POPULAR VERDICT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1932, Page 5

POPULAR VERDICT

JURY THANKED

END Gr LANCASTER TRIAL. (Uuited Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) MIAMI, August 17. The verdict freeing Lancaster /precipitated a court room demonstration that threatened to go beyond the control of the -bailiffs. There were fashionably gowned women .present who shriek, ed in deiight. Nearly a pandemonium followed, with the bailiffs’ deputies and the sheriff’s police vainly .striving to control the crowd that surged towards the freed man in an eftort to grasp his hand. On© portly matron, an interested fro lit--row spectator since the, start ot the trial, moaned aloud .and sank back in a chair gasping with delight. She did not know Lancaster. In the midst of the uproar, a death like stillness descended -as Lancaster nervously clasping and unclasping his hands, stepped before the jurors In their box and said: “Gentlemen, you have been very patient with my case. You had to listen during the long .trial to many things, I want to give you my hefiri/felt thnnks for exonerating me.” He then bowed briskly. Istepped away and tried to resume the ohair he had occupied since he wont ■on trial, but he was prevented by a re, newed mad surge of .spectators. “I’m delighted at my - acquittal,’ he said to the newspaper men as they attempted to talk to him above the roar of the crowd.

Mrs Keith Miller was absent when the jury’s verdict was read, but she quickly beard it in an adjoining office. “I’m delighted! I knew old Bill would come through,’’ she cried. Lancaster a few minutes later made his way to the press table. He there dictated a statement as follows: —“My immediate plans are to go borne to Carson to rest for a few days. After that my first desire is to find a job,” “Do your present plays include Mrs Miller?” he was asked.

He -replied “ Please -don’t ask me to answer that now! I don’t know what my answer would be.” \