Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1915 — MULLENDORE IS FREED. [ARTICLE]

MULLENDORE IS FREED.

Second Trial Lasting Six Weeks Ends in of Slayer of Cleveland Cook. Delphi, Ind., Feb. 20.-—Cheers and waving of hats greeted the verdict of 'not guilty,” which acquitted Riley Mullendoro of the murder of (trover Cleveland Cook in the circuit court here this afternoon. The noise could be heard for blocks around the court house, and it was some time before court bailiiTs could restore orfer. The defendant jumped to his feel, shook the hands of the jurors in turn and then was submerged in a rush of hundreds of his iTjends to congratulate him.

The ’jury deliberated four ana three-quarter hours. When the court boll announced a verdict the court was crowded to the doors. The enthusiasm clearly indicated tho popularity of the verdict. The trial lasted six weeks. The struggle which* resulted in Cook’s death occurred at. the home of Itiley Mullendoro near here on Christinas night, 1913, and Mullendoro has been in jail sinco that time. The first trial of the case at Lafayette resulted in a disagreement of the jury. The case went to the jury at ll o’clock this morning. Exhaustive Instructions given liy Judge F. J. Vurpillat of Winamac, consumed two hours and a half. In the Instructions Judge Vurpillat gave a scathing reprimand to Harry Tucker, one of tho chief witnesses for tho state. The court declared Tucker had been impeached in every way possible to impeach a witness by other witnesses and by his own testimony, that In the opinion of the court his evidence was absolute perjury and that the matter should he taken up by the next Carroll county grand Jury.