Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1907 — WAS NOT IN THE PLOT [ARTICLE]

WAS NOT IN THE PLOT

Haywood Absolved of Guilt in the Steunenberg Case by the Boise Jury. IT FIRST STOOD EIGHT TO FOUB Majority Being in Favor of the Primer’• Acquittal Minority Gradually Won Over to the Same View—Judge's Charge Is Influential—Defense Naturally Elated. Boise, Ida., July 29. William D. Haywood, secretary-treasurer of the Western Federation of Miners, has been made a free man. The jury in his case rendered a verdict of not guilty at a few minutes after 8 a. m. yesterday, after deliberating for nearly thirty-three hours. The agreement in the jury room was readied just after daylight yesterday. Haywood came into court palpably nervous, but said he was “feeling well.” The court proceedings were brief, requiring less than three minutes. The twelve jurors who filed in looked completely tired out from their all-night work. Jury's Verdict Is Read. Judge Wood had been sent for shortly after 7 a. m., and when he had taken the bench, he said: "Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed upon a verdict?” "We have,” said Thomas B. Gess, foreman. He handed an envelope to tbo judge who transferred it to the clerk who read: “Stateof Idaho against William D. Haywood: We, the jury in the above entitled case, find the defendant, William D. Haywood, not guilty.” Haywood a Free Man Again. The prisoner’s attorneys jumped to their feet and slapped Haywood on the back and all tried to grasp his hands at once. Judge Wood immediately ordered Haywood’s discharge. The jury stood deadlocked at 10 for acquittal to 2 for conviction most of the night, and ballots were taken at frequent intervals. On the very first ballot taken after the jury retired the vote was 8 for not guilty. 3 for mqrder, and one undecided. Then the undecided man went over to the majority, making it 9 to 3. One by one the members of the minority were won over until just after daylight yesterday, the unanimous agreement was reached. Fair Trial, Says the Defense. Governor Gooding was in the.court room when the verdict was rendered, lie had nothing to say and left in company with James H. Hawley, leading counsel for the state. None of the state counsel would comment on the verdict. Haywood thanked each, one of the jurors in turn and told them if they ever came to Denver there would be a warm welcome for them at the "Haywood home.” All the attorneys for the defense declared the trial perfectly fair. A self-constituted jury of twelve socialists which had attended every day of the trial reached a verdict uuaninuyisly which was published Saturday morning. It was “not guilty.”