The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-26
Verdict So Popular that a Crowd of
Prospective Rioters Was Turned
Into q Cheering Throng.
DROVE AWAY WITH HER BOY
AMID THE SHOUTS OF FRIENDS WHO
FILLED THE COURTYARD.
Close of n Sensational Trial I'm Ger
many which Cost the State
About 100000.

BERLIN, Nov. 25-The Countess Isabella
Kwilecki, charged with presenting false
heir to an estate at Wroblewo, province
of Posen, who has been on trial here since
Oct. 26, was acquitted.
The countess. during the closing argu-
ments, sat unmoved in the prisoners in
closure, occasionally examining the faces
of the jurors through lorgnette or glanc-
ing through the window at the gathering
crowds of her Polish countrymen, who as
sembled in the neighborhood of the court
house with the design of making a po-
litical demonstration if she should be con-
victed. Race feeling has been a notable
feature of the trial, as the 30. 900 Poles resi-
dent in Berlin never forget an opportun-
ity to protest against Prussian justice.
The Polish newspapers asserted that If the
countess was convicted it would be caused
by race partiality. The authorities. ex-
pecting rioting should the result be a con-
viction, filled the court and adjacent
squares with police. The tension was ex-
treme. especially when the jury retired and
remained out more than three hours, an
unusual time for a German jury, since the
majority decides. The announcement Of
the verdict turned the prospective rioters
into cheering, joyful crowd. The countess
and the boy, who is now heir to one OF the
finest estates In Prussian Poland, drove In
the countesss own carriage With her nus
band to their town house.
Before charging the jury the Judge asked
the prisoner II she had anything TO say.
The countess answered calmly and reso-
lutely. II am innocent; / have nothing
more to say" Count Hector Kwilecki,
who, as next of kin, had contested the
legitimacy of the countesss son, and his
father remained in the courtroom until the
| jury retired, but quietly withdrew before
| the verdict was rendered, as they antlci-
| pated an acquittal The countess heard the
verdict calmly, gazing through her lorg-
| nette at the judges without the movement
/ of muscle or the slightest sign OF express
| sion.
Those who had gathered in the court
room to hear the verdict repeatedly
shouted Bravo when the foreman OF the the
! judge that they found the accused not
| guilty. At this demonstration the judge
| threatened to clear the room.
Before quitting the courtroom the count
| ess waved her handkerchief towards the
| galleries, where her friends were sitting.
and the count threw kisses to the wit
emerged from the courtyard upon the street
| an enormous crowd which had gathered
| greeted her ladyship most enthusiastically.
the leading States attorney, has been
! transferred to Elberfeld, which is under
stood reproof for him for his declara-
| ti0n In MS speech 10 the jury tnat YER
| dict Of acquittal would give its death blow
| to trial by jury in Germany.
| 1t is estimated that the cost of the trial
will be from $4,000 to 100000 which the
| state will bear
Count Misjislaw Kwilecki, a member of
the Prussian House c. Lords and his son,
| Count Hector Kwilecki. a member of the
| Reichstag, contested, as next of kin, the
| legitimacy of the countess's son about two
| years previous to her arrest in the present
| proceedings on Jan. % last, but after a SEN
| sational trial at Posen she was acquitted
| The prosecuting attorney, however, con-
J tinued his Investigations. He obtained
!, fresh testimony through a police examina-
i ton of q woman who bore a child at the
time the son of the countess was said To
have been born, and the rearrest of the
countess followed. The estate at Wroblewo
| consists Of 10000 acres and has a yearly
| rental roll totaling $4,000.