The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-02-26
ACQUITTED OF MURDER.
Mrs. Gardner, q Former Resident Of
Wadcna, Acquitted of the Murder
of her Husband and Child.

Mrs. s. S. Gardner a former resident of Wa dena
but who has resided in Chicago for the past three
years, and who it will be remembered shot and
killed her husband md child in that city several
months ago and attempted her own life, has been
tried for murder and acquitted on the grounds of
emotional insanity<3 The Chicago papers contain
iosSSJJ 81 The trial, and we make the fol-
lowing extract from column-and-a-half report
of the trial in the Chicago Daily Times of the 18th
inst:
Mrs. Della Gardner was tried yesterday before
jury, in Judge Rodgers branch of the criminal
court, for the murder of he: husband and babe
nom of Nov. 6, 1884 Financial reverses had
soured the temper Of her husba nd, and after fire.
quently charging her with having, violated her
marriage VOWS, he was packing up his trunk pre-
paratory to leaving her without mea ms to support
herss If and l5-months- old babe. when the wom-
an. crazed by jealous and frantic because Of the
cherries and hopeless future before her, seized
revolver and shot HIM. She then sent a bullet
crashing through the infants brain, and also shot
herself with almost fatal effect. The husband and
child died almost instantly, and the poor dis.
trected wife and mother, after lying al the point
of death for nearly two weeks recovered to realize
her awful situation aud to stand before the bar of
/ Justice to answer for her terrible act. It seems
from the evidence that DR.. Schuyler S. Gardner,
her husband, had given his wife just grounds for
suspeeting his fidelity to md love for her, She
&c: UP tie ries Of insanity at the time the shoot
! ing occurred.
The defendant, who is q refined, lady like ap-
pearinE woman Of 80 years Of age came into court
| attended by largo number of we'll dressed and
handsome lady friends, who sat beside her during
the trial and offered her such consolation and ad.
vice asthe occasion seemed to demand. She was
dressed in neat fitting black dress and dark
cloak. Her handsome features bore traces Of
suffering, and red scar Oh her scalp above the
right ear showed where the bullet had entered hel
| skull. She was apparently composed and self
possessed, except when the name of her husband
or babe was mentioned by the counsel or witness
es. Then she would bow her head and weep bit
tery 1t is not often that court habitues are call
cd upon to witness scene like that pr esented BY
| the trial of the woman who, by her own hand had
rendered herself husbandless.
| At the conclusion of the testimony the case was
| submitted to the jury without argument. Judge
! Roberts delivered brief oral charge in which he
instructed the mem bers of that body to the diff
| ferent forms Of verdict they might bring in The
jury then retired to their room. Aftsr about ten
minutes .deliberati,,n they came into the court
and presented their verdict, which read:
| We the jury, find. the defendant not guilty by
reason OF insanity at the time the crime was com
mtted, and that she has recovered from that i'll
| sanity.
! Judge Roberts remarked, after ordering the dis.
| charge of the defendant: ''There is no doubt
about ITS being right. 1t is just verdict
! Mrs. Gardner was Immediately surroundt dlby hel
! lady friends, who testified ther approval of the
justaess Of the finding of the jury by embracing
and kissing he'll repeatedly. Her feelings over.
powered her and she was led from the court room
sobbing and weeping.