The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-13
Jury Acquits Him of Murder Of
Frank WilkersOn.
Verdict Returned After Two
Hours of Deliberati1n.
SCENE OF EXCITEMENT
Court Room Crowd Cheered and
Women Wept.
Juror Gave Young Man a Bible
After Verdict Was Read.

Amid one of the most impressive
demonstrations ever witnessed in a
court room, David Bragg was last
night acquitted of the murder of
Frank Wilkerson. Following a min
ute of noisy applause, men and women
and boys and girls fought for an OPP
portunity to shake the hand of the
prisoner. Hysterical women laughed
and cried in unison and for 80 minutes
there was scarce a dry eye in the big
court room.
The verdict had followed a day of
impassioned speeches and often men
on the jury and persons in the au-
d1ence were moved to tears. AT 6:3O
A. E. Crane closed the argument for
the state with a plea for justice and
law enforcement. He had followed ].
J. Schnck, who had urged the jury
to treat David Bragg just as they
would want their boy treated II he
were stranger in a strange land. 1t
was twelve solmen faced, rather high
strung jurors who left the court room
and went to a supper that somehow
didn't satisfy them.
At o'clock Judge Dana sent the
court were nearly 200 persons. Da-
vid Bragg sat in his accustomed place
at the lawyers table. 1t was shortly
after the jury had retired that Miss
Dea Patton, the young mans sweet
heart, drew her chair beside that of
Bragg's and Mrs. Fred Moore did the
same. For a half hour the three
talked in low tones and Bragg seemed
in better spirits than at any time since
the trial had started. At o'clock,
Helen Jones, Topeka girl, and
Chick" Glfdewe1 and Robert Alexan-
der Joined the little party at the long
table. Once the little party banished
an older person because she was an
116 ind Parton
sat with her arm on the back of
Braggs chair. She had used every
energy in the long tedious trial that
would benefit her young lover and this
to receive a part of the reward
Out in the crowd little groups of
persons were retrying the case. Each
little group was weighing the evil
the lawyers and the instructions of
the court. But it was a prejudiced
Jury that sat in the big court room
last night awaiting the final decision
locked in a room on the third floor
of the building. None Of the muir
dered mans relatives were in the
court room. OF the so women in the
room, perhaps every one was hoping
for an acquittal. Somehow the cause
of this rather frail and timid boy had
appealed to the Sympathies of these
women and girls and they declared
they would never leave the court room
until the jury reached an agreement.
Jury Verdict Reached at 1O:35.
1t was just 1895 when the noise of
the little electric buzzer stopped con-
versation and brought quiet. Once
twice-three times. Somehow every
one knew it meant a verdict, although
half the crowd had never before been
in the court room when jury reached
a decision. For ten minutes the crowd
waited. Then Judge Dana took his
seat and F. A. Stevens, the foreman,
handed the verdict to Charles Bower,
court reporter.
AS Bower read the words. mot
guilty" the crowd was on it's feet,
yelling. clapping hands and shouting.
AS Bragg arose to his feet he reeled
and threw his hands over his eyes.
Then he caught a chair and steadied
himself. Tears were ccursing down
his face and for a minute he said
nothing. Miss Patton was at his side
with one hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, Dave, Oh, Dave" she screamed,
I'm so glad. knew all the time they
would do IT."
Then Miss Patton and a girl friend
Rugged and kissed each other and
laughed and cried in unison
The crowd was breaking for the
young defendant and Judge Dana
seemed to forget his desire for order
In the court room. He himself seemed
moved by the situation as he watched
the demonstration from his bench. AS
soon as he had shaken han Is with his
lawyers and a few friends, Bragg
rushed to the jury box, where the
twelve men we're waiting TO him.
Given Bible by Juror.
There were tears in the eyes of the
jurors as they grasped tho boys hands
Some OF the jurors-gray haired men
of experience-gave Bragg a bit of ad-
vice as they held his hand. AS Bragg
reached the chair of George Hamaker,
the last juror. the man slipped some
thing il the boys hand. 1t was a
Bible.
use this" Hamaker said, land
throw the revolver away. This won't
get you in nearly as much trouble as
the gun did,
Bragg said he would do it. Then
the defendant and his sweetheart
thanked Judge Dana and the lawyers
and court attendants. 1t was 80 min
utes before the little informal recep-
ton was over and the court room
cleared. Then Bragg and Miss Patton
walked hand in hand from the court
house. At the county jail Bragg
stopped.
I'm stay here tonight. dear" he
told Miss Patton. 81 think I ought to
say here one night as free man
| just to see how It seems, you know"
! Then the lovers said goodnight. At
/ the Jail the fellow prisoners congratu-
lated Bragg and seemed as happy as
any in the big crowd in the court
room. At the Jail office Bragg said he
would return to his mother-but prob
ably not without Miss Patton as Mrs.
| Bragg.
People have been awfully kind to
me in this trial." Bragg said, land you
don't know how it strengthened and
helped me. 1t was the first trouble
4 t.
ever had so many friends in my life
until tonight: and 1 think this is the
happiest day I have ever known. I
will never forget the jurors. the judge
and my lawyers. Somehow 1 always
thought 1 would go free. though.
didn't want to kill anyone and 1 want
ed to die myself when heard what
had done.