Seventeen Hours in the Jury Room, Then 'Guilty'

Rev. M. H. Nichols has been found guilty of criminally libeling Rev. T. B. Ford. The jury, after seventeen hours' deliberation, returned a verdict in accordance with the charge laid in the information. The result was announced at 11:40 o'clock yesterday morning to a large audience that had gathered in the courtroom and patiently waited for an agreement.

At 10 o'clock a wave of expectation swept over the crowd as the twelve tired and sleepy jurymen emerged from their retirement and filed into the room, but their object was only to have the court again read its instructions in reference to the aspect of the case should it be considered that the accused firmly believed the libel to be true. In a few minutes the jury had again retired.

In about an hour and three-quarters a knock was heard, announcing the agreement. The verdict was: "We, the jury in the case wherein the state of Washington is plaintiff and M. H. Nichols defendant, do find the defendant guilty. M. Bronson, Foreman."

On learning the result the convicted man gave no sign of surprise or emotion. Mr. Wiley asked that the jury be polled, and one by one the twelve men faced the gray-haired missionary as he stood in front of them and confirmed their verdict. Mr. Nichols then bowed almost imperceptibly and sat down. Mr. Wiley gave notice of an intention to move for a new trial, and his client, on being allowed to go at liberty under the bond already given, calmly walked from the room.

Dr. Ford was at once surrounded by a crowd of rejoicing friends, shaking hands and extending congratulations. The attorneys for the defense feel assured of obtaining a new trial and will base their contention on alleged misconduct of the prosecution. They say that the examination of the accused was carried beyond the bounds of propriety. The friends of Nichols claim that he was not allowed to appear before the presbytery conference to push his case, but was arrested and thrown into the King County jail, where he remained during the inquiry resulting in Dr. Ford's exoneration.

In their long-fought battle of words Friday afternoon each of the attorneys, on rising to speak, impressed on the jury that he was not a church member. Mr. Winsor and Mr. Wiley appeared to enjoy launching a few pointed shafts at the congregation of ministers. "Strange, indeed," said one, "but it has been demonstrated here that ministers are human." Mr. Wiley shot this dart: "Look at these ministers. Are they different from any other witnesses except in the desire to tell what they do not know? You have perhaps observed the lean and hungry look of these men on the stand, who have been robbed of their substance by this despotic elder."

When Mr. Ronald's turn came he struck back, and caused some merriment by referring to Nichols as a man who "could smile and smile and be a villain still." Nichols himself took part in the argument. At one stage of Mr. Ronald's speech the attorney, after a ferocious attack upon the theological character of the circular, asked: "Who would believe such a thing?" "I would," said the accused. At another time the attorney exclaimed, "That man himself knows these charges to be false." "I know them to be true," said Nichols.