The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-26
NOT GUILTY, IS The
VERDICT REACHED
Captain CornwaII Acquitted on
Enforcement Charge
THE JURY WAS UNANIMOUS
Verdict Reached Oh First Ballot After
Night Sesslon-Will Have to
Face Fourteen More
Indictments.

Bessemer, December 25.-(special. 1--WE,
the jury. find the defendant not guilty,
as charged in the Indictment
This was the verdict returned by the
jury in the case of the State VS.. t. j.
Cornwell charged with embezzle-
ment of $1,000, in connection with the
failure of the Bessemer Savings bank.
The case was in progress in the Bessemer
city court the whole of last week. After
thanking the jury for the services rem
dered. Judge Jackson discharged the
jurors.
Col. L. D. Godfrey, solicitor of the city
court. who has had charge of the prose-
cution announced tonight that hearings
in the other fourteen indictments against
Captain Cornwell, charging him with
embezzlement, would be set some
time in January.
After consuming all yne week the case
went to the jury yesterday afternoon at 4
o'clock. It Is understood that on the
first ballot the jury agreed that no i'm
mediate verdict could be reached. so they
notified the deputy sheriff that they
would want supper and beds. The Jurors
retired early and it was 7:30 o'clock this
morning when they announced that they
had reached an agreement.
Judge Jackson and the attorneys were
telephoned that a verdict had been
reached. Solicitor Godfrey representing
the state, and the Hon. ". K. Smith
representing the defendant, and Capt
Cornwell were present.
The jury filed in the court room at $3.50
10, .g4,a =
to Clerk Dudley, who read 1t in a slow
and measured tone. Solicitor Godfrey
made a motion that the jury be polled,
which showed that all voted for acquittal.
The case has created considerable in
terest in Bessemer, Captain Cornwell was
president of the Bessemer Savings bank
at the time it went to the wall in July,
1903. He fed to Central America shortly
after the announcement of the failure,
returning to Bessemer last winter. On
his arrival in Bessemer, bond was
promptly furnished before Captain Corn
we'll was taken into custody. Since his
return from Central America Captain
Cornwell has been engaged in the real
estate and insurance business here.
Fire on Second Avenue.
Tonight at 1880 o'clock fire was dis
covered in the store of the New York
Dry Goods company, 1915 Second avenue.
In a short time the entire stock of goods
VISA wrapped in flames and proved very
difficult for the fire department to handle.
The damage of the stock will exceed
$1,000, but the building escaped without
being much damaged.
When the fire department reached the
scene the men were compelled to break
in the front window in order to fight the
blaze effectively. Joe Spershark was
seriously injured on the head and face
by falling glass.
The New York store was the property
of I. Garry and N. S. Kartus and as
neither one of them can be reached to-
night the extent of the losses can not
be estimated. 1t is understood, however.
that the stock and building were in
sured.
The household goods of Mrs. Tony. who
rooms on the second floor of the building,
were badly damaged by being moved.
While the fire was in progress a North
Ressemer car ran over a line of hose on
Nineteenth street. cutting it in two. Con-
ductor Shropshire and Motoman Sanders,
who had charge of the car. We're arrested,
hut were released on bond for their APP
pearanee in police court tomorrow morn