The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-05-04
.TIDWELL GOES To
TRIAL IN U.s.. COURT
AND IS ACQUITTED.
MAN CHARGED WITH WHITE
SLAVERY, RECoUNTs HIS
TROUBLES OF TWO YEARS AND
is DISCHARGED BY JURY.

Grafton of an hour and half a jury
in the United States court empan-
eled to try w. G. TidwelI on the charge
of violating the Mann white slave
act, returned a verdict of not guilty
last night. Tidwell had previously
pleaded guilty, but withdrew this plea
and went to trial.
The case attracted much attention,
not only here, but in South Carolina,
where the trouble first started. When
Mrs. Tidwell and w. G.. Woods, held
also on the same charge, were ar
rested in Mobile in January, Mrs
Tidwell is alleged to have attempted
suicide, but immediate medical atten-
ton prevented fatal results.
The case as far as Tidwell is con-
cened, has covered a period of more
than two years, during which time he
has been twice tried for manslaugh-
ter. On the witness stand yesterday
he recounted the whole story, and adj
mitted the killing, which he claimed
was justifable on the grounds that
the man he killed was accused of ac-
complishing the ruin of his daugh-
ter. After verdict OF guilty in the
first trial he appealed the case to the
supreme court, which handed down
a decision that much of the evidence
against him was immaterial. He was
then tried the second time, at which
time he became involved, he stated,
in the present difficulty, and the case
went by default.
In this second trial he stated that
seven of the twelve jurors swore thst
they had been approached during the
trial while they were in a moving
picture theater, and upon this ground
he bases his second appeal to the SUI
preme court. Pending their decision
he is out under bond of $4,000. 1t is
understood that the sheriff Of Green
vile county, South Carolina, is on
the way here to take him in custody
to await the decision of the court.
Much interest has been shown in
the case, which is said to be the most
unusual of its kind ever to come be-
fore the local court. The court room
was packed throughout the trial, and
large crowds listened with breathless
attention to the testimony of Tidwell
as he told the story of his troubles.
The defendant was represented by
Colonel L. w. Nelson and the United
States by Assistant United States Din
trict Attorney Beall.
After the case was given to the
jurymen they discussed it for about
an hour and fifteen minutes, wher
they returned, saying that owing tt
the misunderstanding Of the word 'tin.
tent" as used in the act, they could
not agree on a decision. After being
charged a second time by Judge Shep,
herd, and the meaning explained, they
went out and brought in verdict Of
acquittal in about ten minutes.
Cases occupying the morning SEES
sion of the federal court were as fol
lows:
Amos Cronly, charged with setting
fire to the woods on or near the gov
eminent property. Sentenced to serve
thirty days.
/ Lewis Sasanett and Frank Slaugh
ter, charged with illicit distilling
pleaded not guilty and the case wa
continued until Friday.
S. A. Davis and w. E. Evans
charged with illicit distilling. FineC
| $25 each.
J. D. Evans was arraigned on TIT
charge of illicit distilling and entered
plea of not guilty. Witnesses wer'
heard and the jury brought in yer
dict of guilty. A fine of $50 was i'm
posed.
Boiling Barclay, charged with il
Iicit distilling. Verdict not guilty.
Bryant Reeves, negro boy, clever
years old, was arraigned on the charg
of breaking into the postofice a
Mona, Fla, and was convicted. H
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