Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-18
NO CHANCE TO CONVICT her
District Attorney jerome said He Hal
Presented All the Evidence He I'm.
-Ncwspapers Have Cnuscd a
Miscarriage Of Justice-Nnn
Patterson Paid smiths Fine.

Patterson walked from The Tombs to-day
a free woman. AS she left the building
which has been her home since a few
days after Young was found dying in A
cab in lower New York 1000 persons
greeted her with cheers for the news that
District Attorney jerome would move for
her dismissal from custody had spread
rapidly. But tho accused girl had but a
few seconds to see and hear the demon
stration before she was whisked away in
a cab with her attorney, Braham Levy.
The move to discharge Nan Patterson
came rather unexpectedly to the public
1t was an hour or more before noon when
District Attorny jerome appeared before
Recorder Cot in special sessions and an
nounced that he desired to NOV the dis
charge of the former chorus girl on her
own recognizance.
Not the least interesting Of the days
events was the reunion in freedom of tho
formr Florodora girl with her sister, Mrs.
J. Morgan Smith, and her brothcr-n-law.
j. Morgan Smith. both Of whom were dis
charged by Justice Cowng in the court
of general sessions after having been held
on charges OF conspiracy in connection
with the case. Smith was also held for
contempt of court in failing to obey a
subpoena to appear as a witness before
the grand jury He was fined $3.50 on this
charge and released. Nan Patterson her
self paid the fine out of a $500 check.
which had been given her by a friendly
newspaper.
District Attorney jerome asked the
court to free Nan Patterson in
speech. in the course OF which he de-
clared that during two of the trials of
the girl all the evidence in the possess
sion of the district attorneys office
had been presented to tho court and
that in both cases there had been a
disagreement. He said he did not be-
licve that at this time lin this country
another trial would result in anything
else than a disagreement" 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. that
Nan Patterson carried it in the cab and
that Caesar" Young did not commit
suicide. He took occasion to refute
published reports as to the cost OF the
trials. Following this line he declared
that the newspapers had made gross
misrepresentations,' and then said
This case caused one more step in
this country toward trial by news
paper rather than trial by jury. ] do
not refer to those papers which have
merely reported the proceedings, but
to those that in their editorial rooms
have labored to arouse sympathy for
the prisoner with the result of a SER
ious miscarriage Of justice. Every
thing that the prosecution has done |
had my cordial and hearty approba-
ton. ! fear nothing for myself or my
assistants. My assistant did rightly.
bravely, honestly and went forward
with my entire and perfect approba-
ton"
He then concluded with the motion that |
Nan Patterson be discharged on her own |
iccognizancc. 1t was then that Miss
Patterson was sent for and as q court
officer met her in her cell he said.
Come on. Nan, it is all right; you are
going to bc free
When the girl arrived in tho court |
room Recorder Gon addressed her.
"Nan Patterson" he said slowly, ''tho |
district attorney has seen fit to recon- |
mend your discharge. feel bound to |
say fully coincide in the decision. There |
is nothing I can say in this case that has |
not already been said. but let ne ontreat |
YOU in your future life to remember the |
terrible ordeal through which you have |
passed and to permit every action of |
your life to be guided by that remem-
Lrance Good bye and the recorder |
bowed his head as he uttered the final |
word and closed the case.
4 moment later the girl was shaking |
hands with her counsel. Then she walked |
steadily fror, the court tC find herself |
I,Ar fatl CT tS,tI
door Tho crowds in the corridor cheer
ed and the police let them have their
way.
AS she reached the street door the dem
onstration was taken up by throng out
side. Hurrying through the crowd she
took her place in a cab. smiling and
nodding.
AS the cab started down town to the
Offices of her counsel mounted police
surrounded 1t and kept back the increas-
ing crowd which was threatening one of |
the most remarkable emonstrations ever
seen at The Tombs.
In Mr.. I.cvy's offices Miss Patterson
briefly expressed her thanks to her coun-
sci. announced to the newspaper men she
was going to her mother in Washington
and was driven to the st. Paul Hotel
Then she met her sister and they took
an automobile ride. J. Morgan Smith
joined the two later and the trio dined
together.
Miss Patterson took a late train for
Washington tonight.
WILL NOT GO ON THE STAGE.
At the st. Paul Hotel Nan Patterson
said: MY one idea Is to get to Washing
ton and home as quickly as possible and
take a good long rest"
''Have you considered any offers to 60
on the stage eventually" was asked?
mo. l have not" ] shall not go upon
the stage"
G. ]. stoessel. a nephew of the Russian
commander. who SO bravely defended
Port Arthur, ID a truck farmer near Pass
Miss. lie was born in New