Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-03
VERDICT IS
NOT GUILTY
CALHOUN THANKS MEMBERS
OF JURY
GRAFT PROSECUTION FAILS TO
CONVICT
Former Attorney General of California
Breaks Down and Sheds Tears
as He Hears De-
cision

BY Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO, May 2.-Tirey L.
Ford. chief counsel for the United
Railroads and former attorney gem
eral of California, was acquitted this
morning on the charge of bribery, for
which he had been on trial for the last
several days.
This makes the second acquittal in
the series of three trials. The jury
was out but a short time and soon
returned with verdict of mot guilty
as charged"
The defendant has been under a
great nervous strain during the trial,
as the prosecution apparently made out
stronger case against him than at
any time previously, so he was over
joyed at the turn of events.
The defendant his counsel and sew
eral officials of the United Railroads
waited in the court room while the
jurors delberated. Assistant District
Attorney John OGara. who has con
Quoted the case for the prosecution,
represented the people. The shortness
of the jury session indicated which
way their verdict would go, so there
was not great sensation when the an
nouncement was made.
May Be Tried Again
On tnlS occasion FOfQ was dcQultleu
of the charge of bribing Daniel Cole
man, supervisor under the Schmitz-
Ruef regime when the trolley franchise
deal was put through. Twelve other in
dictments remain against him on which
he may be tried.
Judge Lawlor's instructions con-
sumed almost the entire morning. He
told the jurors that they must return
verdicts in favor Of the people and
refuse to acquit the defendant on the
ground that he had once been in jeop-
ardy and had been formerly acquitted.
1t was 1880 o'clock when Judge Law
lor finished and placed the case in the
hands of the jury. The court room
was crowded to it's capacity, as it was
generally known that the case would
be completed this morning.
After giving his instructions Judge
Lawlor ordered the court room cleared
and the jury was placed in charge of
Deputies Coyle and Lynch. They had
been in the jury room only seven min
utes when a knock was heard on the
door and the deputy informed the court
that the jury had arrived at verdict.
The jury was brought into the court
room and Foreman Mansfield first
placed in the hands of the clerk OF the
court the verdicts in the special pleas
of "onoe in jeopardy and formal ac-
4Qllldl.
Both verdicts were for the people
in accordance with the instructions
given by the court.
The clerk then asked:
Gentlemen of the jury, have you
arrived at verdict in this case?"
1--WE have" replied Mansfield, while
the audience remained in breathless
suspense.
Ford Weeps
Tears started from the eyes of the
defendant and his young son placed
his arm about his neck. Then the
court read the verdict:
1--WE, the jury, find the defendant not
guilty of the defense charged"
Applause followed the announcement.
Patrick Calhoun rose from his seat
and greeted the jurors as they filed
past him. thanking them for their
verdict.
The jurors would not discuss the case
and refused to say how they had ar
rived at their verdict. They said that
only one ballot had been taken. but
that they had been in doubt as to
whether they return their verdicts on
the special pleas before the verdict
as to the defendants guilt.