Douglas - Joe trial - Charley Doyel - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Joe Douglas, charged with the murder of Charley Doyle, is a free man. The jury found that he acted in self defense when he fired and lost no time in finding a verdict in his favor.

After the jury visited the scene of the shooting last Friday they returned to the court room and the arguments were at once begun. Mr. McBroom spoke for the state and was followed by Mr. Swank for the defense. Both men made excellent speeches and brought out the strong points of their respective cases with great force. Court adjourned upon the conclusion of Mr. Swank’s address and convened on Saturday at nine o’clock. Mr. Reeves opened for the state Saturday and made one of his characteristically strong speeches. Mr. Anderson closed for the defense and Mr. Whittington for the state and during their respective addresses there was a lively crashing of timbers and a flying of feathers. Their arguments were of the kind that delights an audience and the court room was packed. It was about noon when Judge West began his instructions to the jury and he was very careful and painstaking in his remarks. The instructions were eminently fair to both sides and were listened to by the jurors with marked attention. At half past twelve he closed and the case was in the hands of twelve good men and true. Before deliberating on the case the jurors had dinner and went into session shortly after one o’clock.

As a matter of fact, the jury reached its decision in the case before 2 o’clock, but owing to the failure to get the lawyers together it was not read until ten minutes to three. A fair sized audience was waiting, having presumed that the jury would not be long in returning and at fifteen minutes to three the prisoner was brought up the back way from the jail, through the alleys, in order to avoid attracting a crowd. He was very pale and manifestly nervous when the jury filed in, but when the verdict was read he smiled all over his face. The foreman of the jury was W. C. Loop, and the verdict simply stated: “We, the jury, find the defendant, Joe Douglas, not guilty as charged.” One of the jury said after the verdict: “We took but two ballots and the first one stood ten to two for acquittal. The next one was unanimous. We felt that we could not bring in any other verdict after hearing the evidence.”

When the verdict was rendered Douglas had but little to say. He is rather thick in the upper story but finally, on the suggestion of some one, arose and shook hands with the jurors, an honor all of them doubtless appreciated. He was turned loose at once but visited the jail to collect some of his effects.

 

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