Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-23
WAITING FOR THE VERDICT.
Streets Around Court House Blocked by
the Crowds


court house increased until the streets We're
blocked and the corridors within the build
ing were so jammed that no less than half
a dozen police reserves were forced to clear
out the building.
At 1870, the hour which had been set for
the opening of court, word came by tele-
phone that Justice Davis was delayed and
that he would not reach the court house
until II 80. In the meantime the police
stationed about the court house corri-
doris had serious difficulty in holding in
check the crowds clamoring for admission
The courts order that spectators be rigidly
excluded from the court room was carried
out almost to the letter. Half hundred
persons occupied seats in the court room.
Among them We're only three women.
Promptly at II 80 John Randolph Patter-
SON the prisoners father came in and took
a seat at the counsels table.
Jurors Showed Effects of Vigil.
No word had been received from Justice
Davis to that time. however, and there fol-
lowed another wait of ten minutes before
stir indicated that the court was about
to resume It's sessions. A moment later the
Jurors. their faces showing deep lines as a
result of their all-night vigil, filed solemnly
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, gazed 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
i seemed apparent that he saw little toarouse
| hope in the faces of the jurors. A moment
| later Nan Patterson, gowned entirely IN
| black and with heavy black veil conceal
| ing her features, walked with a firm, strong
| step to the chair beside her father. AS she
| sat down she placed one arm across her
! fathers shoulder. With the other she raised
| her veil and kissed the old man IN very
pretty, affectionate way.
Father Showed the Strain.
OF the two, the father showed in far
| greater degree the strain under which they
| had been for many hours and for time the
| girl turned comforter. There was scarcely
| a moments delay when the usual question
| was put to the jury. The foreman replled
| that no decision had been reached.
| Justice Davis said that under almost any
| other circumstances he would discharge the
| Jury at that point without further delay,
| but this case he considered one OF great
| Importance Much time had been consumed
| in the trial and he felt that 1t was only
| fair to the defendant and to the state tnat
every effort should be made by this jury
| to reach an agreement of some KIND lie
| would not under any circumstances 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 1t would be advisable foi
| the Jurors to return to their room. and ii
! necessary TO review the evidence of the case
| and to discuss attempt to decide points
| upon which their contention was based
jury Did Not Need Instructions.
Foreman Harmer of the jury, in his
statement to Justice Davis. said: "Youl
honor. we have conferred in this matter
through long hours without being able te
| approach any coincidence of opinion. We
have discussed it from every possible stand
| point and do not require any instructions
| regarding the evidence. There are some
| of our number who seem absolutely un
amenable to argument or persuasion: II
seems that there Is little possibility or oul
| reaching verdict
| Justice Davis reply was: Il am glac
| YOU understand the situation, but l an
| afraid l will have to ask you to retire fol
| while longer
Impossible Agreement.
In reply the foreman said that he was
convinced that an agreement was impossi
| BILE All the evidence in the case had beer
| carefully considered and thoroughly dis
| cussed and he was convinced that the opin
ions of the jurors had been firmly fixed.
He added that the jurors decided to dt
| everything in their power to reach an agree
ment, and upon the suggestion of the judge
| they would retire and give the matter fur
! ther consideration but at the same time
| he was certain that 1t would be fruitless
| task.
SWhen Miss Patterson raised her veil hel
| face was flushed, and as she waited for TIT
| final word of the jury the color came an(
| went in rapid succession. Every moment
her eyes were fixed intently upon the 1u
rors but her gaze was not returned.
A deadly pallor spread over her face wheI
she bent toward her father. This evidences
OF weakness was apparent for only a mo
ment, however, and from that time until {
| court official touched her on the shoulde
| she sat bolt upright. her lips firmly com
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