The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-01-18
Jury at Lewiston Declared Her
innocent Of Murder.
WERE OUT FIFTEEN HOURS
The Tragedy and Events Leading Up to
Its Commission Briefly
RetOld.

Lewiston, Idaho, Jan. 14.-After being |
out Is hours the jury in the murder case
against Mrs. Goddard reported that it
had arrived at a verdict. All of the par
ties particularly interested in the YER
dict were soon at hand and the court
room quickly filled with a curious
throng The long consultation of the
Jury gave the public an inkling of what
the verdict would be, but nevertheless
there was intense interest and the ST.
lence while the usual questions were
asked the foreman of the jury was
most impressive.
1--WE. the jury, in the case wherein
Mrs. Goddard is charged with the will
full murder Of John Siers on May 10,
1895, find the defendant not guilty."
were the words which fell upon the
stilled court room. The change of senti-
ment in defendants favor during the
closing days of the trial had been
marked, and this was intensified after
the closing addresses of the attorneys
for the defense.
Prior to May 10, 1895, there had been
trouble between Mrs. Goddard and old
John Siers, who was more Familiarity
known as "Buena," over the money
coming to Siers from the sale Of the
estate of his dead partner. Eleven
years ago the firm Of Schissler & Siers
was reputed to be the wealthiest in
north Idaho, possessing lands. stock
and money in great abundance. Seven
years ago Schissler died, the joint prop
erty of the estate was settled up, and
among other property was farm at
Waha, Is miles from Lewiston, which
was sold for $4,000 to M. F. Ward,
son-in-law of Mrs. Goddard, and Siers
was. to be the beneficiary of the SALE
Ward bought the place on time and was
unable, on account of bad luck, to meet
his payments, so Fred w. Piper, a son
Of Judge Piper of Moscow, who tried
the murder case, was appointed re-
ceiver pending a settlement Of the claim.
On the 18th Of May Siers and three
friends drove out to the farm, Slers
claiming he wanted to see Mr.. Mott, a
sick friend, who was also a brother OF
Mrs. Goddard. Siers and his friends
went heavily armed, as the former own
er of the farm said he anticipated trOu-
BILE. He told his friends that Mott nau
had trouble with Mrs. Goddard and was
obliged to sleep in the barn. Siers was
on his way to the barn when the shoot-
ing began. M F. Ward, the son-in-laW'
was firing at Siers, who was returning
the fire. Mrs. Goddard came up at this
juncture and fired two shots with re
volver at Siers, both of which TOOK Ell
feet. Ward came toward the Woundeo
man, when Shorthill, who renamed
outside the fence, fearing that more
harm would come to his friend, openeo
fire with Winchester on the party,
hitting Ward twice in the stomach anu
SCATTERING the wrist Of Mrs. Godudru
Siers died shortly after from his Wounus
and Ward also succumbed to the outlets
through his abdomen.
While the shooting was In prosies.
the 13-year-old son Of Mrs. Goouar.
rushed to the assistance of his motner
but arrived too late to prevent her We
ing shot He was armed and chase.
Shorthill to the Lake house, suilinle'
resort three miles from the Tragedy
when Shorthill finally got away.
The affair created intense eXclteilien.
everyone in the neighborhood takihs
sides, SO that when the trial CAME -
1t was necessary to send to the u'eei
most boundaries of the county u &c
jurors who were unbiased.
Minnea polls Bank Suspends.
r.