Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1913-09-17

the huge crowd OF spectators diu
officials veritably on the edge OF
prostration As the jury filed slow
" in through the doors whish had
been shut behind them so many
hours before hush fell upon the
crowded courtroom.
Judge Frank o. Smith cleared his
throat and asked: Gentlemen,
have you reached a verdict"
1--WE have" replied J. c. Scott.
of Jerome, foreman of the jury.
And before any further parlance
occurred, the foreman had pro-
nounced the magic words, mot gull
ty"
As the foreman commenced 10
read the verdict, all eyes for an in
stant appeared to center upon the
principal. Leonard White, as he
stood staring straight ahead of him
at the jury, vaguely trying to dis
Germ some object through the haze
which for the instant shut out the
world from his vision.
The words mot guilty" found him
in a trance. For a moment he did
not realize what had happened. Then
as his counsers smiling face turned
toward his he swayed, muttered
several words which to those closest
him sounded like a prayer, and
sank into his chair For FIVE min
utes the man cleared in the eyes
of the law gave vent to his pent up
feelings in a burst of tears and
sobs.
There was no outburst in the
court. The sympathetic spectators
sat benumbed. unable to move for
minute. The vision of the shak
ing. sobbing man sitting there close
within the rail raised many a lump
in the throat of those in that
crowded courtroom. White was per-
mitted to remain in his position until
he himself arose. wiped away the
tears and walked out through the
swinging doors of the room, 4 free
man-free again to enjoy all the lib
critics OF human being in the good
/ graces of the law.
I For the first time in just three
months Lenoard White was permit
ted to go ont alone, unaccompanied
! By an officer Of the law. Only he
himself. Leonard White, appreciated
what this meant.
While everyone in the courtroom
was heaving a sigh of relief. Leon
ard White went his way. The court
called for order. there was some
official procedure followed out and
the hum and buzz of the laws grind
was again in active operation.
Outside Lonard White was hailed
by scores of friends, people who
had expressed their sympathy all
during the trying ordeal There
was no frivolous exhibition at any
time White met all greetings and
responded to all hand-shakings with
a solemn, drawn expression upon
his face and a voice scarcely above
a whisper. During the remainder
of the day he renewed old acquaint-
ances.
A local attorney who has been
in the city for about thirty years
declared after the ved;ct had been
rendered that it was the first time
'man OF Whites standing had ever
been tried upon the charge Of MUIR
der White is 4 man with wide
range Of popular acquaintancesh;D
throughout the county. He i known
here in Prescott to 4 great extent
and prior to hi commitment 10
Jail, associated with the most IN
fluential people in the county.
White, when questioned by a
Journal-Miner reporter yesterday aft
: ernoon, declared he had not as yet
formulated his plans for the fu-
ture. For the present he will re-
turn to the White Mining Company
mines near Sayer He proposes to
stay there but short time, how
ever.
The jury retired shortly after !
o'clock Saturday night When no
word was forthcoming from the
jury room in the St Michael hotel
Sunday night, it wa. believed that
4 disagreement was inevitable. Brit
when the jury filed in prepared to
render the verdict yesterday morning
the certainty of an acquittal was
assured.
The able work of the defendants
attorneys, E. s. Clark and Robert
Morrison. was upon everyone's lips
| about the city yesterday. The re
markable defense built up around
the plea of self-defense was de-
clared to be masterpiece.