The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-27

Verdict If Acquittal Was Hoped For.
The keenest disappointment was felt
in the court room and in the great
crowd outside when the disagreement
was announced. Not since the Moli-
lneux ease has there been Sc much in
terest taken in a criminal trial in this
city and many of those present had hop
ed for a verdict Of acquittaL. The clos
ing OF the proceedings at this time. just
two days before Christmas added TO the
sensational interest in the girls fate
and the prospect of spending the holi-
day in prison undoubtedly accentuated
the girls agony when h heard the
words that she was not to be free.
Her father W h has been by her side
ever since the trial began and whose
tender care and devotion to her have
been the most touching feature OF the
trial, tried to comfort her, but his sad
dened face and mournful expression.
robbed the words he uttered Of force
and meaning as he said:
Don't worry little girl; it will come
out all right yet"
After her removal from the court
ROOM, Miss Patterson was taken to a
retiring oom and r~estoratives were
given e*her. She soon revived but
while passing over the bridge of signs
or her way to her cell in the tombs she
suffered second fainting spell from
which she recovered slowly. One in her
cell, Miss Patterson wept bitterly.
A Iombs missionary tried to comfort
her but she would not be comforted.
that maybe they believed 1 was that
kind Of a woman"
The missionary treasured her and she
became more cheerful.
The court did, not resume it's session
until after 1870 O'Clock. The jurors,
their faces showing deep lines as a re-
suit of their all night vigil, filed solemn
ly in and took their places behind the
rail-. Miss Patterson had not entered
the court room up to that time, but as
the jurors marched down the aisle her
father; half turning in his chair, az
ed intently upon their faces. AS he
turned back and fumbled nervously a
paper which lay upon the table his
hands shook as if with palsy and it
scenes apparent that he saw little to
arouse hope in the faces of the jurors.
A later Nan Patterson, gown
ed entirely in black and with a heavy
black veil coneealing her features,
walked with a firm, strong step to the
chair beside her father. AS she sat
down she placed n arm across her
fathers. shoulder. With the other she
raised her veil and kissed the old man
IN a very pretty, affectionate way.
She cried for hec father, but when he
was admitted to her cell did not inn
mediately recognize him. The father
wept in company with his daughter.
a Second Painting Spell.
After the prison physician had ad-
ministered stfmulants Miss Patterson
recovered some Of her former self pos
session.
DO o think" she asked the mis-
slonary, that the jury believed ME
guilty because I broke down and cried.
along toward the last, there. You re-
member after 1 had stood Mr.. Rand's
attack as long as / could, I just had tc
break down and cry, and I thought
Of the two, the father showed in a
far greater degree the strain under
which they had been for many hours
and for a time the girl turned COM
forter. There was scarcely a mo-
meGts, delay when the usual question
was presented to the jury. The fore
mar replied that no decision had been
reached.
Jury Sent Out Again.
Justice Davis said that under almost
any other circumstance he would dis
charge the jury at that point without
further delay, but this case he con-
sidered one of great Importance.
Much time had been consumed in the
trial and he felt that it was only fair
to he defendant and to-the state that
every effort should be made by this
jury to reach an agreement Of some
l-;nI go JJn would NOT 1Indnr anU cir
cumstances even suggest that any one
of the men holding an opinion which
he believed to be just. should change
that opinion, but at the same time he
believed it would be advisable for the
jurors to return to their room and
if necessary to review the evidence
of the case and to discuss or attempt
to decide points upon which their
contention was based. In reply the
foreman said:
"Your honor, we have conferred in
this matter through long hours with
out being able to approach any coin
cidenee of opinion. We have discuss
ed it from every possible standpoint
and do not require any instance re-
garding the evidence. There are some
of our number who seem absolutely
unamenable to argument or persua-
sion. It seems that there is little pos
sibility of our reaching a verdict
Justice Davis reply was: Il am
glad YOU understood the situation, but
1 am afraid | VIII have to ask you to
retire for a while longer"
Another Wait for the Verdict.
When Miss Patterson raised her vail,
her face was flushed and as she waited
for the final word of the jury the color
came and went in rapid succession
| Every m her eyes were fixed in
| tently upon the jurors. nut her gaze
was not returned. A deadly palor spread
| over her face when she bent toward her
| father. This evidence of weakness was
| apparent for only a moment, however.
| and from that time until a court officer
touched her on the shoulder she sat
bolt upright. her lips firmly compress
| ed, and gazing straight into the faces