Semi-weekly herald., 1908-05-07
MASON AND VAN
DERwEiDE AcouiTTAL
Not guilty"

case OF the People OF the State of Col
orado against VIM. Mason and Joseph
vanderweide after being out nearly
four and a half hours, including the
supper hour District Attorney Pull
liam closed his strong plea for convic-
tion at 8 minutes OF four and five min
uies later the jury retired to de-
lot stood Q for acquittal to 8 against.
and IL is quite evident that those ap-
posed to acquittal were moi strong in
their opinion or they would not have
yielded SO readily, because at 8:20
the foreman, NJ. Drury, of bayfield,.
sent word to the judge that the jury
| was ready to report
II was an exciting moment when
the jury filed into the court room
and took their respective seats. The
court officials, defendants. attorneys
and others directly Interested in the
case were present The judge asked
the jury II II had arrived at a verdict.
Mr. Drury replied in the affirmative
judge and then to the clerk TO be
read. Mrs. Mason, wife of the defend
ant, owing 10 the long nearvous strain
was overcome when the clerk read
mot guilty" and tainted. This ere
ntcd some excitement for the time
being. The jury was polled and each
aud everyone answered that the YER
dict was correct. The jury was
thereupon discharged for the term by
the court, and adjournment taken till
the 18th of June ~
After the verdict was rendered u
s. Deputy Marshal Tom Clark, in
accordance with the article printed
in Fridays Herald, stepped up and ar
rested both Mr. Mason and Mr. Van
derweide on warrants from the feder
al grand jury last fall The men were
taken 10 the Office of U. S. Commits
sioner Pingrey, where they plead moi
guilty to the charge, Conspiracy tc
murder Bail had previously been
fixed in the sum of $4,000 each and
was readily furnished as follows:
For Mason-B. J. Ochsner, $4,000;
Harry Jackson, $4,000; w. X Bray
den. $1,000.
For Nanderweide-Da Kight, SO,
600; Emily Mason, 10000; Tom Ma
son, $4,000; W. s. McNeeley, $4,000.
Friends extended hearty congratu
lations to both Mr.. Mason and Mr.
vandarweide. Mr.. Mason expressed
confidence from the first that the jur,
would acquit them because he sait
he was honest in what he had dom
and believed right would prevail o
J course the long strain has been trying
and especially so to the devote,
wives who have been present ever.
hour of the trial the past two weeks
Mr.. Mason naturally feels pleased al
e ter the stories printed in a locva
l. and outside newspapers in which tn
9 cold-blooded murderers in advance o
any hearing or trial, and in these ste
ries Mr.. Mason feels that he has beei
+ done great injustice and has not beel
e given square deal.
4 The strong points made by tn,
prosecution was the leaving of Walk
er's body where IL fell without inves
l tigaiing how badly the man was hurt
: at the same time claiming that til,
J body was removed and straightene,
out by the defendants.
The strong points brought out b,
J the defense was the excellent charac
] ter and reputation of defendants dur
! Ing their life. never having been IL
any kind of trouble before, and beini
hard working men. Counsel for de
tendants also laid great stress on tn,
l fact that the government oficial
I were trespassers and had no right I,
enter the shaft and make a privat,
inyestigation--that they had no NOR,
right TO do this than they would /,
) enter mans private home, waitin,
! until the family had left the house
Y The law provoided a manner for tn
t officers to obtain admission TO privat
property. argued counsel.
Mr.. and Mrs. Mason will soon leav
D for a short trip and rest and recupei
q ate. In an interview Mr.. Mason an,
0 his attorneys state they have nothinI
q 10 fear from federal trial. If one ey
er takes place, because having beel
tried and acquitted In their hom
= county, where certain newspape
g tried In every way to prejudice thei
Q case. they say that ii would be plail
s to every one that they are innocen
/ of wrong doing.
just when the case will be hear
in the federal court will be decide,
5 later. No doubt motions will be file
TO quash the indictment and this will
S be argued before Judge Lewis. Cour
sci for defendants will hold that, hay
) ing once been tried for murder am
their lives placed in jeopardy. ther
Is no law or justice in being force,
/ TO undergo another trial in fedora
court, and Judge Lewis will have Il
rule on this point.
What the Democrat editors