The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-29
JOHN P. KOHN NOT GUILTY Former Bank Cashier Ac- quilted in City Court. BILLING CASE MOL CROSSED This Was First official Act of
 Solicitor bent. When Verdict Was Announced Tears Came Into Eyes of Young City
 Alderman and Former
 Business Associate.

We the jury nnd the defendant not guilty
 This was the verdict handed the Clerk of the Montgomery City Court at 4:3O o'clock yesterday afternoon by Foreman J. E. Worswick of the jury. which had 1 for two days listened to testimony in the case against John P. Kohn, Montgom- cry City Alderman. and well known young ! business man. charged with false pre- lenses.
 Mir. Kohn was Cashier of the banking house of Josiah Morris and Co. at the time of its failure and the case grew out of the purchase by the bank. just before its failure of County bonds amounting to Aoo.ooo which the County lost.
 The trial of the case has been in prog ress in the City Court since Tuesday morning and attracted many spectators te the court room.
 When the verdict of the jury was read there was . ripple of approval in the court room. Tears came into the eyes of Mir. Kohn. who was accompanied by his brother. Frank D. Kohn. As friends crowded about Mir. Kohn. and shook his hand in congratulation the young man smiled through his tears
 At the announcement of the verdict F. M. Billing manager of the bank. who was jointly indicted with Mir. Kohn. cried aloud and his form quivered, so great was his joy that himself and his former bus iness associate had been exoneratsa.
 It was understood that if Mir Kehn was AC0lltttad a hn in the case against MT. Billing and thIs was done at the request of Solicitor Dent who qualified yesterday.
 When the court convened at s:3o o'clock yesterday morning the lawyers fer MT. kohn began examining witnesses for the defendant. Thomas H. Carr, W. M Hud- son. James Mcintyre and Captain J. N. Falkner. well known citisens of Ment- somery. tsstihed to the good character of Mir. Kohn.
 Shortly after 10 o'clock counsel for MT. Kohn announced that the defense would rest and there was a conference between the lawyers concerning the time to he consumed in argument. It was finally agreed that one hour and q half should be used by lawyers on either side and that four speeches should be made-two for the prosecution and two for the de- fense.
 For three hours the lawyers addressed the jury and the spectators were thrilled by their efoquence.
 It was 2:3o o'clock when Judge W. H. Thomas completed his charge to the fury. He told the jurors to go to their dinner before considering their verdict and the court was adjourned until { o'clock.
 When the court reconvened another ease was taken up. Solicitor Dent had not presented himself in the court room and Judge Thomas appointed W. W. Pear son Special Solicitor until Mir. Dent ap- peared.
 At 4:3o o'clock the jury in the Kohn case filed into the court room and the verdict was announced. The jurers were imms- diately discharged.
 Later in the afternoon Solicitor Dent who had qualified for his new offics. ap- peared in the court room and was pre- scented to the court. His first official act was to noi prosse the case against Mir. Billing.
 MT. Dent will take up his duties as so- licitor of the court this morning.
 The case against Maggie Jackson. charged with grand larceny, was centin- ued until today.