Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-27
is FREED
Verdict of Not Guilty Returned by
Jury in Murder
Case.
HsD BEEN OUT FOUR HOURS
Retiring at 10 After Receiving
Instructions Of the
Court.

| \ NtTuiCI OF not guilty was returned
| in the circuit court at o'clock this
afternoon in the case of John Findley,
tried for the murder of Arthur Brad
ley. of Moline. March z. 1908.
FindIey was overcome with JOY
when he heard the verdict. and hearth
| ~ thanked his counsel, the jurors and
| his friends who had been in attend
ance at the trial since the impaneling
of the jury was commenced Feb. 10.
He said he had been taught lesson
that would serve him for the remain
der of his life, attributing his trouble
wholly to drink. The selection of the
| jury occupied enc week, the Offering
| of testimony beginning last Monday.
On the Teassemoling Of the circuit
court this morning Judge Gest read
the instructions of the jury in the
John Findley murder case. States At
torney H. y. Weld having occupied
session with his closing argument.
verdict at 10 o'clock.
Instructions Were Lengthy.
The Instructions were lengthy and
YoluminoRs and. covered every phase
Of the case beth as to the law and the
various questions of fact involved.
On the part of the people the in7
structions were grouped in the fol-
lowing classes: Definition of the law
of homicide and the distinctions be-
tween murder. manslaughter and jus
tifiable or eXcusable homicide. The
law of self-defense. and that self-de-
Tense cannot be predicated upon any
state Of facts not putting the defend
ant in real or apparent danger. That
intOXication is no excuse for crime
committed under its influence. Gen
eral instructions upon salient princi-
pies of criminal law. and upon the
rights Of Bradley. after the shot was
fired by Findley at him, to pursue and.
arrest him.
The defense submitted large num-
Der Of instructions. which were most
~ of a general character. the court
holding the law. as claimed by the
states attorney. as to INVESTIGATION be-
ing no excuse for the act. Upon the
question of self-defense. the court
charged the jury that in order for
this plea to be availing the defendant
must be in real or apparent danger Of
death or great bodily injury at the
hands of deceased. ..- -.I
Reason for the Shooting.
The question of reasonable doubt
and the necessity for the proof i'm the
case satisfying the jury to this extent
before being justified in convicting
the defendant. was fully stated. The
presumption Of innocence with which
| the law clothes a man accused of
crime was forcibly presented Much
also was made Of the force and effect
of the character evidence as bearing
upon the probability whether the de-
PENDANT would likely be guilty of the
crime; and, on the other hand. that
of Bradley as probably furnishing n
reason for the act of shooting.
y series Of Instructions as~to the
right Of Bradley to arrest Findley and
take away his revolver was given. the
court holding that Bradley's rights
were no more than any other citizen.
However. after Findley fired the first
shot outside the saloon. unless Find
ley had been attacked by Bradley. the
latter was justified in pursuing Find
ley. and all the subsequent acts of
Findley were unlawful. As TO the ev-
idence of the policemen of statements
made by the defendant to them on
the night he was arrested, the jury
were instructed to consider them with
caution if the defendant was so in
toXicated that he did not know what
he was saying.