The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-13
Had Been in Jail for Eleven
Months Charged With Mur-
der Of Caesar Young
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
ASKED FOR RELEASE
Newspapers Were Severely Criticised
BY Jerome, Who Said They Had
Misrepresented Things
Grossly During Trials.

New York, May 12.-After more than
eleven months In prison and three mis-
trials ON the charge of numbering Caesar
| Young, Nan Patterson walked from the
Tombs today a free woman. As she left
the great building which has been her
home since a few days after Young was
found dying in a cab in lower New York,
two thousand people greeted her with
cheers, for the news that District Attor-
ney Jerome would move for her dismiss
sal from custody had spread throughout
| the vicinity of the court house But the
accused girl had but a few seconds to
see and hear the demonstration before she
was whisked away in cab with her at
torney, Abraham Levy. She left for her
home in Washington tonight.
The move to discharge Nan Patterson
came rather unexpectedly to the public.
1t was an hour or SO before noon when
District Attorney Jerome appeared before
Recorder Gon in special sessions. and
announced that he desired to move the
discharge of the former chorus girl with
out bail and on her own recognizance.
Followed Three Trials.
This announcement followed three trials
for murder. The second and third of these
| trals-the latter concluded but few
days ago-resulted in disagreements; ths
first In the discharge of the jury because
of illness of a juror before the case had
been concluded.
Not the least interesting Of the days
events, and perhaps the great dramatic
climax to the troubles of the former
'Florodora" girl was the reunion in
freedom with her sister, Mrs. j. Morgan
Smith, and her brother-in-law, }. Morgan
Smith both Of whom were discharged by
Justice Cowing in the court ofNseneral
sessions. after being held on charges of
conspiracy in connection with the Pat
terson case. Smith was also held for con-
tempt of court In failing to obey a sub
poenae as a witness at the first trial. He
was fined $50 and released on this charge.
Then came the surprise, for Nan Patter-
son paid the fine out of a $500 check
which had been given her by a friendly
| newspaper man.
jerome Made Speech.
District Attorney jerome announced his
| intention TO free Nan Patterson In
speech in the course OF which he declared
tbat during two Of the trials of the
girl all the evidence in the possession OF
| the district attorneys oitice had Deeh
presented to the court and that In both
| cases there had been = disagreement. lie
saiC he did not believe that that at this
time in the county another trial would re-
suit In anything else than disagree
ment" Then he declared that during the
last trial he had information that the
| members of the Jury had agreed that j.
Morgan Smith had bought the revolver,
| teat Nan Patterson carried 1t In the cab,
| and that Caesar Young did not commit
| suicide He took occasion to retute pub
rahed reports as TO the cost OF the pro-
| ceedngs Following this line he declared
| that the newspapers had made gross
misrepresentations' and then said;
This case has caused one more step
| I'm this county toward trial by newspaper.
| rather than trial by jury. l do not refer
! to those papers which have merely re-
| rorted the proceedings, but 10 those which
| iit their editorial rooms have labored TO
arouse sympathy for the prisoner with
Ire result of serious miscarriage of
| Justice Everything that the prosecution
! has done had my cordial and hearty APP
| pI obation. | fear nothing for myself or
! my assistants My assistants did every
| thing bravely honestly and went forward
with my entire and perfect APPRECIATION
| He concluded with the motion that Nan
| Patterson be discharged on her own
recognizanee 1t was then that Miss Pat
| terson was sent for and as a court Of
| fcer met her in her cell, he said:
Come out Nan. 1t Is all right; you
are going free"
Father Thanked God.
AS Miss Patterson left the criminal court
room. she was met at the threshold by
her father. who threw his arms around
her and exclaimed THANK God, my
daughter"
Miss Patterson when she came into
the court was smiling gaily but as Re-
| ho,- fhr faur
came into her eyes and before he con-
cluded she was weeping. The recorder
spoke with a kindly note in his voice
which seemed to affect her very much-
He said:
"The district attorney has seen fit TO
recommend your discharge. l fully CO.
incide with him. and believe the interests
of justice viii be fully subserved by grant
| ing this motion.
"There have been two trials and in each
Of them the jury failed to agree. These
| two trials must have been terrible ordeals
to you.
There IS nothing can add in this case
that has not already been said but let
me entreat you in all your future life
| To remember the terrible experience
! through which you have Just passed and
to permit every action of your life here
! after to be guided by that experience
| fell sure that you will do so: that you
will remember your ordeal
/ Saw Newspaper Men.
! AT the ST. Paul Nan Patterson received
| a number OF newspaper photographers
| and sketch artists. who wished TO have
n good portrait of her. She said the news
! papers had treated her so well that she
| could not refuse when they asked the
| privilege 10 photograph her 1t was her
| desire to go to Washington at once. She
|
! fcontInued on Eighth Pagel