Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-13
Discharged Friday on Her
Own Reeognizance.
District Atty. jerome Decides
She Cannot Be Convicted.
satisfied With Raat's Eftots..1 Talks Of Mis-.
carriage Of Justice.

New York. May 12.-After more than
II months in prison and three mis-tri-
aus, oiI the cnHrge OF numbering Gaze
sar Young, Nan Patterson walked
from the Tombs. today, free woman.
AS she left the great building which
mas been her home since few DAYS
after Young was found dying i'm a cab
In lower New York. 1000 people greeted
her with cheers. for the news that Dis
trict Attorney Jerome would move for
her dismissal from custody had snread
throughout the vicinity of the prison
and court house. The accused girl had
but few seconds to see and hear the
demonstration before she was whisked
away in cab with her attorney. Abb
ram Levy.
The move to discharge Nan Patter-
son came rather unexpectedly to the
public. 1t WAS an hour or more before
noon when District Attorney Jerome
appeared before Recorder Golf, in spec
ial sessions. and announced that he de-
sired to move the discharge of the for
mer chorus girl. on her own recognize
anCe.
Not the least interesting Of the days
events was the reunion in freedom of
the former actress with her sister. Mrs.
J. Morgan Smith. and her brother-in-
law. j. Morgan Smith both Of whom
were discharged by Justice Cowing in
the court of general sessions They had
been held on charges of conspiracy in
connection with the Patterson case.
Smith had been held also for contempt
of court. in failing to obey n subpoena
rs witness before the grand jury. He
was fined $3.50 on this charge Then
came a surprise. for Nan Patterson
herself paid the fine out of a 5000
check which had been given her by a
friendly newspaper.
District Attorney Jerome announced
mis- decision to free Nan Patterson in
Il speech in the course Of which he
declared that during two of the trials
of the girl. all the evidence in the pos
session CT the district attorneys office
had been presented to the court and
that on both occasions there had been
4 disagreement. He said he did not
believe that in time. another trial
would not result in anything but n dis
agreement. He declared that he had
proof that the members Of the last
jury had agreed that ]. Morgan Smith
mad bought the revolver: that Nan
Patterson carried it in the cab and
that Caesar" Young did not commit
suicide. He took occasion to refute the
published reports as to the cost of the
proceedings. Following this line he de-
clared that the newspapers had made
gross Misrepresentation" and then
he said:
This case has caused one more step
in this country toward trial by news
paper rather than trial by jury. l 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 seri-
Gus miscarriage Of justice. Everything
that the prosecution has done has my
cordial and hearty appreciation. fear
nothing for myself or my assistants
My assistant rightly. bravely and hon
estly went forward with my entire ap-
probation"
The district attorney continued with
the motion that Nan Patterson be dis |
charged on her own recOgnizance. 1t
was then that Miss Patterson was sent
for and as Il court official met her in |
in her cell. he said: Come on. Nan, it's |
all right; you are going to be free"
Recorder Golf, the venerable judge, |
who has tried so many criminal cases. !
met the eyes Of the girl as she walked
slowly into the court room and took
the same seat which she occupied dur |
ing the trying days of her last trial.
''Nan Patterson" he said slowly. |
"the district attorney has seen fit to
recommend your discharge. feel |
bound to say fully coincide in the de- |
cisiOn. There Is nothing / can say in |
this case that has not already been |
said. but lei me entreat you in your |
future life TO remember the terrible or |
deal through which you have passed |
and to permit every action Of your life |
to be guided by that remembrance. |
CONTINUED on Page Three.)