Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-20
JuDGE HAD INSIDE INFORMATION
lad Consulted With Deputy-Jury
Replied Nothing to Report-As-
sembled by Courts Order, Verdict
of Not Guilty Rendered in snarps
Favor-O:!iberat:on s Continue.
lBy Associated Press.)

NASH l!-l-f-. f-\.\.. H"i' II ~
When the jury today returned YER
dict OF acquittal for John y. Sharp.
charged with ihe murder OF former
United States Senator r. w. Carmack.
ana declared il was ''hopelcssly tied
M as to the CoOperS." it was gcncr-
ally conceded that the end OF the IA
nous case had been reached.
Nothing daunted by the expressive
firmness of FOREMAN BurkeS declara-
ton of disagreement. Judge Hart
sent the twelve men out for further
dcliberatiOn. and announced that ne
would not discharge them until ne
was absolutely convinced that an
agreement could not he reached.
Judge Hart fully expected verdict
today.
Several times during the morning
he consulted with one of the jury dep
mites, and when he had concluded the
days docket at noon he sent to ask
the jurors if they had anything 10
report
The reply nothing" came back.
Prisoners and Jury Assembled.
Evidently the judge had some lnfor-
nation, however for he ordered the
prisoners brought into court and IN
structed the sheriff to cary in the
jury"
Instead OF S. J. HYDE. 10 whom Inc
charge was given. f. NJ. Burke the
first man chosen, carried the papers
and acted as foreman.
In response to the judges decision
as to whether a verdict had been
reached Burke replied: We are tied
I'D tight as to the Coopers. but We
find John D. Sharp not guilty"
The verdict as to Sharp was an
nounced at 1882 p. m.
Sharp is Discharged.
is there any reason. General Nc
earn. why John Sharp should not be
dischargei?' asked the court.
None. your honor
Mr.. Sharp. you are discharged
from custody: acquitted" said the
court with a smile.
Sharp sat stolid and Indifferent.
Not so with his wife When she had
srasped the significance of the verdict.
her eyes filed up. and she caught her
husbands left arm with both hands
and seemed about to break down.
Exact Language Wanted.
We want the exact words of the
jury recorded" said Judge Ander-
son. of the defense. We understood
the report was 'hopelessly tied
Il do not recall the exact language.
hut ] am told by the clerk and
newspaper man that those were the
words. Let the clerk so record them
lis that verdict. your honor?
said Anderson
1T is a verdict as far as John Sharp
is concerned. but ii certainly is not as
far as u. b. Cooper and Robin Cooper
are concerned. ! sent the jury back
for further consideration
The Defendants counsel advised TO
getter a while and assented.
Then Judge Hart adjourned court
until p. m.
Reunion With csopers.
Sharp. accompanied by his wife and
sister-in.law. father and mother. the
latter two reaching the Jail after the
verdict. went to the room he had &C.
cupied for several months in the jan.
and there held a little reunion with
the CoOpcrs.
As he left the court room. Reid
Sharp. Youngest brother Of John. re-
marked This is not the end Of this
case
The jurors looked tired and worn
and i'll at ease. From the loud talk
ing heard in The room they have been
having a strenuous time
Jurr Tired and worn.
They arc chatting under the re-
jstraint. too but evidently are ccnsci-
lcntious in their determination 10 vote
their convictions They sent word TO
I'm. sheriff late this afternoon that
Gheir room was poorly ventilated. that
Ehe plumbing was defective and that
Acveral Of the men were in from the
confinement.
The room is quite small and the
lheriff decided TO let them sleep to-
kight in the quarters In the jail set
kpari for a woman's hospital lat
thich has no tenants at present.
Jurors Amusing Themselves
, Tho Jurors put In the afternoon de-
Hberatine. hut after suppao at 6 p. m.
dSvoie, tho balance Of the evening 20