Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-24
NOT GUILTY." WAS
VERDICT OF JURY
INDICATED in Killing E. G. Will
iams, MIR. Balm Weeps in Arms
Of Friends-Dramatic Scenes
in the Court Room

I'VE the jury"
Every ear was listening. A hush like
that OF death itself had settled upon the
court room.
find the defendant"
A PIN. dropping. would have sounded
like a shot
NOT GUILTY"
For a moment there was absolute ST.
ierce. Then every man moved at once.
The court room breathed again-a deep
breath. Ike It had gained a new lease
on suspended life.
II was the Balm verdict-
Seated in his chair the elderly mar
whose sparse hair was white. the man
whose fate hung upon the words ABOUT
70 be uttered. had been forgotten COM
plctely from the moment when the jury
foreman handed his verdict TO the clerk
sis personality had vanished. peer
merged into the blur OF humanity, while
the clerk held up the fateful document
ard turned 10 the light with IL.
IKE the tragedy, the finish was over
while a man could hold his breath
SILENCE WAS ABSOLUTE.
IKE. a dive into waters black with
might the prisoner had plunged weeks
80 INTO a horror of choking wait And
now. rssping for breath. he came to tho
surface once more ard filed his starving
iunss with the cool air Of life and free
dom
Not sound followed the reading Of the
verdict TIM after the moment OF compre-
hension had lapsed. the crowd that naeo
the court room stirred softly.
Then eevFy eye was turned on him VINO
n moment before had been a capital pris-
orer. but who now was wree-
those ewes found his within the arms OF
Dr. Joseph Jacobs-the man whose very
IIfA l. his devotion to his friends. The
snfoldinE arm had stolen around the
shaking little old man even before the
verdict had ceased 10 echo. and were hold
ing him now as the tension OF weeks gave
way TO the relaxation OF relief ana JOY.
Other arms reached out TO him-those OF
=. N. Blackburn. Steve Johnston. n. H.
Cabaniss ard a host OF others Tears
were trickling down the cheeks Of strong
nnen. and glistening In the eyes that woulo
force them back
On the moment. court adjourned with
formal words. and those who had kept
their seats in heed OF the admonition thai
vas uttered before the verdict TO warn
them against demonstration. pressed for
ward TO the group that sprang into being
around Mr. Balm. Voices were husky.
some were even blubbe-lng. Some were
not TO be trusted with speech at all, and
The congratulations they would say had
10 De tDlQ VIII eye anu A1A0-GAAF-
SHOOK HANDS WITH JURORS.
.He wants to shake hands with the
5urvt Make way for the jury
and past the little bent man filed those
who had decided his fate
George God bless youi" said Mr.. Balm.
clssping the hand Of the foreman. George
r Murphy, and putting his cheek close
40 Sfr Murphy's. Gentlemen. I can't say
enough to thank you."-to the jurymen.
wro silently grasped his hand
SO they pressed around him, hundreds
o. them. till his friends forced way for
him through the press and down the
Stars 70 the open air outside on the steps
OF the Hunter street exit. There men
wept openly for joy. shook each others
hands. Z congratulated the lawyers on good
work consummated and good work I'M
crowned. The surrounding corners and
streets were lined with people who had al
ready heard the news. II was 1880
O'CLOCK. but the city was downtown. wait
InF.
The interim between the retirement
OF the Jury and the announcement Of
It's verdict-four and a half hours-had
been an evening tense with expectancy.
When the jury retired. a prediction
ran current that they would not be out
long Judge Roam had declared his de-
&ermination to give the jury an opportu-
nifty 70 formulate. IL possible. a verdict
before court adjourned for the night
But the jury's verdict was still hang
Ing Ere an hour later. "Mistrial," said
many. ''Sfanslaughter." said some. "Ac-
ouittai." persisted a rev.
Two hours OF wait. and the verdict
vas still a mystery The court called
the foreman out and asked him the
prospects. "A verdict soon. I. think,
repIied the foreman. And there follow
ed further wait Then the court was
advised hat the jury wished to be re-
CHARGED upon a certain point.
what is it?' everybody questioned
himself What can IL be7'
with a rush. the waiting hundreds
about the courthouse filled the court
again and were quiet. awaiting the en-
trance OF the jury.
-oN JCsTIFIABLE HOMICIDE"
The jury wants to be re-charged up
on justihable homicide" announced the
foreman.
-Justihable homicide" It was sig
nihcant
There being no objection. the court
re-charged the jury on this point and
asked the foreman how long II would
be before a verdict could be expected.
only a little while" replied the
foreman
IF no verdict is returned soon. The
court will have to order the jury put
TO bed for the night" said Judge
Roam
But the Jury don't want to be put