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NOT GUILTY” DECLARES JURY JULIA MORRISON-JAriES ACQUITTED OF THE MURDER OF FRANK LEIDEN. When Verdict Was Announced Courtroom Applauded—Miss Morrison Speaks. The Julia Morrison case, which has been on trial in the circuit court at Chattanooga, was given to the jury at noon Wednesday in an exhaustive -charge from the court. Great inter¬ est was taken in the closing scenes of the celebrated trial. The courtroom was long packed with curious humanity before the judge called the law¬ yers to attention and ordered the trial to proceed. The morning hour was taken up ■with the concluding argument of coun¬ sel, two for the defense and one for the state. The first speaker was William Cuinming, lowed for the defense, pursued who fol¬ the same lines by his associate counsel of the day before. The great speech for the defense was made by Colonel Joe Clift, the patri¬ arch of the Chattanooga bar, aud in his time one of the most powerful criminal pleaders in the state. The entire interest of the morning centered in this speech, and when Colonel Clift arose to begin his argu¬ ment, he was greeted by loud and pro¬ longed applause, which brought an order from the judge to the sheriff to arrest the men applauding. “I will have to arreat the whole court room,” answered the sheriff, and there was another burst of applause. After a brief exordial, Colonel Clift proceeded to a review of the evidence which he brought out into powerful light, and the jury was at all times at¬ tentive and thoroughly impressed. He began with the company at Peeks kill, N. Y., where they started on their tour and followed them to Chat¬ tanooga; recited the daily insults and foul epithets Leiden had applied to the woman; his threats to do her bod¬ ily harm, and finally at Chattanooga his knocking her down and threaten¬ ing to kill her. And then when she was going to the stage to appear in her part, though late on account of sickness, to which several witnesses had testified, he ad¬ vanced upon her with a drawn stick as if to strike her. She had no pistol in her hand as was testified by several witnesses, and no one saw the pistol until after Leiden 'had cursed her and threatened her with his cane. Then it was, goaded to desperation, in fear of her life or great bodily inju¬ ry, that her mind became surcharged with the weight of her injuries, she lost control of herself, and drawing her revolver, which she always carried for protection, she instinctively as even the dumb brute would do, used it to save herself. No proof had been ad¬ duced to show that she was a violent woman; all the testimony was to the contrary, and this was to be taken in her favor. At the conclusion of Colonel Clift’s speech Samuel B. Smith closed for the state, summing up the evidence, and making application of the law in such cases provided. He made no new points, but argued the case purely on the provisions of the law. He made a strong arraignment of the accused, and made an effort to show by the testimony that Miss Mor¬ rison knew what she was doing; that she had gone to the opera house on the fatal night to kill Leiden; that she had bided in the lower part of the for an opportunity to kill him it would not be witnessed, but no opportunity coming to her she had gone to the stage with murder in her and the instrument for carrying her purpose in her hand; that warning or a word she had upon a defenseless man and had him. At the conclusion of Mr. Smith’s Judge Estill, although the hour had arrived, proceeded to the jury, which occupied about hour. The charge was long and given to the jury in writing after had been read at 12:50. Court then adjourned until 3 o'clock. AflERlCAN FLOUR RELEASED. English Government Decided Food Stuff as Not Contraband of War. A London special says: The Amer can flour seized off Delagoa bay has been released. United States Ambassador Choate had an interview with the Marquis of Salisbury Wednesday afternoon and received a verbal reply to .the repre¬ sentations of the Washington govern¬ ment. The British note on this sub¬ ject was sent later to the United States embassy. The gist of it was cabled to Washington. In brief, food¬ stuffs are not considered contraband of war unless intended for the enemy. Before 1 o’clock the courtroom was again crowded to its utmost limits with men aud women, and among them there was but one general expectation, the verdict would, be an acquittal, in which events proved the belief was well founded, At 3 o’clock the prisoner arrived at the courtroom and exhibited an air of supreme confidence that she would leave it free to go where she pleased, instead of retracing the unhappy route to the Hamilton county jail. While the jury was deliberating the court was busy with other cases oxi the regular docket. At 4 o’clock the Morrison jury was ushered in. A deathlike stillness en¬ sued and their faces were searched and researched by hundreds of pairs of eyes that the verdict might be read, if possible, in the countenance. For seven days that same group of twelve men had been scrutinized by thous¬ ands of spectators in Judge Estill’s court to note the effect, if any, upon them by each telling piece of evidence and each convincing point of logic enunciated by the lawyers who spoke in justification or condemnation of her alleged crime. Never perhaps in any courtroom did a more mobile, stoic and expression¬ less set of human faces appear in a jury box. The best reader of char¬ acter was set at defiance, for not in a single instance did one of the twelve faces in the jury circle betray the feel¬ ing of the heart and head. So they came through the aisle before the judge and when, after responding to their names, Judge Estill said: “Gentlemen, have you agreed upon a verdict?” “We have," replied Foreman Mc Nabb. “What is your verdict?” 1 asked the court “Not guilty,” was the answer. Miss Morrison, who had leaned far over in her chair, caught the low re¬ sponse of the foreman, and the effect of his words upon her were dramatic in the extreme. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, while her face turned from the whiteness of death to almost a crimson hue. The crowd in the court room cheer¬ ed and a rush was made toward the woman to congratulate her. Advancing to a position just in front of Judge Estill, Miss Morrison delivered in a most touching and elo¬ quent manner a brief speech, which she had evidently prepared, for she spoke rather rapidly and without hes¬ itation. She said: “May it please your honor, I wish to thank you and the gentlemen of the jury and all who were instrumental in my acquittal today for your just and generous decision. May God in His mercy be ever as just to you and yours as you have been to me today. In the same measure I wish to thank my attorneys for their noble efforts in my behalf. As for the prosecution I wish to say that I fully forgive them and bear them no malice for their strenuous efforts for my conviction. “As to my persecutors (turning to¬ ward Mrs. George J. Antz, the beauti¬ ful sister of the dead atitor, who was overcome with emotion and suffused in tears), I leave them to their con¬ sciences and their God. To the poor bereaved sister I say that God knows that were it in my power to restore her brother to her I would certainly do it.” Mr. and Mrs. James at once repaired to the Tschopik house, where they had stopped on the first night of their ap¬ in Chattanooga, and where they will remain for a time. LORD ROBERTS ARRIVES. Britons Hope Status of Affairs WiH Now Be Changed. A London special soys: During the of apparent military inactiv¬ and official secrecy, Lord Roberts Lord Kitchener have arrived at seat of war. It is assumed that clear vision, supported by 30,000 nun who are due to arrive in Africa within thirty days, will the situation and that the fourth of the campaign will witness beginning of victories for the arms. DONS NOT WANTED. English Government Refuses Profer Of 3,ooo Spanish Soldiers. The Gibraltar correspondent of The London Daily Telegraph says: “Three thousand time-expired Spanish soldiers frorp the Cuban war have offered their services to Great Britain in South Africa. The government has informed their agent that he is not authorized to enlist foreigners.” Senator Mallory May Resign. It is reported in Tampa, Fla., that on account of ill health Senator Mal¬ lory will resign his seat in the senate, and that Congressman S.M. Sparkman will be nominated to fill the place. FAVORABLE REPORT OH CABAL BILL Committee Recommends the Hepburn Pleasure to House. CALLS FOR MANY MILLIONS Committee Did Not Wait For Re¬ port of Walker Commission. A Washington special says: The house committee on interstate and for¬ eign commerce ordered 1 a favorable report upon the Hepburn bill for the construction of the Nicaraguan canal. The bill is practically the same one reported by this committee in the last congress. The committee made some changes in the original bill, inserting a new section, 3, and making verbal altera¬ tions. FULL TEXT OF BILL. As finally agreed to, the bill is as follows: To provide for the construction of a canal connecting the waters of the At¬ lantic and Pacific oceans. Be it enacted, That the president of the United States is hereby author¬ ized to acquire from the states of Costa Rica and Nicaragua for and iu behalf of the United States control of such territory now belonging to Costa Rica and Nicaragua as may be desira¬ ble and necessary in which to excavate, construct and defend a canal of such depth and capacity as will be sufficient for the movements of ships of the greatest tonnage and draft now in use, from a point near Georgetown, on the Carribean sea, via Lake Nica¬ ragua to Breto, on the Pacific ocean; and such sums as may be necessary to secure such control are hereby ap¬ propriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Section 2—That after the president has secured full control over the ter¬ ritory iu the section referred to, he shall direct the secretary of war to ex¬ cavate and construct a canal waterway from a point on the shore of the Carib¬ bean sea near Grey town, by way of Lake Nicaragua, to a point near Breto on the Pacific ocean. Such canal shall be of sufficient capacity and depth as that it may be used by vessels of the largest tonnage and greatest depth now in use and shall be supplied with all necessary locks and other appliances to meet the necessities of vessels pass¬ ing from Greytown to Breto, and the Beoretary of war shall also construct such safe and commodious harbors at the termiui of said canal and such for¬ tifications for defense as will be re¬ quired for safety and protection of said canal and harbors. Section 3. That the president shall cause such surveys as may be neces¬ sary for said canal and harbors and in the constructing of the same. . Section 4. That in the excavation and const! uction of said canal, the San Juan river and Lake Nicaragua, or such parts of each as may be made available, shall be used. Section 5. That in any negotiations with the other states of Costa Rica or Nicaragua, the president may have, the president is authorized to guaran¬ tee to said states the use of said canal and harbors upon such terms as may be agreed upon, for all vessels owned by said states or citizes thereof. Sec. 6. That the sum of $140,000,000, or so mnch thereof as may be necessa¬ ry, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the completion of the work herein authorized, said money to be drawn from the treasury from time to time as the same shall be needed, upon the warrants of- the president, based on estimates made and verified by the chief engineer in charge of the work, and approved by the secretary of war. BUTLER SENDS NEWS. Informs War Office That He Has Crossed Tugefta River. The London war office Friday morn¬ ing received the following dispatch from General Buller,dated Springfield, Thursday, January 11, at 9:29, even¬ ing: “I occupied the south bank of the Tugela river at Potgieter’s drift this morning and seized Pont. The river is in flood. The enemy is strongly entrenched about four and a half miles to the north.” COTTON fllLLS IN MEXICO. During the Past Year Twenty»Six Were Built In That Country. Twenty-six cotton mills have been built in Old Mexico during the last year and new mills are being pushed to completion. There is mudh inter terest in prospecting for tin since that metal has risen in price, and some tin properties in the state of Durango give good promise, according to the reports of experts now on the ground. New Road In Florida. A new railroad is soon to be built from White Springs, Fla., on the Suwannee river, to Wellborn, which will open up a fine farming section. DEWEY S REPORT Received From Manila Last Year Is Presented andiRead In the Senate. Responding to the senate’s resol ution of inquiry, the secretary of the navy sent to the senate Thursday a copy of Admiral Dewey’s report from Hong Kong, dated March 31, 1898, relative to the capture of Manila, then under Consideration. He stated that his own squadron was in a high state of efficiency. Speaking of the Spanish forces he said it numbered about 15, 000 soldiers of all arms in all the is¬ lands, of which half were in the vicin¬ ity of Manila. “The islands,” says the report, “are now in a state of insurrection, and my informant states that even the Spanish soldiers, who constitute only a small part of the whole, are disaffect¬ ed. Both ships and forts are in need of ammunition. I believe I am not over¬ confident in stating that with the squadron under my command the ves¬ sels could be taken and the defense of Manila reduced in one day. “There is every reason to believe that with Manila taken, or even block¬ aded, the rest of the islands would fall either to the insurgents or ourselves, as they are only held now through the support of the navy, and are depend¬ ent upon Manila for supplies. Infor¬ mation has just reached me that there are 5,000 armed rebels in camp near Manila, who are willing to assist me.” WILL RECALL flETHUEN. - Report Current That Mental Condi* tion of General Is Unbalanced. A special cable to The Chicago Tribune from London says Lieutenant General Lord Methuen,’ commanding the column advancing to the relief of Kimberley, is to be relieved of his command within two weeks. Later he will be sent to Cape Town and eventually ordered home. "When he reaches England he will be retired. These facts have been confirmed by an official of the war office. Lord Methuen’s case -is a sad one. Always a man of rather frail physique —although a clever boxer and all-round sportsman—his constitution began to show signs of breaking down almost immediately after he took command of his division. Three days after the battle of Bel¬ mont, General Wolseley suggested to the war office that Methuen be reliev¬ ed. His advice was not needed. The wisdom of the aged but keen com¬ mander-in-cheif of the British army is now realized by the war office who scoffed at his suggestion. Friends of Lord Methuen insist he is only in broken health; that the strain of many campaigns has shatter¬ ed his naturally nervous system. Those who know the circumstances and the situation on Modder river equally well and who are willing to state facts plainly, say that Methuen’s mind is unbalanced. SATISFACTORY SO FAR. Ambassador Choate Cables Reply of Britain Regarding Flour Seizures. The answer of the British govern¬ ment to Mr. Choate’s representations respecting the seizures of American flour and other goods on the three ves¬ sels, Beatrice, Mashona and Madeira, has been received. Just as the officials of the state de¬ partment anticipated, it amounted to a partial answer and is very satisfac¬ tory so far as it goes, disposing of the character of some of the goods seized, but not finally deciding broadly whether or not foodstuffs are to be re¬ garded as contraband of war. In brief Mr. Choate reports as follows. “That the answer is highly satisfac¬ tory; that it is broad and liberal in terms. The position assumed by the British government is that foodstuffs in transit to a hostile destination can be regarded as contraband of war only when they ore supplies for She enemy’s forces. It is not sufficient they are oapable of being used' for the benefit of the enemy; it must be shown that they are so in fact through their desti¬ nation at the time of the seizure. “The British government doss not that any of the American goods the German bark Maria and the bark Mashona were contra¬ of war. The British government investigating the fact in connection the goods seized on the third ves¬ the Beatrice.” TAYLOR ENTERS PROTEST. Says Contest Committee Is Partial to Goebel Faction. A dispatch from Frankfort, Ky., Governor Taylor, through his filed, with the contest com¬ a motion to require the Demo¬ members now serving on the committee to vacate. The was in the nature of a protest. is supported by an affidavit charg¬ that the names were fraudulently by the clerk, and the Demo¬ members now serving are all by reason of partiality for contestant, alleged evidence of which is mentioned specifically as to PLAIN TALK BY PETTIGREW Dakota Senator Delivers Sensational Speech. AIMED AT THE PRESIDENT Says Philippine Policy Is One of “Con¬ cealment and Duplicity” On Part of the Administration. A spirited and at times sensational debate was precipitated in the senate Thursday on the ^Philippine question over the resolutions of inquiry. Mr. Pettigrew, of South Dakota, attacked the administration’s polioy in the Phil¬ ippines and also made some startling charges against those who were sup¬ porting the administration. Mr. Pettigrew declared that a sys¬ tematic effort was being made to pre¬ vent accurate information from reach¬ ing the people of the United States and that it was a political scheme to further the candidacy of Mr. McKin¬ ley for renomination and re-election. Before adjournment the senate, after prolonged debate, passed the bill con¬ ferring additional powers upon the director of the census. At the open¬ ing the Pettigrew resolution and the Lodge substitute, both seeking from the president all information regard¬ ing the Philippine insurrection, were laid before the senate. Mr. Lodge suggested that both be withdrawn and the Hoar resolution be adopted as a substitute. Mr. Lpdge said he wanted informa¬ tion especially as to the effect of the encouragement the Filipipos received from the United States. Mr. Hoar agreed with Mr. Lodge. Mr. Pettigrew objected. He want¬ ed specifiio information, regardless of whether the president wanted it known or not. “The trouble with the imperial¬ ists,” said Mr. Pettigrew, “is that they have confounded the interests of the people of the United States with the political desires and ambitions of their puny president and regarded him and his success as more import¬ ant: than a rightful treatment of the Filipinos,. The fact ^“irfis ' whole business is bound up in the presi¬ dent’s desire to again be a candidate of his party for president.” Mr. Pettigrew discussed the censor¬ ing of dispatches from the Philip¬ pines. He declared that important and significant facts had been stricken from news dispatches from Manila and * rom official reports. “As an instance of this work,” said he, “the Sulu treaty was mangled and partly suppressed until after the elec¬ tion in Ohio.” Mr. Pettigrew declared the procla¬ mation issued by the president was, on the recommendation of General Otis, altered materially by the presi¬ dent before it was published to the Philippine natives. As originally drawn it was, to his mind, a flat decla¬ ration of war, and when Aguinaldo and his leaders came iwto possession of the original they so regarded it. “The 'whole wretched business, ,f declared Mr. Pettigrew vehemently, “was one of concealment and duplicity, intended to deceive not only the peo¬ ple of the United States, but also the islanders themselves.” In substantiation of his charge that the dispatches from the Philippines were censored in the interests of the administration, Mr. Pettigrew quoted from a letter written by Robert M. Collins, Associated Press representa¬ tive at Manila. In this letter Mr. Collins related the substance of an in¬ terview upon the subject of censoring dispatches which he had had with General Otis. Mr. Pettigrew read the statements of Mr. Collins, in which he said it was the evident desire of the officials to prevent certain information from reaching the people of the United States. When he (Collins) had filed a dis¬ patch containing information which he thought was proper to send to the United States he had been informed by the censor that he had been in¬ structed to cut out anything that might hurt the administration. CASUALTIES AT LADYSMITH. ■» British War Office Finally Receives Correct List of Dead. The London war office announces that the British casualties at Lady¬ smith January 6 among the rank and file were 135 killed and 242 wounded. Lady Methuen has issued an abso¬ lute contradiction of the rumors that Lord Methuen is ill, or that he was injured by the falling of his horAe at the battle of Magerafontein. To Fight Cigarettes. • In the South Carolina house of rep¬ resentatives a bill has been introduced to prohibit the sale of cigarettes.