I will start off with an article which I discovered by accident... It just happened to be on the page I made a copy of for another article I was researching... Enjoy..!!!
Fayetteville Democrat
April 22, 1876
Hoyt's Case
Next Monday is set as the day for the commencement of the trial of Hoyt ,of Benton county, charged with murder. It is at Hoyt's option that he is now here for trial, as we learn his chances for escape have been good. It was discovered on Saturday last that he had a set of keys of his own manufacture, with which he had been in the habit of letting himself out of the Bentonville jail at night and staying with his family until just before day, when he would return and lock himself in his cell. When asked why he did not leave, he said he was waiting the result of his trial - if convicted he intended to "light out." He was betrayed by a former fellow prisoner who was in the habit of accompanying him on his perambulations around Bentonville after night.
Fayetteville Democrat
April 29, 1876
The Hoyt case was taken up on Tuesday morning last, and after much time and trouble a jury was empaneled. The evidence is all circumstantial, but the jury is an excellent one composed of men of sense and judgment. The State is ably represented by prosecuting attorney Peel, Reagan & Pettigrew, and the defendant is also ably represented by Hon. J. D. Walker, Col. J. H. Berry, Maj. R. W. Ellis and Col. Hugh Dinsmore. This trial has already consumed the entire week, and it will be about Tuesday of next week before the case is given to the jury.
According to the website Early Trials of Benton County the case was titled State vs. Girsham P. Hoytt and Cornelius Hammon. Mr. Hammons trial was held in Bentonville where he was found guilty and hanged. Mr. Hoytt's trial was moved to Fayetteville and he was acquitted.
One is left to wonder how the "key of his own manufacturer" played into the decision to move his trial to Fayetteville and the resulting circumstance of his acquittal.
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