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

Mrs. 8. 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 ity several
months ago and attemr ted her own life, has been
tried for murder and acquitted on the grounds of
emotional insanity ! The Chicago papers contain
f6is5Escaasss6 81 the trial, and we make the fol-
lowing extract from \ column-and.a-half report
of the trial in the Chicago Dsily 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 her husband and babe
their residence, No II Latin street, on the after
noSn Of Nov 6, 1884. Financial reverSes had
soured the temper Of her husband, and, after fire.
quently charging her With having violated her
paratory to leaving her without mea MS to support
herss If and 15-months-old babe. when the wom-
an eEazed by }sao9s fp1ntc because Of the
revolver and shot HIM. She then sent bullet
crashing through the infant brain, and also shot
herself with almost fatal effect The husband and
child died almost instantly, and the poor dis
tractea 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
suspecting his fidelity to and love for her. She
was defended by MIR. George F. Westover, who
&c: UP tie ries Of insanity at the time the shoot
ing occurred.
The defendant, who is refined, lady like ap.
pearinE woman of 50 years of age came into court
attended by large number of we'll dressed and
handsome lady friends, who sat beside her during
the trial and offered her such consolation and ad-
| vice as.the occasion seemed to demand. She was
dressed in a neat fitting black dress and dark
cloak. Her handsome features bore traces of
suffering and red scar OIL her scalp above the
right ear showed where the bullet had entered her
| SIX ull. She apparently composed and self.
possessed, except " hen the name Of her husband
or babe was mentioned by the counsel or wit ness
es. Then she would bow her head and weep bit
terly. 1t is not often that court habitues call
| cd upon to witness scene like that pr esented by
| the trial of the woman who. by her own hand had
| rendered herself husbandiess.
| 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 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
mitted, and that she has recovered from that i'll
sanity.
Judge Roberts remar ked, after ordering the dis
charge Of the defendant: "There is no doubt
about its being right. 1t is just verdict
Mr.. Gardner was Immediately surrounde DIZZY her
lady friends, who testified Their approval of the
justaess of the finding of the jury by embra cling
and kissing hel repeatedly. Her feelings over
powered her and she was led from the court room
sobbing and weeping.