The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-24
Jury Exonerates Him of the Kill
ing of Representative Rhodes
Clay at Mexico, Mo.
CHEERS GREET THE VERDICT.
Colonel Green Clay Is Bitterly
Disappointed, While Barnes's
Mother Breaks Down and
Weeps for Joy.
BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

.
Troy. No. Oct. g3.-Clarence A. Barnes
was acquitted to-day OF the charge Of
numbering Representative Rhodes Clay At
Mexico. No. IN August. ls'e.
The jury returned a verdict OF not
guilty at As O'Clock this afternoon after
being out forty-e!ght minutes The jurors
agreed on the first ballot.
\ tap on the turyroom door told that
the jurymen were anxious TO return the
verdict A path was made for the Jurors
/ through the center aisle OF the courtroom.
which was crowded almost to suffocation-
Foreman Horatio Humphrey handed the
verdict 20 Judge Shelton. who read:
I'VE the jury find the defendant not
guilty as charged"
Cheer after cheer greeted the decision
! So demonstratiye were the people in the
courtroom that Il was several minutes be
fore Judge Shelton restored order. The
Judge repr!manded the spectators severely
for their conduct
MOTHER wEEPS FOR JOY.
A sigh OF relief escaped Mrs. a. c.
Barnes and her daughter. Irma, mother
and sister OF the defendant. as the verdict
was read. Then they burst into tears.
Clarence Barnes. too. was happy. and
in the space OF a few minutes he had
shaken hands with perhaps fifty OF his
friends. who rushed TO congratulate him.
Barucss bride was not In the courtroom
at the time the verdict was returned
Neither was Representative Green Clay.
father OF the dead Representative
Young Mrs. Barnes became wrought up
10 such 4 pitch OF excitement by the ar
guments OF Assistant Attorney General
Jefries. who closed for the State. that she
could not stand the tension any longer and
went 70 the Avery House. where the YER
! dict was brought 20 her.
Colonel Clay walked up and down the
pavement in front Of the Courthouse dur
ing the time the jury was out. The YER
! diet reached him through one Of the at
torneys for the State. 1t is said It aC-
fected him greatly and vas a severe dis
appointment
ATTORNEYS ARGUE CASE.
Court convened at SIS O'clock Attorney
Edgar b. voolfolk opened the arguments
for the State. He delivered glowing
tribute TO the life Of the dead Repre-
sentative, which affected Colonel Clay 50
that he completely broke down and sobhed
like a child. The sight OF the venerable
Representative. with his long. flowing
white beard and his face buried IN his
hands. called for the sympathy OF every
one
Colonel Norton openly and unqualihedly
charged an attempt at fraud on the part
| OF some one Interested IN the prosecution
{ OF Barnes. He declared that holes were
cut IA Clay's clothes after he died.
Attorney =. L. Jess for the defense,
drew a parallel Of the parable OF Ruth and
Naomi. using the young bride as the re-
I incarnation u he biblical character. He
| told OF young Barnes being indicted on
his wedding day; Of his wishing TO post
| pone the Euptials because he thought his
| Indictment might blight her young life He
I told OF how she decided 70 marry: 20 stick
20 her fance through thick and thin.
trusting that a just trial would lift the
trouble that had come into their lives
HARDLY DRY EYE IN ROOM.
The speech was 50 pathetic that the en-
tire Barnss family sobbcd bitterly. in
cluding the defendant himself. and there
was hardly a dry eye in the crowded
one on the Jurors who sat In the back
row was kept busy brushing large tears
| from on his cheeks thr0ughout the speech
Attorney Edward Z. Yates for the State
| and Attorneys =. II. Cullen and Orlando
| Hit for the defense made strong speeches
At the close OF the arguments 2 tilt was
narrowly averted by the interference OF
| Colonel CI1y himself. who stepped be-
| tween Attorney r II. Norton. for the de-
| tense. and Attorney John D. Orear. for
'lS NoPton said tonight: John orear asked
/ me what I meant by charging fraud In
my argument I replied: I said some
one cut those holes N Gays clothes.
What are you gOing 10 do about itF
Colonel Clay stepped between US as
peacemaker. and said: There must be no
~ GEORGE W. oA1AILET.