The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1915-12-09

the thomson publisher, charged with
sending obscene matter through the
mails, came to at least temporary
end.
The case began last Friday morn
ing, and the jury was selected Friday
afternoon. Saturday morning the
actual trial commenced and it has
easily been the most celebrated case
ever tried in the United States court
at Augusta. There mas been nation
wide interest in the case, and the AS
sOciated Press has sent out thou
sands of words, while other news
papers from out Of the city have re-
ceived great quantities OF news mat
&er on the case.
There have been two indictments
against Mr.. Watson, charged with
sending obscene matter through the
mails. He was first arrested in 1912
on warrant sworn out against him
at the instance Of the postoffice de-
partment, came to Augusta and was
bound over by the then United States
commissioner Walter II. Goodwin The
grand jury at the succeeding term of
court found true bill and Mr.. Wat
son, represented by Hon. S. G. Nc
Tendon, appeared in court on the day
set for his trial. Mr.. Alexander
Alderman was then district attorney.
Judge Foster, Of the United States
district court Of Louisiana, sitting
for Judge Speer, quashed the indict-
ment on a demurrer filed by Mr..
Watson. At this same term of court
Mr.. Watson was again presented to
the grand jury, but no Indictment
was returned.
At the next term Of court an in
diCtment was found, however, and
this is the Indictment to which the
defendant pleaded not guilty in the
court at this term. Judge Speer dis
qualified himself from sitting on the
case and Judge Lambdin tried it.
The inference from the courts re-
marks to the jury at various times
since the case was started was that
the case would again be tried at the
next term of court if no verdict was
reached. The court made use of such
an expression as this: "This case
must be decided by some jury and l
do not believe more intelligent jury
can be secured than the present one"
The case Of the Government against
Mr. Watson has been contested Wig
orously on both sides. The govern
ment, represented by able counsel,
has fought for every point, while, of
course, the defendant has fought
vigorously. The unique situation Of
a defendant being his own attorney
was presented in this case. He was
assisted, however, by Messrs. w. II.
Fleming, J. Gordon Jones and Don
Clark.
District Attorney Donaldson, as
Risted by MessrS. Wallace Miller and
Charles Russell, conducted the prose-
Cution.
The mistrial has been expected ever
since the jury had failed to agree
within the first hour. There have
been a great many guesses made as
to how the jury stood, but nothing
accurate has been obtainable.
1t was at first believed that the
court would call the jury in about
o'clock Wednesday afternoon and in
terrogate the members but he de-
cided to give little more time and
waited until after supper. He an
nouneed that court would be recon-
yened at 1880 o'clock.
Arriving at the government build
ing soon after 1880 the court decided
to give the jury still more time, and
it was not until 1888 that he called
them out OF their room.
When the jury was called out Fore
man C. E. Brown, OF Tennille, stated
b nCcIxy cn1s