Year: 1875

THE PRISONER FOUND GUILTY ON THREE
coUNTs-GREAT INTEREST AND EXCITEMENT
IN PH1LADELPH1A-TH SCENE IN COURT.


PHILADELPHIA Sept 90 1875
When Judge Elcock concluded his charge to the jury
in the of William H. westervelt at seven O'Clock
Saturday night the jury retired to deliberate and
the court adurned until this morning at ten
O'Clock. They afterward into Court and asked
several questions, which showed that an immediate
disagreement was improbable. Two hours before the
opening this morning the street opposite the Court
House bockaded that access to the Philadelphia
Office Of the HERALD mpeded and at ten O'Clock
impossible to approach within dozen yards Of the
Court House doorway, every inch of within being
occupied. The long adjournment had led TO the fear
that the jury would agree and the greatest interest
to know the result when they came into court was
universally manifested.


The jury filed into their chairs at ten O'Clock pre-
csely Judge Ecock taking his seat at the time
As the prisoner took his place In the dock he looked
much older than on Saturday. Worn and detected as
he appeared then, he seemed by comparison to
bear strong and cheerful aspect This morning
he apparently wearied by the strain of
wretched suspense that had long borne upon him.
and his face showed signs weeping and trouble hard
to be endured few moments after he was seated
his wife and two children in. He kissed his chill
dren and his wife, and she stood beside him for mo-
ment holding tightly to his hand while both wept
silently. Mrs Wcstervet sat down beside the dock for
few moments, and then, feeling that she could





escorted out OF the court room by officer The
prisoner looked after them with long. mournful
gaze and then his eyes sought the 1oor aud he sat
with his head leaning upon his hand and waited
motionless for the decisive word 10 be spoken





Judge Elcock, having taken his seat upon the
bench despatched messengers for the District Attor-
ney and Mr. Ford. AS the latter gentleman came In to
court he went to his clients side shook hands and
changed few words with him. and then took his
the table The roll of the jury then called and
they asked if they had agreed upon a verdict.


''We have, responded the foreman


GLOW say your DO you find the defendant, William
Westervelt, guilty or not gultyY'


equity the third fourth and fifth counts of the
Indictment and not guilty TO the first and second"
Upon motion of Mr. Ford the jury was poled, and
each one his name was called rose in his place and
repeated the verdict they had agreed upon.


The prisoner although he had evidently tried to pre-
pare himself for the worst had not braced himself up
sufficiently to bear u strongly, and as the foreman an
and wept like child He continued weeping, with his
head bowed down, until the time came to remove him
from the court room, when ne arose ana went down
through the trap door with nervous haste as II anx-
ious TO be relieved quickly possible from the
rious and unsympathetc gaze of the crowd


The counts which he acquitted charged his
actual participation in the abduction Those which he
convicted charge him with having guilty knowledge
and being joint conspirator with Douglass, hosher
Immediately afS the pronouncng Of the verdict,
Mr. Ford, OF the counsel for the Defence arose and
moved for arrest Of judgment and for trial.
The Court allowed the customary time-four days-in
which prepare and submit the points which the
argument for new trial is to be based


In conversation with of the jurors this morning.
reporter learned that up to yesterday afternoon
the jury stood nine for conviction on the three last
counts and three for absolute acquittal Yesterday
afternoon Of the three changed in favor Of
conviction, and the jury stood ten to two until
O'Clock this morning, when thoy became unanimous on
There is truth in the alleging that Wester-
welt knows where Charley Ross is that he is alive and
will be returned, &c. IL originated in a sensational
sheet here. Such news always sells well in Philadc-
pha.