The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-11-06


mot guilty" was the verdict re-
turned yesterday afternoon at 5:is
O'Clock by jury, who for about three
hours, had deliberated over the teFti-
mony IN the case of Mrs. Florence Mo
| Gowan, charged with killing J. Loron
Brown, in the month OF August, in this
city
The announcement Of the jurys find
| ing was greeted by a remarkable dem
| onstratior. The compactly crowded
| courtroom seemed to sway when tue
auditors, several hundred in number.
disregarded the expressed hope OF tho
court that there be no demonstration
until adjournment. When il was an
nounced at $40 o'clock that the jury
was ready to come into court, judge
WAfe made a short address 10 the
large number gathered to watch the
last stages Of the celebrated case, and
asked that spectators refrain from any
show Of demonstration until the court
could be adjourned. While the Judge
spoke, q. 6eathlike stiffness pervadeu. a.
spectator in the vast audience at the
extreme rear OF the courtroom bejuR
able 10 comprehend every word ut-
| tered by tlfe eonrt
Then Jurors were admitted and they
came slowly into their stations on The
had reached a verdict. the usual "we
have" was heard. and then the tense
ness vas ever more manifest. The wo-
man on trial was ordered TO stand
and hear what the dozen mon after
celebrating for some hours. had dc
cided upon.
In an instant after the verdict was
announced, the crowd turned itzcIc
loose and such 3 demonstration uaa
never before been witnessed in a court
room. Although the court ofijscrd
tried in every way 20 restore order.
their efforts were useless. The crowd
vented for the most part it's enthri-
asm in shouting and whistling. md
quite a number forced themselves 20
the front and grasped the acquitted
woman's hand
THANKED TIE JURY.
Mrs. McGowan Sat down n mom-at
and then arose to greet every mon
her of the jury, Mr.. Bolts being luo
first one 20 reach her and express Nis
pleasure that such a verdict had been
possible. Thence in tern each Of tho
jurymen was welcomed by the grAte-
fuI woman, Mrs. McGowan shaking
hands with them and speaking s5tlo
to each man individually.
Then she spoke TO her lawyers and
to court officers. In fact, she seemed
to stand the aftermath Of the trying
ordeal with even moro composurc than
had been her conduct through the en-
tiro proceedings.
She left the courtroom Immediately.
a waiting automobile whirling her
away to the home OF Louis BOley. H..
14Os East Brainard street Many mes
sages Of congratulation were teIc-
phoned to her at that place during tho
evening.
It was surprising how quickly .he
packed courtroom was emptied OF rna
large audience, for inside OF ten min
utes after the case had thus come 10
a close, lights were extInguished und
only small group stood in front ~
the building.
JUDGE WOLFE CoMPLIMENTED
Judge J. Emmett Wolfe, who presiocd
At the trial, was complimented on al
sides for the fairness and impartiaIity
IF his decisions and for the even tenn
per and the moderation which lie dis
played throughout.
In the courtroom, which was crowded
It all times, the best Of order prevailed
IND this was all the more remarkable,
wing to the unusual character Of tho
:ase. In fact. no demonstration or any
Sind occurred until the foreman an
iounced the verdict Of the jury
BROWNS MOTHER WEPT.
Mrs. Mary Brown, the mother Of tho
roung man whose life was taken, ana
Who was in the courtroom from the be-
ginning to the end OF the trial. accom-
,anied by her two daughters and her
and other relatives, could not
estrain her tears. II was her boy, her
ION, whose life had been taken, and
he could not compose herself when
he heard what the jury had decided
o report. The relatives who were with
Ter also wept, and at the FIRST oppor-
unity, led the mother from the court
oom and sought ther homes on West
Wright street, in the city. The SYM