The Washington herald., 1907-07-06

Brussels. July 5.-Carlos Waddington,
who had been on trial here since June "a
on the charge Of numbering Senor Bal
meceda on February a of last year, was
acquitted to-day. the defense in his case
being the "unWritten law
Balmeceda, who was secretary of the
Chilean legation at Brussels. was engaged
20 be married 10 Miss Waddington, the
sister Of Carlos, who was also connected
with the legation, and is the son Of Luis
Waddington, a prominent man of Brus-
sells. At the time of the killing he was
only sixteen years of age.
The tragedy occurred on the evening
when the formal engagement dinner was
TO be given. A few days before, Bal
meceda requested the Waddingtons to
postpone the wedding ceremony. and on
the morning of February. q he called on
Mrs Waddington and announced his de
cision to withdraw from the marriage al
together. Il is said that he admitted hav
ing behaved Improperly toward Miss
Waddington. but he accused her Of hay
ing been guilty of misconduct before he
met her.
Later, when young Carlos found his
mother Frustrated in consequence Of what
Balmeceda had said. he drove TO Balme-
ceda's residence. and after quarrel, shot
and killed him Previous TO Balmeceda's
visit 10 Mrs Waddngt0n the two young
men had been close personal friends.
The B8lmeceda side of the case was
that the WaddingtOns had tried to force
the marriage upon him. and that on his
refusal, they had accomplished mis- death.
Jury out Only Twenty Minutes.
The jury delivered their verdict after
deHberati9n that lasted twenty minutes.
II was received with cheers.
Il is doubted whether a trial in any
court ever produced stronger display of
emotion than that ended to-day. The
crowds who thr0nged the court were daily
strengthened in their championship of the
accused by the unrOIling of the evidence
OF his victims deprayity.
Men and women alike took passionate
interest in the tragic story. which they
listened 10 with tears. and they prayed
earnestly for the prisoners acquittaL His
Oneuse in their eyes was not only no
act Of positive virtue Their JOY at the
verdict was commensurate with those
feelings.
About two thousand persons packed the
court to-day 10 await the result. Fully as
many were wedged in the corridors and
Hobbies, hoping for "A chance of admission.
The concluding speeches of counsel were
listened to with tense interest The prose-
cutting advocates declared that the de-
fense had woven a romance around the
story.
Plead for Punishment,
They warned the jury that their emo
tions were being appealed to against their
oaths TO do justice One counsel said
that if such murders were pardOned So
cial anarchy would be the result. The
public prosecutor pleaded that nobody in
Belgium was justified in taking the law
into his own hands. but he admitted that
the circumstances of the present case
might justify mitigation Of punishment.
Five years penal servitude was the SEN
tence demanded The prisoners counsel
wound up with earnest. dramatic appeals,
their voices trembling with emotion
There was no summing Up. The president
jury. which retired.
During the jury's brief absence women
mUTmUred prayers for the prisoner. and
mems faces We're grave and anxious The
jury's return was marked by the deepest
silence. When the foreman answered the
presidents question whether the prisoner
was guilty of intentional homicide with
an unaesitating no a shout Of emotional
triumph went up in court, mingled with
the sObs of women.
The efforts of the officials TO obtain
silence were useless, and cheer after
cheer greeted Waddington as he left the
dock. Friends smuggled him out Of the
court by a side door To avoid further
demonstration, but many women inter
cepted him and embraced and kissed him
The court awarded the Balmeceda fam
lily one franc damages on the ground that
the killing of the victim was an illegal
act.
Il is stated that the Waddingtons will
leave Brussels for England, where the
father and son have obtained employment