The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-15
JURY OUT IS MlNUTES1.

Judge PEBBLES: From the Evidence
Before You, ! Think Your Verdict
Was Eminently Propsr'--0ol. Argos
Concluding Speech Yesterday Morn
ing,
Not guilty. were the words with
which E. P. Wigs, foreman of the jury
that tried the Haywood case, ended the
long trial at exactly quarter to one
O'Clock yesterday. And as the clerk polled
the jury, the answers came distinctly,
Not guilty." not guilty"
Ernest Haywood, according to the court
rules, received the verdict standing. AS
he waited for the words that were fraught
with such import to him his face looked
old, drawn, haggard and gray; and it did
not visibly change when the verdict came.
But in a few minutes he was smilingiy
responding to words of congratulation.
Several of his counsel leaned over and
reached for his hand as soon as Fore
man Wigs had spoken the vital words.
Meantime Judge PEBBLES was address
ing the jury. Here is what he said
Gentlemen of the jury, the court feels
that it would be ,derelict in its duty IN
discharging you without thanking you
for your patient attention given to the
evidence and the many speeches of coun-
sell and the patient, faithful discharge
of your duty. / know there has been a
good deal of public opinion about this
case and a great deal said about It,
but public opinion Is sometimes, and very
frequently, erroneous. l say to you Ill
your behalf, that l do not see how you
could have done otherwise upon the evl-
dence before you. Whether there is any
thing behind this evidence or not Is not
for you or the court to say. From the
evidence before you, think your verdict
was cminently proper. For some cause
OF other, unknown to you and unknown
to me, on the evening of the 21st of Feb
ruary, 1908, Mr. Ludlow Skinner, reputei
to be one of the beat G.sd most peace
full of men in all the land, saw fit to
commit an assault upon Mr.. Haywood,
and, so far as the court can see, with
cut any provocation. That assault re-
suited in his death, and that is to be
deplored; but the court thinks that you
have discharged your duty and found
exactly the verdict which the court would
have found if l. had been in your place
You are disch,.rged and can prove your
attendance.
Then Mr. Haywoods friends shook his
hand warmly, and he shook hands with
each one of the jurymen. About this
time it was seen that tears stood in his
eyes. All of his three brothers were
also visibly moved.
The jury was out exactly fifteen min
utes. Judge PEBBLES had concluded his
charge by half-past twelve O'Clock, and
at quarter to one the jury filed back
to their seats. Mr.. Haywood had left
the court room, as had several of the
attorneys. The defendant was sent for
in hurry, and the word was passed that
the jury was coming in. A number OF
people rushed back into the almost de-
serted court room, and lined up against
the bar. The Judge ordered every one
to sit down, and commanded the sheriff
to station deputies throughout the room
and arrest anyone making any demon
stration whatever of approval or disap-
proval of the verdict of the jury. In a
minute Or two Mr.. Haywood came in, and
then, in response to the questions of Dep
uty Clerk of the Court Vitruvius Roys-
ter. came the verdict. And so ended the
long trial, that had lasted just thirteen
days and half
JUDGE PEBBLES CHARGE.
The following is the text Of Judge
PEBBLES charge to the jury:
Il congratulate you. gentlemen of the
jury, that we are nearing the end of I;
long and tedious trial. After hearing tn,
evidence of exactly two hundred witness
es and the speeches of twelve lawyers,
l know you must be tired, and l will not
tax your patience to read over to you
over one thousand pages Of evidence un-
less the State or the defendant shall re-
quest it. The evidence has been gone
over so frequently and so thoroughly and
ably argued by counsel on both sides,
that a reading of it by me would be of
little advantage to you. Before proceed
irs TO give you the law bearing upon
this case. feel it my duty to call your
attention to some irrelevant matters that
have been urged upon you, and ask you
to disregard them in making up your YER
duct. desire to say to you that the
safety OF your homes are in nowisc de-
pendent upon your verdict in this case.
nor is the stability of any temple, either
of justice or otherwise. dependent upon
1T. and 1T will have no tendency whatevec
to create or suppress anarchy Whac
motive the counsel for the State who
first addressed you had in making such
suggestions. it is not for me to determine.
but 1t is my duty to tell you that it was
wrong aud that it would be doubly wrong