The Saint Paul globe., 1900-11-23
0()RBETT IS FREE AGAIN
JURY DID NOT TAKE LONG TO
REACH AN AGREE
MENT
OUT ONLY TWENTY MINUTES
Prisoner Was Greatly Affected by
the Verdict, and Displayed Con-
siderable EmctiOn-COr-
bett on the Stand.

Edward F. Corbett, on trial the past
eight days in the district court for the
alleged wilful murder of Joseph Mrozin-
ski, the fisherman, is free man.
So willed the jury before whom the
trial has dragged it's weary length and
it only required twenty minutes in
which to reach a conclusion.
The evidence and Judge Brill's charge
was turned over to the jury at AIS
o'clock yesterday afternoon, the twelve
men in charge of two bailiffs retiring to
the jury room at that hour. The audi
ence, larger if anything than at any time
during the trial. retired too, few expect
ing a prompt aCQuittal.
Corbett who, up to this hour, had been
a stcic listener to the arguments ad-
vanced for and against his guilt, was
removed to his cell in the county jail,
his wife and three little children who
have been constant attendants at the
trial, following him to the jail door.
Twenty minutes later the deputies were
informed by loud knocking that
verdict had been reached and without
delay Judge Brill was summoned and
Corhett again brought from mis- cell.
Corbett still maintained his quiet do-
meanor, with downcast eyes and a
nervous plucking at his mustache, hut
he was 'v1sibly excited, for all his eff
fort at self control.
The jury came in with quick step and
resumed their seats and on the nnish
of the roll call handed the clerk their
written verdict mot guilty" read the
clerk in a clear voice, and as the words
We're uttered all eyes were fastened on
the man who, for eight long days, has
sat and suffered.
CORBETT WAS DEEPLY MOVED.
Corbett seemed as if half stunned, and
of iDrV'G verdict
dawned upon him, he Strengthened up
and smiled in a sickly way. The prison
gray of his face gave way to a crimson
flush and as Attorney Donnelly WINS
pered to him to thank the jury, he slow
ly staggered to his feet and made an
almost inarticulate sound. A few min
utes later, however, he had resumed his
old self and with smile that SPOKE
volumes danced from juryman to friend
in an eagerness to shake hands and give
thanks for their interest in his behalf.
County Attorney Bigelow's motion to
discharge the prisoner, which followed
the announcement of the verdict, found
Corhett free, and accompanied by frlendS
he walked out of the court room TO the
elevator, the crowd in waiting parting IN
order to allow his egress. -,
Below his wife and three little chill
dren were in waiting and the meeting
was one that the few present VIII not
soon forget The wife fairly cried In her
joy, while the husband could only an
swer in an alternate caress and hug 10r
his wife and little ones.
POLES WERE PERTURBED.
ZIP stairs in the vicinity of the court
room. where the Mrozinski boys and
number of their friends held forth. the
announcement of the outcome was re-
ceived with mutterings and scowls, evil
dent displeasure being displayed. The
Polish language was used to convey
their thoughts, and the TRADE which fol-
lowed while unintelIigible to those
around, was sufficient in tone to show
that it's effect was felt.
The evidence, the finish of which came
with the closing of the morning session
yesterday, was unimportant save for the
story given by Corbett, who was called
to the stand to testify in his own behalf.
He. came forward slowly, ascended the
steps to the witness chair, and told his
story in the same way, at no time ex-
hibiting any nervousness.
CoRBETTs VERSION OF IT.
He admitted shooting Mrozinski. but
said that he did it because he believed
his own life was in danger.
THE gun was pointed straight at me"
said Corbett, land I hollered to him to
drop it, He covered me squarely with
the weapon, and on that fired. My gun
I rested on the bow of the boat and it
remained so until we reached st. Paul 1
never said a word, L was so overcome
The meeting with the Mrozinskis, the
securing Of the nets and his being In
formed by Edmunds of the dangerous
character of the men, was substantially
as told by the other wardens. His story
did not vary under cross-examination.
The concluding witnesses were William
H Mcdonald, Edward Siegert, of New
port, and George w. Walsh, who testi-
fed as to MroZinskrs bad character, and
their acquaintance with threats made by
the fishermen against game wardens
The afternoon was given over to the at
] torneys for the state and defense, argu-
ments pro and con being advanced. Mr..
Bigelow laid considerable stress on the
testimony of 'disinterested witnesses. and
the muddled condition of the testimony
as furnished by the game wardens Mr.
Donnelly confined his argument pr:n-l-
pally to the dangerous character of the
elder Mrozinski, and the fact that nearly
all the witnesses, including the son, had
testified that the old man had stood up
III his boat and pointed his weapon at
the men in the launch
Judge Brill charged the Jury that in
their deliberations they must take the
characters of the two men into consid-
| Grafton.