Morris tribune., 1904-12-24
UNABLE TO RENDER VERDICT IN
PATTERSON MURDER CASE
ON THE FIRST DAY.
ALMOST A NERVOUS WRECK
ANXIETY OVER HER FATE PROVES
TOO GREAT FOR WOMAN
ACCUSED OF CRIME.

11:25 Thursday night, not having
reached a verdict. At II o'clock the
| announcement came from the jury
room that no decision had been ar
| rived at and Immediately following a
| statement that Judge Davis would give
| the jury another half hour before lock-
ing them up.
The hope of verdict was dispelled,
however, when a few minutes before
1870 Captain Lynch of the court
squad said that lit was all off, and the
jury would be locked up for the night.
Miss Patterson heard the news in
the "pen" and it was so unexpected
to her that she came near to collaps-
ing.
1t was understood that the jury
would continue consideration of the
case in the small jury room contain
ing only a few tables and chairs, and
the jurors will have no opportunity to
sleep unless they can nap in the small
chairs.
Almost Nervous Wreck.
AS soon as the jury was locked up
for the night Miss Patterson bade her
father a fearful farewell and was es-
corted from the pen in the court
building to her cell in the Tombs. The
girl who showed such courage through
the long trial is almost a nervous
wreck. The great Strength she former
ly evinced has failed and she repeat
edly exclaimed, 'Oh, how can those
men doubt my word"
There will be no opportunity of
hearing from the jury again until
10:30 Friday morning, the hour fixed
by the court for a report from the
twelve men who are to decide the fate
of the chorus girl.
Immediately after the announce
ment that the jury was locked UP for
the hight officers cleared the corri-
doris of the court building of scores of
newspaper men and attorneys who
had anXiously awaited news from the
jury. Murmurs of disappointment
were heard from the crowd, which
seemed convinced that the jury would
never reach decision.
The latest rumors from the jury
room was that three men were hold
ing out against nine who desired to
acquit the defendant. 1t was report
ed that the three jurors were at
odds as to the seriousness of the
crime. One Juror is said to be hold
ing out for conviction for murder in
the second degree and two others are
reported to favor manslaughter in the
second degree.
Holding Out for Conviction.
One rumOr was so definite that it
named a juror who had asked if he
might fire the revolver as the man who
is holding out for the conviction of
Miss Patterson of murder in the Sec
ond degree.
Thursdays proceedings consisted of
the charge to the jury by Justice
Davis, lasting something over an hour
He outlined the law and then sent the
jury away. The judge adjourned his
court late in the afternoon, saying
that if a verdict was reached before
II o'clock he would return to the
building.
Miss Nan Patterson, the former
show girl, spent an anxious evening in
the criminal courts building awaiting
the result of the deliberations of the
twelve men who shortly after noon
were sent to jury room to decide
whether she should be branded as the
woman who fired the shot that killed
Caesar Young, or liberated to join her
family
She had expected speedy verdict,
and had even packed her belongings
and left them in a cell which has been
her home for several months, but
evening came and the jury went to 1
dinner, and returned to it's delibera-
tions with no sign of what the verdict |
would be.
The suspense of the early days of |
the trial when Prosecutor Rand put |
witness after witness on the stand to |
complete chain of circumstantial |
evidence against her, returned, al |!
though outwardly Miss Patterson
seemed to maintain the same quiet |
demeanor that has characterized her
from the beginning.
Various Rumors AfIoat.
AS the afternoon passed into even
ng, various rumors were spread about
he criminal courts building as to do
ngs in the jury room. The fact that
,ne of the jurors, after the charge of
Judge Davis, asked that he might take
he revolver with which Young was
killed to the jury room, gave rise to
stories that the jurymen were spend
ng much time in experiments. But
Ill these rumors were but idle talk II
apparently, for not an authentic hint
cached the crowds congregated in
nd about the criminal courts build
ng as to what was actually taking
lace.
The great interest which the trial
f Nan Patterson has attracted was [
ever evidenced in a more pronounc-
d way than Thursday afternoon and (
vening. Excluded from the corri- y
ors of the court building several
core of persons stood outside the \
lain entrance in the slush and snow
nd cold at night mating For ,,rond | n