The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1921-07-22
HIGGINS FREED
DN 2ND BALLOT
JURY OUT LESS THAN
!. TWO HOURS FOR
N Ss VERDICT
TRIAL ONE OF LONGEST.

q A1sey delib6ratl0n or lses IMAM Two
heurs, the jury in the case OF the trial
;ol Forrest Higgins, charged with the
morder Of Lucy Wittum, gave decis-
I Ion OF not guilty, thus ending case
that bad occupied four weeks in the
.ofrcuit court and cost the county sum
.6f money variously estimated at from
q, 900 to $4,000
Leaving the court room at $40 o'clock
Monday afternoon, at the end of the
chsrge by Judge Collins. the jury elect
"a J. 81. Augustine foreman. and took
3 ballot which resulted in vote Of 10
t02 in favor of acquittal. The jury
then retired for supper.
After supper the jury returned aud
took its second ballot which resulted
In the unanimous decision that Higgins
Wa not guilty. Word was sent by
Deputy Sheriff Herrick that the jury
wss ready to render its decision.
Returning to an almost empty court
room, tho Jury fled in and took its
plscs st just 7;l5. Higgins was brought
IN 10 hear the verdict and the judge
asked the foreman the verdict of the
jury. Mr.. Augustine stood up and in
clear voice, announced, mot guilty. "
AZ the verdict Higgins seemed dazed
Tor q minute. his head sinking on his
breast 40 II he could not believe that
be was again free man. However,
In . minute he stood mp, after the
fofmality of the judges asking the ap-
provsl Of the jury. and was told by the
Judge that he was free. He then asked
permission to shake hands with the
jury, went over aud thanked each
member, and with his brother, went to
ths Jail, got his belonings and went
home.
When the verdict WAS rendered there
was hardly anyone in the court room
besides Higgins' brother and the
Wittum faulty which did not attempt
70 conceal its keen disappointment at
the decision Of the jury.
Higgins' fither had taken Mrs. Hig.
gins home soon after the retiring OF the
jury ~ he feared she would break down
on hearing the verdict, so they were
not in the room when the verdict was
rendered.
Immediately after his acquittsl, Hig-
gins left for rest, but his whereabouts
afs not known. His stay in the Jail
snd the strain under which he has been
for tho past nearly four months, has
caused him to lose weight and become
hsggard and pale. It is not known
when he will return to his home.
The close Of the Higgins trial ended,
With ono exc option. the longest
trial the county has ever seen. It is
probably by far the most expensive and
has attracted Gro wds never before seen
In the court room. People began to
como two and three hours before court
began, toward the end of the trial and
long before 1t opened, every availatle
inch Of space was occupied by listeners.
Many crowded into the front part OF
the room and some even pushed their
way up to the clerks desk, surrounded
the sneriff's desk and invaded places In
room where none but those taking part
In trial are permitted. The tempers'
ture Of the court room was almost un'
bssrsble during the greater part Of the
trial, tho weather outside being the
hottest seen here for years, and the
macs of sweltering people inside the
eourt room making it like an oven
Many times during the trial people
were assisted ont of the room in faint
Of near faint from the heat.
Brilliant work by the four ATTORNEYS
IN the case and the masterful charge oi
rho jury by Judge Collins featured the
trial. Prosecutor Matthews and Spec
ial Prosecutor Hicks and Attorney,
Chandler and Pulver for the defense
did work in the trial which entitlt
them to large amount Of credit fol
the complete and thorough way In
which they covered all the details and
brought forth every aspect OF the case.
Judge Collins charge to the jury
which occupied but 40 minutes. is con
sidered masterpiece. He summed NJ
the important points Of the testimony
snd made clear the law In respect Il
sil tho parts of the case Ia manner
which left no question on any point
The breviiy and absolute de6nitenes
Continued on page 5