Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-12-15
AFTER DELIBERATING az HOURS
JURY HAS REACHED NO VERDICT
Action Of Jury is Almost as PuzzNng to the People as
the Crime Itself

With a drizzling rain falling an(
q Stvgian darkness enwrapping tn,
parh, last night must have been a fie
symbol of the spirit of doubt tha
s. Drevailed in the minds of some jurors
in the Childers case, as they grappl91
81 with the question of deciding the in.
nocence or guilt of the accused, since
no verdict had been given by the jury
at the time when they were sent to
their quarters for the night a 10
1 O. lock. A 6 o'clock this morning the
iury had been out AZ hours upon the
case.
More puzzling, if that We're possible
than the crime itself, is the action of
the jury, which, though no verdict has
4 been reached, has not yet declared 10
the court that it is unlikely that d
verdict viii ber cached. In fact, so
far as is known no communication has
come from the jury to Judge Little
John at all, so that not even an au-
thntiC statement has been made puD-
lie relative to the sentiment of the
Jurors in the case.
This is all the more puzzling, as It
is unusual for even a criminal jury
to remain out so long a time unless
there is still some hope of an agree
ment being reached The action of
he jury in prolonging is delibera-
tons is interpreted as meaning that
i a faithful and determined effort is be-
ing made by the jurors to reach some
conclusion. The natural supposition
is, in view of the fact that the jury
first step in a declaration of a mis-
trial will result, for any other result
would be very unusual.
The length of time that may be re-
quired for the forming of verdict, if,
indeed, verdict should be reached,
is problematical. II is believed, how
ever, that today will mark the close
of the jury's deliberations, as it is
thought that if no verdict has been
reached by noon that a demand will
be made upon the jury for a state
mtne concerning the sentiment OF the
jurors. This will, of course, form the
first step the declaration OF a mis-
trial, unless assurance is given that
there is some probability that a ver-
dict may be reached.
Though the decision of the jurors
in the matter has been delayed for
such long time, the very suspense it
self has contained a strong dramatic
element, as scores of people have
awaited with eager interest he an
nouncement of some definite news
from the jury. Local residents and
people from adjoining counties have
kept constantly is touch with the
sources of news in the city in order to
know at once what may result as re-
cards the formation of verdict or
the declaration of a mistrial
Though there were but few specta-
tors at the court house yesterday
where the regular session Of the court
was in progress, it is safe to say that
no spo in Sumter county that was
the center of greater interest than the
place were the jurors in the Childers
case were celebrating the fate OF
the defendant. Many were the inqui-
ries that came in during the day from
those who wished to know directly
from the court house what the status
of affairs was.
Rumors of various kinds were rife
during he day concerning the action
of the jury. At one time it was re-
ported that verdict had been reach
ed, but the falsity of this rumor was
soon established. There were likewise
numerous rumors as to how the sem
timent of the jurors stood. The sta
tus of sentiment was almost as vary
ing as the rumors themselves, some
being favorable and others unfavora-
Bile to the defendant. 1t is thought
however. that no authentic statement
of the status of sentiment with the
jury has yet filtered through the walls
of the jury room.