Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-04-27

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Such is the verdict of the twelve
men constituting the jury that tried
the Lord murder case. The argu
ment in the case was concluded last
night and the jury was given in
charge of the Sheriff until this morn
ing, when the case was turned over to
them.
After court convened Saturday
the written court instructions were
given to the jury and they retired to
the jury room at 8 :35 O'Clock.
At 10 40 O'Clock it was announced
that they had agreed upon verdict
and the jurors were brought into the
court room. AS the jurors filed into
the jury box there was an anxious ex-
preston ON the countenances of the
vast crowd that filled the court room.
The twitching eye of the accused
murderer followed every move of each
juror as he filed into the box. The
most critical moment in his life had
arrived. In moment he was to know
whether he was to be hanged, i'm
prisoned or turned out to breathe the
breath of free man once more. His
life and liberty depended upon the
few words embodied in that verdict.
No wonder he trembled as he awaited
that anxious moment that seemed al
most like an hour.
The jury seated, hush fell upon
the spectators and with abated breath
the answer of the jury TO the ques-
tion of the clerk as to whether they
had reached a.verdict was awaited.
We have, came the reply and the
most critical moment in the whole
case had arrived.
| Then the clerk took the paper hand
ed him by the foreman and sulemly
and slowly read the verdict: We
the jury find the. defendant not gull
| ty.
! A demonstration was started in the
gallery, but the noise was soon quell-
ed, Judge Faulkner with his usual
foresight having announced that, no
matter what be the verdict. no dem
onstration wouldsbe tolerated.
The prisoner was then told that he
was free and he drew one long, deep
breath of free air-the first free
breath he has drawn since the ninth
of last December.
A MULE was entered by the Prose
cutting Attorney i'll the case against
the defendants brother, Edgar Lord,
who was charged with being an ac-
cessory in the crime and he was set at
liberty along with his brother
They both walked out of the Court
House free men.
The verdict of the jury seems to
have met with the general approval of
the people. The State made hard
and praiseworthy fight for the con-
viction OF the prisoner, but public sem
timent was on the other side and the
prosecution had hard road to travel.
The fight made by the defense for
the acquittal of the prisoner was an
impressive and effective one. Every
inch of ground was holly contested
| by both sides from start to finish.
With the result that those who fought
on the one side have the satisfaction
OF knowing that they accomplished
that which thew fought for and those
| who fought ON the other side have the
satisfaction of knowing that they did
their duty.
Friday Morning.
Court began in!the morning at 9 30
O'Clock. The concluding evidence in
the case was this morning given be-
fore the jury.
Charles Seibert testified that he and
Hess were in the Continental bar the
night before the shooting and that
they came out of the bar into the
office and saw Lord in there. He
said he didn't think Lord saw Hess at
all
Charles Blake, the hveryman said
they hadn t repaired any harness be-
tween the 10th of December and 10
days ago. At that time they made n
general repair of the harness and
found several traces that were broken
and one that corresponded to the one
; des :ribed by the two Lords
Peter Blake was put on the stand to
testify as to what John Hess said to
him yesterday, but court wouldn t
admit his testimony,
nhin nnnnlnhnd Tho tno imam H., 4hn