The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-16
Reach Verdict in Famous Case After 7 Hours and
 40 Minutes
STRAIN IS INTENSE
 IN THE COURT ROOM
Knight Is Undisturbed Throughout Afternoon-Friends Congratulate Him-Mrs. Knight Manifests
 Feeling Over the Verdict

Huntsville. December 5.-(speeial)-4 The jury in the case of John W. Knight returned a verdict of not guilty" at 9:15 o'clock.
 The jury was out ' hours and 10 minutes The strain was intense in the court room during the afternoon. but when the jury walked off to sup per without making any kind of re- port the general impression prevailed that a mistrial would be the outcome.
 Knight kept his nerve throughout the afternoon and evening and stood in the hallway talking with friends who grouped around him. A great many of the spectators who have been at- tending the case daily had left the building when, at a few minutes past g. the jury sent word that verdict was ready.
 Judge Grubb was notified and had the jury called down immediately, and as the jury filed in he cautioned the spec tators against making any demonstra- tion. Clerk Greenleaf read the yer dict We. the jury, find the defendant not guilty
 Mrs Knight, wife of the defendant. gave way to her feelings for the tirst time during the nine days ordeal and sank to her chair weeping. She arose after a moment. however. and walk sd over to the jurymen. shaking hands with and warmly thanking each of them. Mir. Knights mother followed her and shook hands with each jury man.
 Knight was almost overwhelmed with congratulations in the courthouse corridors and on the streets. He and his wife and mother left tonight for their home in Decatur. The federal court has ad diourOed and four other cases against Knight. mak- ing practically the same charges as the one of which he has just been acquitted, were continued to the April term.
 Arguments of the attorneys was con- cluded this afternoon, Judge Grubb de- livered his charge. arT of the mass of documentary evidence was turned over to the jury and they were marched up to their room at LAO o'clock.
 At 9 o'clock tonight the jury was apparently as far from reaching yer dict as at o'clock. Not the slight est intlmation had been received down. stairs as 10 how the jurymen stand. but the opinion was very genei al that 1 that there would De a inistrial
 The ninth and I7.t day of 4es. trial i attracted the largest crowd 10 tas assembled in the court room since tie trial began
 
 fense made the first argument of the morning. District Attorney Street and Attorney F. W. Godby having spoken on the preceding day. MT. Callahan contended that there was no evidence that the defendant had any intention of committing fraud or that he made use of the mails in furtheranee of any scheme He recalled that the tes- timony showed that Knight had issued 1799 bills of lading in previous years and up to January 1, 1910, and that all of them except six had been made good by the delivery of cotton When the crash came he said Knight was making every effort to deliver the 55,- 900 bales of cotton that his firm owed it's customers and had about 21.000 bales on hand.
 Gen. John S Stone of Mississippi closed the argument for the prosecu- tion. He made a powerful argument for conviction and gave an exhaustive review of the evidence.
 Judge Grubb's charge to the jury was not as long as had been antici- pated but 1t was comprehensive When he pointed out the prominent features of the case and told the jury that if they were convinced beyond all doubt that Knight used the mails in further ing a scheme of fraud the verdict should be guilty.
 On, the other hand he charged, if there is doubt that the malls were used. the magnitude of the alleged fraud could have no bearing on the case and the verdict should be not guilty. Judge Grubbs instructions to, the jury were to consider only counts Nos. l, ?, B and in arriving at a verdict.
 Knight was member of the defunct cotton firm of Knight, Yancey & Co.,, of Decatur.
 It was charged he issued forged bills of lading for cotton and thus defrauded buy CTS in this country and abroad out of millions of dollars. It was after this failure that eastern financial interests CO., operating with southern cotton handlers. took steps 10 insure the cotton trade against forged bills of lading. Adequate means for this protection still are being discussed.
 Knight admitted on the witness stand he drew bills of lading without having the cotton but stated traffic officials of rail- roads gave him permission to do this and furnish the cotton later.