
my conviction.
LAS to my prosecutors turning
towards Mrs. Geo. j ANTI, the beautiful
sister of the murdered actor, who wa
overcome with emotion and suffused il
tears, | leave them to their conscience
and their God. To the poor bereaveC
sister | say were it in my power to re
store her brother to her | would Ger
tainly DO it,"
When she had finished her speech
which she had rendered in a strictl,
Shakespearean style, Attorney-Genera
Donaldson made demand that she b.
held for carrying a pistol, and the cas-
was entered, but no bail or other forma
court recognition was accorded th
action.
The verdict was widely cheered by tn
spectators in the courtroom and by
hundreds outside.
Mr.. and Mrs. James went at once t.
apartments previously engaged at
leading hotel, where they will remain
for several weeks, when Mrs. James vii
begin a lecture tour, her subject being
''The Other Side of the Stage" i
which she will point out the danger
that confront the virtuous girls VIII
are lured from happy homes to follow
the stage as an occupation.