Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/92

* VERDI. work, Falstaff (1893). It is remarkable that Verdi, whose only comic opera had l)eou a signal failure, should close his career with the most delightful musical comedy which the world pos- sesses, with the single exception of Wagner's Meistersinger. The list of Verdi's works is com- pleted by the mention of a dramatic cantata, Inno delle Xa^ioiii (ISlK), a string quarti't (1873), several romances, a nolturno for three voices with flute obligato, and his last compo- sition, Quattro I'ezzi Hacri (1898). In 1874 Verdi -was made Senator. In 1896 he donated the sum of one million lire to the city of Milan for the purpose of erecting a home for old and invalid musicians of both sexes. The last years of his life were spent in retirement at his villa, Sant' Agata. where he died. Consult: Berinello, Giuseppe Verdi (P.erlin. 1899): Sof- fredini, Le opere di Yerdi (Jlilan, 1901) ; Crow- est. Yerdi, Man and Musician; His Biography (New York. 1897) : Pougin. Verdi, an Anecdotic History/ of Bis Life and Worl-a (translated from the French by Matthew, London and New York, 1887). VEKDICT. The finding of a jury upon the issues tried before it. The jurors must deter- mine upon the state of facts which they all consider to have been established by the evidence, and make a proper application of the law re- lating thereto as charged by the court. Where a court wishes to reserve the application of the law to itself, it may direct the jury to find the facts only, and such a finding is known as a special verdict. A verdict must be the result of the fair and imbiased consideration of all the jurors, and if it is arrived at in any other way it may be set aside. For example, if the jurors differ as to the amount of damages to be awarded to a plaintiff, and in order to reach an agreement, add together the various sums con- tended for by each, and divide the total by twelve, such a 'quotient' or 'compromise' verdict may be set aside. A verdict which is the result of chance or lot is also illegal and void. In civil proceedings if the verdict is against the weight of evidence or illegal for any reason it may be set aside. In criminal proceedings a verdict of acquittal is conclusive. A verdict must be unanimous, and it has been held that in trials for felony the accused cannot waive the right to the verdict of twelve jurors. The courts in many States may receive a verdict on Sun- day. An accused person has the right to be present in court when the verdict is rendered. If it is not convenient for a judge to receive a verdict at the houi' the jurors arrive at their conclusion, Ik! may authorize them to write it out, afhx their signatures to the paper, seal it up securely, and deliver it to a court officer for custody until they assemble again in court to announce it. This is often done where the ver- dict is determined upon late at night, especially on the eve of a holiday. The verdict of a jury is announced by its foreman and nuist be in a proper forni to answer the issues ])resenlcd. For example, a, gener.-il verdict is 'for the jilaintifr or 'for the defendant.' specifying the amount of recovery, and in criminal cases, 'guilty' or 'not guilty.' In Scotland the peculiar and unsatis- factory form of verdict 'not proven' is per- mitted in criminal cases. This docs not exon- erate the prisoner, but is a bar to a second trial. 66 VEKDTJN. Consult Stephen, Commentaries on the La-iK of England (14th ed., London, 1903); Seu: York Code of Civil Procedure; and the authorities re- ferred to vuider Pleading. See Juby. VEKDIGBIS (OF. va'd de gris, vert de gris, Fr. vert-dc-gris. verdigris, green of the Greeks). A green pigment consisting of basic copper ace- tates in varying proportions. It was known to the ancient Romans, and is prepared by expos- ing thin sheets or strips of copper to the vapor of acetic acid rising from the marcs or residues from wine factories, and is manufactured largely in the wine districts of France. After a few weeks, the surface of the copper becomes coated with a crust of verdigris, which is then detached, and finds its chief use as a pigment, especially when mixed with white-lead. It is also used in dyeing and calico printing, and for the prepa- ration of Schweinfurt green and other copper paints. Verdigris has long been employed in medicine in the form of an ointment or liniment, chielly as a caustic application to warts. It is an irritant poison, and the free administration of the white of eggs and milk is its best antidote. VEEDIN. A bird. See Goldtit. VEKDUN", var'deN' (officially Yerdun-sur- Meuse). A fortified town of the first class, cap- ital of an arrondissement in the Department of Meuse, France, on the right bank of the Meuse, 43 miles by rail west of Metz (ilap: France, M 2). The river separates here into five branches. Since the Franco-Prussian ^ ar it has been made the strongest town of Eastern France. The defenses consist of eleven forts in a circle about the town, four on the left and seven on the right bank of the ileuse. Those on the right bank are con- nected with a series of forts reaching to Toul. Among the noteworthy buildings is the cathe- dral, built in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, and altered in the fourteenth and seventeenth. Other features are the Hotel de Ville. the Palais de Justice, the new college, and the Bishop's Palace. There is a valuable public library. Hardware, leather, liqueurs, and famous con- fectionery are manufactures. Verdun, the Roman Verodunum, was included in the Kingdom of Austrasia. In the ninth century it became part of Lorraine and remained a German town till the Reformation, rising to the position of a free Im- perial city. The surrounding district was ruled by the bishops of Verdun, with whom the citizens had to wage long struggles. In 1552 Henry II. of France seized the town and the bishojiric, which were formally reiinqiushed by the Ger- man Empire in the Peace of Westphalia (1G4S). In 1870 Verdun siirrendcred to the Prussians after a severe bombardment. Population, in 1901, 21,360. See Verdun, Treaty of. VERDUN, Treaty of. The peace concluded on August 10, 843, by Louis the German, Charles the l?ald, and the Emperor Lolhair, the three sons of Louis the Pious. Iiy which the Frankish Empire was divided among them. By the terms of the treaty Lothair retained the honorary title of Emperor, with Italy and the country between the Rhine on the cast, and the Rhone. Saone, Meuse. and Scheldt on the west; .ix-la-Chapelle was given to him as his capital. Louis received th-e eoimtries east of the Aar and the Rhine, also the gaus of Speier. Worms, and Mainz. Charles received the countries west of