The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-07-18
STEVE ADAMS
IS ACQUITTED (
VERDICT REACHED BY THE JURY
WITHIN AN HOUR AFTER
RETIRING.
BASED ON THE ALIBI
NO MOVEMENT FOR HIS ARREST
ON DENVER MURDER
CHARGE.

Denyer.-A Grand Junction special
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 was not rearrested. He
shook hands with the jurors and sew
eral members of the Western Fedora
ton of Miners and left the room with
a 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 a day or two to stay indef-
nitely with Mrs. Adams mother, who
lives in Montrose. Adams will then
determine his future course.
The jury claims to have Daseo us
speedy decision on the satisfactory
proof of the alibi by the defense.
This morning former Congressman
Hogg, for the prosecution, made
strong argument occupying two hours,
in closing for the state. He criticised
the attitude of the defense on a num-
Der of questions referred to in the final
address by Attorney Hilton, yesterday
afternoon. Hogg's address is conc sded
to have been one of the most powerful
and forcible ever held in Mesa county.
The small courtroom was crowded
ha oll Drrin nd q
whisper was heard while he was speak
ing. 1t was obvious that the jury,
while giving him close attention, had
been influenced by the cratorical eff
fort of Attorney Hilton yesterday, and
that his speech had great effect. Eleven
members of the jury are farmers who
live in this vicinity and one is an auto
mobile dealer of Grand Junction.
Few persons were in court to hear
the verdict, as court had adjourned
from II O'Clock until 2, and only those
who had been informed by the bailiff
and Under Sheriff Wallis that ver-
dict had been reached were present.
Five minutes later Adams descend
ed the steps from the courtroom and
walked up the Main street a free man
Chief Counsel Hilton, for the de-
fense, gave out the following state
heHl ditel lue ucelSloH
was reached:
I'VE have had a very fair trial and
consider the decision remarkable in
being rendered in so short a time
less than an hour-but | want to say
this. that | hope this will put an end
to the discomfort and unfriendliness
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. l expected
a disagreement, but l understand that
the jury is satisfied that the flibi was
successfully established and that set
tiles it,
Former Congressman H. NJ. Hogg,
chief counsel for the prosecution,
stated that he expected hung jury,
but that he was not surprised at the
verdict District Attorney Selig also
expected disagreement.
This is the first time in almost three
years that Steve Adams has been a
free man. He has either teen in jails,
or penitentiaries during that time.
Adams stated tonight that he would go
to Texas soon and engage in ranching
with his uncle. Warren Lillard, who
has taken a keen interest in his
nephew throughout the trial.