The Monte Vista journal., 1908-07-18
VERDICT REACHED ~ THE JURY
WITHIN AN HOUR AFTER
RETIRING. .gs998e
BASED on THE ALIBI
NO MOVEMENT FOR HIS ARREST
ON DENVER MURDER
CHARGE.

Denver.-A Grand Junction special
to the Republican Wednesday night
says: Steve Adams was declared not
guilty Of the murder Of Arthur Col
Inns at Telluride In November, 1907,
BY the jury in the District Court, this
afternoon, the verdict being reached
in less than an hour after the jury
had retired.
After hearing the verdict read
Adams was released by order OF the
court and vas not rearrested. He
shook hands with the jurors and sew
eral members OF the Western Fedora
ton of Miners and left the room with
q friend for the Boyer house, where
he met his wife. He remained with
her most of the afternoon.
Neither Mrs. Adams nor Attorneys
Hilton or Hogg were In the court
room when the verdict was read.
Adams and his wife will go to Mont
rose in q day or two to stay indeh-
nitely with Mrs. Adams mother. who
lives In Montrose. Adams will then
determine his future course.
The jury claims to have 0aseo us
speedy decision on the satisfactory
proof of the abb by the defense.
This morning former Congressman
dogg. for the prosecution. made
strong argument occupying two hours,
In closing for the state. He criticised
the attitude Of the defense on mum.
Der OF questions referred to in the final
address by Attorney Hilton. yesterday
afternoon. Hogs address Is conc aded
to have been one Of the most powerful
and forcible ever held In Mesa county.
The small courtroom was crowded
TO the doors al morhiag and not .
whisper was heard while he was speak
Ing. II was obvious that the jury.
while giving him close attention. had
been Influenced BY the cratorical ef.
tort Of Attorney Hilton yesterday. and
that his speech had great eRec,. Eleven
members Of the jury are farmers who
live IN this vicinity and one 10 an auto
nobils dealer q, Grand Junction.
NV beeoooo Wer4 - court to hear
The verdict. % eourt had adjourned
trum IL O'Clock until :. and only those
who had been informed by the bailin
and Under Sheriff Wallis that yer.
elct had beea reaeAed were present.
Five minutes later Adams descend.
"a the stems from the courtroom and
walked up the Main street . free man.
Chief Counsel Hilton. for the de.
Tense. gave out the following state
nsit immsdlateiy after the decision
was Fsached:
I'VE have had very fair trial and
consider the decision remarkable In
being rendered in 70 short . time
less than an hour-but I want to say
this. that hope this will put an end
to the discomfort and unfriendlincss
caused by such cases. The Western
Federation Of Miners wants peace and
order and In. assuming that attitude
We expect to hew to the line"
Bulkeley Wells. chief witness for the
prosecution. said:
Il was much surprised. expected
disagreement. but understand that
the jury II satisfied that the slibi was
successfully established and that set.
! ties IT,"
Former Congressman II. n. Hoge,
chief counsel for the prosecution,
stated that he expected q hung Jury.
but that he was not surprised at the
verdict. District Attorney 6elig also
expected disagreement.
This 10 the hrst time In almost three
years that Steve Adams has been .
free man. He has either Lesu In jails.
or penitentiaries during that time.
Adams stated tonight that be would 70
to Texas soon and engage In rsnchinE
with bis uncle. Warren Liliard, who
has taken Q keen interest IN he
nephew throughout the trial. g1