Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1909-08-14
Jury Declars
Ford not Guilty

I'VE, the jury impaneled to try
the case in which the people of the
state of Nevada were plaintiff and
w. G. Ford was defendant, find
that said defendant is not guilty as
charged"
Thus spoke the foreman of the
jury yesterday afternoon when ask
ed by Judge Averill If the men had
arrived at a verdict.
The u%tterance of those words pro.
claimed to the world that w. G.
Ford, charged with embezzlement.
was a free man. So far as the
world is concerned, the law has de-
clared that the defendant did not
commit the crime of stealing money
belonging to another which haa
been placed in his keeping upon the
promise to do certain things.
The case went to the jury Tues
day night at 8 o'clock. During the
night the jury returned once to
state to the court that it was un-
able to agree upon a verdict. While
the members of the body were
sworn to secrecy among themselves
as regards their deliberations, it Is
known that at that time it stood
nine for acquittal and three for con-
%viction. The latter were finally won
over with the result that the YER
dict for acquittal, arrived at at .
o'clock yesterday afternoon, was
unanimous, which it must have beer
to set the man Ford free. 1t is but
the naked truth to say that the con-
%clusion of the jury is generally adj
%versely criticized. The case against
Ford was stubbornly fought, the
district attorneys office employing
special counsel Hon. Key Pittman,
to assist in the prosecution. 1t
might be well to here insert that
the money for the services of Mr..
Pittman will be paid out Of the sal
airy of the district attorney and wifi
not be charged up to the county.
Equally as strong was the battle
waged by the defense. AS an at
torney, he himself took a prominen.
part in the trial; in fact, it is due
to his efforts that he is today at
liberty.
District Attorney Baker left the
city yesterday and could not be
seen by the Bonanza. Deputy Dis
trict Attorney Morris stated, how
ever, that the office had used every
resource at its command to prove
| Ford guilty. we were conscien-
tious in the matter. The evidence
that was adduced before the grand
jury led us to believe that Ford
, had committed a crime for which
he should be made to suffer. He
, fought extradition to this state from
! California most stubbornly. a fact
t which in itself we took to be evi
dence of his guilt.
VIC lpoL the tdSts- Uul We nave
4 shown to the world that when evil
/ dence sufficient to warrant the ar
rest of a man on a criminal or other
d charge is presented to this office that
T we will act at once. Ford has been
cleared and that is about all there
T is to it." That was the statement
D made to a representative OF this pa
per by Mr.. Morris.
Naturally, Ford is elated. Ht
has said that If he we're convicted
there would be at least one limo
; cent man in~the penitentiary at Car
/ son. He also said that il he were
' sent over, when he got out he would
kill every redskin that came within
I his sight. That when he secured
e the notes from Harrington, the hall
breed, he meant to kill him If he
2 did not come through. He went to
Salisbury Wash to get the securi-
7 ties which he was accused of steal.
| ing and appropriating to his own
I use. He went with the intention OF
coming back with them If in order
to do SO it was necessary to take
F., human life. Those are his own
statements, statements which he
| does not hesitate to make.
2 w. G. Ford has been freed. The
I law says he is innocent and limo
t cent he must be to all intent and
purposes. He a y his conscience
t pricked him when he entered into
? certain agreements with Johnny
! Peavine. Does it hurt him yet?