The Detroit times., 1908-04-09
JURY FREES BoWIM
IN MURDER CHARGE
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boy then; bust frightened her grip on
MS hands, Bowin smiled neryously
ana made no move TO leaSS the dock
until the gate was thrown open by
court officer. Duly he heard the
courts arraienment OF the jurors anG
was about TO comment on IL when his
mother, stopped him.
Cautioned by Mother.
Don't say a word. .Percy-not a
word about the judge, ~ she cautioned.
Arm In arm Bowin and his mother,
accompanied by Mrs. Horrick, a friend
OF the family who has been i'm con
slant attendance at the trial. went i'm.
mediately TO the jail as soon as The
court room had cleared sufficiently. 4
big crowd had collected outside the
court building. but there was no dem
onstrauon as Bowin appeared, unac-
companied by an officer as the curious
have been wont 10 see him In the
past. One OF two persons, strangers
to Bowin. stepped forward and shook
MS hands. Bowin accepted their con-
CALCULATIONS In a matter-offact way
We're you surprised at the YER
dlet?' Bowin was asked, as he sat
In the jail, waiting TO get his belons.
ings.
NO. Why should be? was limo
cent, wasn't II" he replied in a low
voice.
What do you think influenced the
jury In its yerdict?"
Well, they must have believed my
testimony and the testimony OF my
witnesses that Mrs. WEIGH was alive
on Saturday. She certainly must have
been alive then. It's funny thing III
four persons. who had no interest in
the Case, could be mistaken about
seeing her,
AS matter OF fact, the testimony
OF the three Browns" and Saloon
keeper John Elliott that they saw
Mrs. WEIGH on Saturday. following the
day she is alleged TO have been killed.
was greatly discounted by the prose
cution
For several minutes following the
announcement OF the verdict. Mrs.
Bowfn, the mother. was so unstrung
that she could scarcely speak In the
jail she was given cup OF coffee and
soon recovered her composure.
verdict Was Just" Mother Says.
THE verdict was just" she said.
~ have believed Percy innocent from
the first. A great deal has been said
about the dream | had after Percy
came home the last time. True. I did
have a dream. | dreamt that saw a
woman dead in a room where Percy
was. but that was ALL And inasmuch
as Percy had received letter from
Miss Alice Smith the day before, In
which she told him OF the death of
Mss yssfsh, snir6 Percy Trad known,
II was not unnatural s'that I should
have such dream.
The dream, as Percy told II to
Capt. Mcdonnell. was SO greatly dis
torted and exaggerated that | was
sure Percy must have been greatly
muddled at that time, so much so, I
believe, that he was willing to tell
them almost anything No. do not
believe my boy killed Mrs. Welch,
and | will never believe it,"
Percy and his mother will leave
the city Thursday evening, for their
home in Woodville. Percy says he
has no desire TO remain ip Detroit
after what has happened. He win re-
main with his folks for the present
and try to live down the disgrace at
tending his trial for murder.
Attorney Edward Kennedy, who de-
Tended Bowln. was not present when
the verdict was announced, having
left the court room Immediately after
the jury retired.
The verdict came as a tremendous
surprise to every one who had follow
ed the trial. Assistant Prosecutor
Crosse. who presented the peoples
case unassisted, was dumbfounded.
II can't understand It." was his
only comment.
Judge PheIsn Scores Jury.
Judge Phelan was white with rage
when he rose to discharge the jury.
He said:
Mr.. Clerk, you may enter the ver-
diet as registered by this jury, IL be-
ing their right to find such q verdict
under the law; but want to say that
II is the vilest miscarriage OF Justice
that was ever perpetrated In this
community, and | have no hesitancy
In saying. from what have heard Of
this trial from the beginning to the
end, that the citizens of this commun-
ity should be very thankful that you
gentlemen are barred for three years
from trying case In criminal court.
| do not understand upon what
ground you brought in such a verdict
as this II Is contrary TO the evidence
in the case from the very commence
ments You oupght 10 be ashamed OF
yourselves to go back into the street
and 10 admit that you were on the
Bowin case and found this man not
guilty OF that murder. You may be
discharged. You should be. You have
simply opened the gate for this man
TO go back to the life that he led and
the probabilities are that he may com
nit another such act You men ought
to be ashamed OF yourselves, and |
have no hesitancy In telling you about
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