The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-25
mot GUILTY" SAYS
JURY OF HECHLER
Great Demonstration 10
Court Room After An
rlouncement.
GENTRYS CASE IS
NOLLE PRESSED
Jury Requires but Two Minutes !.
in Which to Reach Verdict.
Counsel for Defense Takes
Shots at Alleged
Solitica1 Per-
secutors.

solitica1 Per-
secutors.
eve, the jury, md Henry Q.
tho Indictment.
(siGned)
ar. o. SMITH, Foreman.D
| Such was the verdict OF the jury
summoned to try Henry G. Hechlet on
the charge OF Illegally prepaytng poll
taxes and being Illegally concerned In
their payment, and, Immediately after
Its reading, nearly every man surged
forward to congratulate fhe prisoner
on his vindicatIon OF the charges. Such
q demonstration has probably never
before been witnessed in the Henrico
court. People laughed aud wept- Their
delight seemed to know no bounds
| For solid half hour the defendant
was kept busy shaking hands. Ills
face beaming with smiles, he welcomed
4 each man as he came forward. and
thanked him for his congratulations.
Tears stood out In his eyes as he noted
1.-THE bonds OF friendship with which he
was encompassed. Men placed their
arms about his neck and fairly hugged
him. breathless In the excess OF their
delight.
l.. L
forgotten by Mr.. Hechler, tor. in the
most trying period OF his life. he found
The was not without friends, and friends
i indeed. He was borne about the room
in the tide Of delight. for no sooner
was one adherent finished with him
than another pressed forward. showing
him from his former position. Els
daughter. Mrs. Newton L. Gentry, and
Iher sister; his son. Ernest Hechler. and
his sons wife. were there, too. and
they were not behindhand with ex-
lpressions Of joy and with their cons
4 gratulations. They were also recipi-
4 ents OF congratulations. and, with tears
!, in their eyes. saodestly tried to with
, stand the rather embarrassing bonn.
J, bardment of happy expression. New
4 ton l. Gentry also came In for a sFara
OF congra tulation, but being O less Sig
: lnihcant figure In the trial. friends were
4 less wild In their demonstrations.
{. Counsel for the defense. Messrs. Full
\ ton & O'Fiaherty, Mr.. II. ST. John Coal
not left out Of the demonstration.
4 They We're as much besieged as their
client by the ylatter's friends. and 1T
was with radiant smiles that they re-
Iceived the plaudits OF the admiring
multitude. Even when they were on
the outside men stood and talked about
1T, every one OF them declaring that
Il his expectations and his hopes.
i It was some time before the court
A house was cleared of the crowd. and
4 then not before every breath was spent
4 and all kind words were said. Though
lit was growing dark and anxious
4 f1lends and families were awaiting
!. them ut home. all eager to hear the
4 news, adherents and admirers OF the
q erstwhile prisoner still hung about.
Il waiting for him to come down, that
A they might tell 1t to him all5over again.
I During the demonstration Mr.. Harry
4 NJ. Smith, who had conducted the prose-.
4 cution In place OF Commonwealth At
4 torney L. o. Wendenburg, stood deco;
rously aloof. smiling at 1t ALL and not
appearing the least Disconnected that
the case had gone against him. Per-
4 haps he rather expected just such a
4 result
The jury retired at 1855 o'clock. and
lit was announced that they We're ready
to return their verdict at 5:22 ctclock.
4 Slowly they fled into the room. and
/, not u person stirred from his seat. The
suspense was trying. even to those
1 who were impartial spectators. The.
court announced that no disorder. no
. demonstration. would be allowed. He
I cautioned the audience that they must
remain quiet and orderly, and that
they must maintain the dignity OF the
4 his order If necessary, there having
7 been already one enforcement OF dis
cipline, In the case OF G.. A. Paul, of
i Pine Street. Richmond.
I So 1t was that the verdict was res
Gentry Also Freed.
4 ceived with the utmost silence. not-
j withstanding that q current of excits-
ment could almost be felt throbbing
4 through the almost suffocating atmos-
phere. Immediately after the render
4 ing Of the verdict Mr.. Smith arose and
moved that on account OF the ac-
. quittal of Mr.. Hechler and the close
connection between his case and that
I OF Newton 7. Gentry, indicted on al
J most an identical charge. that the case
d against Gentry be nolle prosequied.
The court entertained the motion, and
a 1t was passed without further ado.
4 Both Hechler and his son-in-law ara
now free men.
! Mr.. Wendenburg remained through
4 out the proceedings of the day At the
: remained at first immobile, and then
I he slowly smiled. 1t was all over. and
!. he quietly made his exit.
Y Judge Harrison retired immediately
! after sustaining the prosecuting attor-
y neyss motion.
{, The rh, jury was out "a about twenty. i've
. one Of the Jurors afterwardsSthat they
had required only two minutes In
J, which to arrive at their verdict The
. rest Of the time, he stated, was spent
I. quietly in smoking and talking over
s the caIe But one man halted or hesi-
a for only a few seconds. The Juror
Y speaking OF the case said that the halt
ii Ing one was soon put to rights when
q that they must acquit II the least
doubt remained In his mind as to tfs
!, guilt OF the accused. Why. !" he re-
q sponded, there are doubts running all
y Through the caSae "a s; N, s. E
"A apraw up the verdict OF acauittal
y them said another. and IN q min ute
. aechlor was recorded Innocent Of the
|, the Jury waited for what one OF them
\ described as a more dignife moment
IA in which to announcs AT they wsrs 2
\ ready With their verdict. .ss
!. d. Judging from what he said attsr-