The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-01-15
Jackson Jury on Third Bal
lot Sets Frisco Agent
Free.
FREEMAN DISGUISED,
TAYLOR is DELIGHTED
Trial Was One of Most Spectac-
ular in County-Six Lawyers
Snapped Wits.

spectacular LIldIS ever ISdIu Ill liiC
Jackson courthouse, John w. Taylor,
4 Frisco claim agent, was acquitted
last night of the charge of assault
with intent to kill Chris NJ. Freeman,
proprietor of the Crescent restaurant.
The verdict was reached after three
hours of deliberation and at the close
Of the third ballot, member of the
jury stated last night. The first bal
lot showed nine for acquittal and
three for conviction, and the second
vote showed but one for conviction.
The third ballot exOnerated Taylor,
! and he returned to the Cape q free
man.
/ The testimony was finished short
ly before 2 o'clock and then the argu-
ments began. The legal array was
about evenly divided, and was COM
posed of six of the best known lawyers
in this county.
J. Henry Caruthers, Prosecuting
! Attorney, was first to address the
jury. He spoke for thirty minutes and
at the conclusion of his address,
Thomas i. Lane, for the defense,
took up the case. After Mr.. Lane fin
ished his argument, r. L. Ward, of Ca
ruthersville, representing the defense,
made a spectacular appeal to the jury.
He was followed by f. n. Mosely, enc
of the special prosecutors, and then
/ 7. D. Hines, chief counsel for Mr.
Taylor, made an impressive appeal for
his client.
Judge Edward D. Hays, represent
/ ing the State, delivered a vigorous re-
ply to the attorneys for the defense,
and concluded with bitter attack up
on Taylor.
I At the conclusion of the arguments,
which lasted several hours, Judge
Kelly administered his charge, and the
jury retired and began its delibera-
lions. After the first ballot, they were
taken to the city hotel for dinner.
Shortly before Z o'clock the jury
was taken back to the courthouse in
charge Of deputy sheriff, where they
again began discussion of the case.
Judge Kelley reached the court
room after dinner, a few moments be
fore the jurors and announced that ne
would wait for verdict. Shortly be
fore 9 o'clock, the foreman of the
body, announced that the iurymen had
reached a verdict. The members were
then ordered into the courtroom to re-
port.
A large crowd waited with the Judge
and the attorneys in the case to hear
the decision. When the jury entered
a silence swept over the big crowd of
men, women and children. John w.
Taylor, the defendant occupied seat
beside his attorneys. He sat motion
less, staring at the twelve men who
were to pass Judgment upon him. His
right hand trembled slightly as his
fingers twitched q piece of paper.
The court asked the foreman of the
jury, if an agreement had been reach
ed and he replied in the affirmative. 1t
was then read, and was as follows:
I'VE, the jury, find the defendant not
guilty"
The crowd remained quiet for a
moment, as if those present had not
caught the words of the message. And
then a ripple of applause rang out.
The defendant, his face wreathed in
smiles, shook hands with his counsel.
After thanking the men who had set
him free, Taylor hurried to the tele-
phone to notify his relatives in this
city.
Mr.. Taylor returned to the Cape
shortly after the jury had brought in
its verdict, and after his arrival home,
when interviewed by a.Tribune repre-
sentative, he said: ~ feel thankful to
the jury for what they have done and
for the fair mindedness they display
ed. The evidence against me was
framed up, but the jury would not ac-
cept it.
81 want to state that was tried by
twelve honorable gentlemen of good
Judgment, not ONLY of the law, but of
human nature as well, and they could
see that the evidence was framed UP
and untrue from start to finish.
"The court room was full of people
when the verdict was read, and it was
met with loud applause.
81 tjliI.k the jury was out about two
hours AMI twenty minutes"
C. NJ. Freeman, the complaining
witness, in conversation with a
T,;I,,po ranraSontafiyp made the fol-