The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1907-05-16

rs this justice? There is no JUS
tice here, but God is just So ex-
claimed Mrs Shouse, mother of Will
liam w. Shouse, when the jurors in
the criminal court yesterday reported
their verdict acquitting William n.
Harrington of the charge of murder
in the first degree. The scene in the
courtroom was dramatic to an ex-
treme. Harrington, the acquitted
slayer of Shouse, was receiving con-
gratulations from his attorneys, mo-
ther, father, brothers, sisters and
friends, when the aged mother of
his victim rose from her chair and
in a hysterical manner made the ex-
clamation quoted above.
After making the exclamation she
dropped TO her chair as if she were
about to faint, and was almost car
ried from the courtroom by her two
daughters and surviving son, who
have been constantly in attendance
at the trial with her.
The jury reported its verdict after
being out of the courtroom for only
twenty-five minutes, and its action
comes as a surprise to every one pres
ent, even his attorneys, if their ex-
pressions when the jury filed in count
for anything. The verdict was hand
ed in by Foreman c. C. Martin and
read to the court by Deputy Clerk
John J. Mason.
AS the word not was heard, At
torneys Ralph Davis and ]. W. APP
person clasped the hands of their
client and congratulated him on his
escape from further confinement or
punishment for the killing Of Shouse.
Quickly his wife, father and mo-
ther pressed to his side and added
their congratulations, showering his
face with kisses and clasping his
hands His sisters and friends fol-
lowed with their congratulations, and
although the court raped for order
the din was such that no business
could be transacted until the acquit-
ted man and his friends and the mo-
ther of the deceased and her family
left the courtroom.
Judge Moss turned his attention to
the jury telling them frankly that he
was surprised at their verdict and
guilt of the defendant in the light of
the evidence adduced at the hearing
of the case.
The Harrington party went to the
Office of Sheriff Monteverde, where
Harrington thanked that official for
his kindness to him during the eight
months that he has been in the coun-
ty jail, held without bail, after MAX
ing two applications for it before as
many different courts, by habeas cor
pus petitions. On the hearing of
both of those the judges, Pittman of
the circuit court and Galloway Of the
probate. decided that the proof seem
ed to be evident and the presumption
great that he killed Shouse in a man
ner such as would make the deed,
under the law, murder in the first
degree, and punishable by death.
Mrs. J. T. Harrington, mother of
the acquitted man, said, while talk
ing to the sheriff, that the acquittal
of her son was a direct answer to
friends in Memphis, West Point, and
other places.
Harrington himself said that he
knew all of the time that If he was
given justice he would be liberated,
and his wife said that they would
have a celebration over his return
when they reached their home on
Mississippi avenue, to which they re-
C. c. Marable, w. B. Hicks, J. W.
Watkins, J. P. Durham, r. A. Gibson,
J. d. Sparks, Sam Brown, S. J. Pur-
ser, F. L. Rodgers, w. R. Hodges, E.
NJ. Downs and J. H. Lewis composed
the jury which rendered the verdict.
They were selected from about six
hundred men who were actually eX-
amined, in divisions of six different
venires.
The case was taken up for trial on
March p, when the first venire was
ordered summoned and the actual Sc
lection of jurors began on April 2,
some members of the jury having
been locked up in the jury rooms for
more than a month.
Harrington shot and killed Shouse
in front of the Y. NJ. c. A. building
on Union avenue on the morning Of
Sunday, September 16, and shortly
thereafter gave himself up to the au-
thorities to await trial. He con-
refused to tell what caused
h i'm To I'LL ChnnSo and not evan