Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-05
Statement of a Juryman.

A member of the Patterson jury is quoted
as making the following statement in the
New York American today:
1--WE stood to for Mans acquittal.
Eight of us would never have convicted
the defendant of the offense charged in any
one of the four degrees, and We gained in
strength from the first to the final ballot.
Murder in the first degree was never
considered for an instant by the members
of the jury.
Those that remained firm to the propo-
sition of Mans guilt desired no severer
verdict than manslaughter in the second
degree.
NO member of the jury believed that
Caesar Young shot himself Every mem
Der of the jury did believe that Nan Pat
terson shot Young through an accidental
bluff
The powCer marks on Caesar Young's
fingers were generally credited to his at
tempt to push away the pistol that Nan had
drawn from her pocket TO make her threat.
Our ballots We're based entirely upon the
facts produced in the evidence, and the
ora torical efforts of Messrs. Levy and Rand
made no impression upon any one of US.
THE first ballot stood seven for acquittall
to five for conviction.
The First Ballot.
Shortly after the result of the first bal
lot announced one of the jurors said:
OF course, there was no murder in the
first degree, but 1 shall always remain con-
vince1 that the defendant committed man
slaughter
Your position is hopeless one, said
the foreman, for L can never be brought
to believe that the accused is guilty of the
crime charged
we then had a general discussion, which
finally resulted in the second ballot being
taken at $50 o'clock, just prior to our go
ing to dinner.
The second ballot stood eight to acQuittal
to four for conviction.
After dinner two more ballots were
taken III quick succession, with the result
still standing to 4.
AT this point of deliberations Juror
No. 3, Mr.. Goldstone suggested that the
coat and vest of Caesar Young and the
volver that caused his DEATH be produced.
This was agreed to.
Mr.. Goldstone, Mr.. Murphy and Mr.
Lueder then took turns at trying on the
clothes of the dead man, and with other
jurors experimental with the revolver to
see whether or not he might have commit
ted suicide.
LAS result of the various tests it was
agreed that it was perfectly possible for
Young to nave committed suicide
Interchangeable Views.
''As the hours approached midnight, and
we were becoming greatly fatigued, and
after three more ballots had been taken
which resulted in the same vote of s to A.
one of the jurors said: move that some
expression be given as to whether any mem
ber of this jury intends to change his vote
in the slightest degree
FINALLY, after some further discussion
Mr.. Aldrich said he convinced that the
jury would not change it's Individual views,
and suggested, if there was no objection,
that Recorder Goff should be informed of
the disagreement. This was unanimously
agreed to.
Il then told the jury that personally 1
was convinced Nan Patterson was innocent
and that no matter how long l stayed out
| would continue to hold that opinion.
Il absolutely will never vote for any de-
gree of conviction / could never face my
friends again If l voted for the conviction
of the prosecution
MY remarks were entirely agreed with
by the other seven members standing out
for acquittal while the spokesman of those
desiring verdict of guilty expressed him
self as being equally determined in his posi-
ton. His remarks were voiced by the other
three demanding an adverse verdict
a. If such is the case, then said Foreman
Aldrich, it is foolish for us to deliberate
longer Then he finally said: 1T appears,
gentlemen, that we have finished our de-
liberations. Our duty is performed. Come,
we will report our disagreement to Recorder
Goff'"
Da;I NorIor