The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-17

But on the following morning, when he
had not yet made mis- appearance. some
alarm began to be manifested and search :
ing parties were organized. which resulted
in finding the body. Just Why suspicion
should have pointed from the very begin
ming TO Mrs. Mobiles Is not known, but she
was arrested, together with Gus Families,
and his wife, Mary, Dalton Joiner end
Debby Mobiles.
The excitement was intense, the unusual
Nervousness of the crime and the unique
| character of the criminal made 1t a re-
| markable case for such utter stolid indif-
ference as Mrs. Mobiles showed, such an in
scnsibility to the terrible nature OF her
| deed, such an entire absence of any knowl-
edge apparently OF right and wrong,
AT the trial of the case. which occurred
a few weeks after the murder, verdict
of guilty" was brought in without any
recommendation to the mercy of the court,
and Mrs. Mobiles and Gus FAMILIES were
sentenced to be hanged August l5. 1896.
Dalton was successful in proving an alibi,
was acquitted and Immediately left the
State Debby Mobiles was acquitted. Mary
Families was sentenced to life imprison-
ment. and 1t Is one OF the peculiarities of
| the case that she is the only one OF the
| Ave implicated who has as yet paid any
| penalty for the crime. she having been at
| wCrh in the coal mines since her sentence.
| AS the date set for the execution ap-
| preached. a new factor appeared upon the
| scene. From all over the State there came
| mighty voice of protest from the women
| that such a horror as the hanging OF a
woman should not be allowed In Georgia.
| These women banded themselves in a
united effort to save Mrs. Mobiles and
| pledged themselves to be responsible for all
the expenses. Subsequent events proved,
| however. that the enthusiasm and SYM
| Nv
| Hpneared.
| For nineteen months the legal struggle
| continued and that without even the for
malitv of trial. At the first and only trial
| Mrs. Mobiles ever had. the plea OF lunacy
was not offered at all.
| From the time that Attorneys w. u.
Glenn and Marion Harrison presented the
petition for a trial to Judge Smith in Au-
gust. 1895. until the mandate from Wash
| ington put upon Judge Smith the neces-
sity for resentencing the prisoner. there has
been in progress legal battle without
parallel in the legal history of the state.
Tho case been heard in the United
states supreme court. the supreme court
| Of Georgia. the superior court. the Federal
district court. the ordnary's office, the
| sheriff's court in Twiggs, and the Jefferson
vile court.
THE LAST EFFORT MADE.
In January, 1896 Attorney Harris took
out n warrant for lunacy and was Just on
the eve of having the prisoner tried by
,ury TO establish her insanity when Judge
Smith sent up to Macon TO demand bis
prisoner. The demand was complied with,
and II seemed that in spite of all efforts
the sheriff would carry the prisoner to hear
once again the death sentence, however
writ of habeas corpus, alleging that the
prisoner had not been allowed due process
| nf law to prove her insanity was sworn out
| fifteen minutes before the train was 10
| leave. ~ r. o,,r.
signed tho paper and the life of the pris-
oner was once more saved
Decision after decision was rendered IN
favor of the state, until finally the United
states supreme court passed upon II ana
last week the prisoner was resentencen 10
During all these months Mrs. Mobiles has
been confined in the Jail In Macon, and II
there are degrees In degeneracy II Is pos
sible that she has become even less con-
sclous of tho distinction between right ana
wrong. An idealess face, with low, narrow
forehead. and lacl-luster eyes closely SET
| together and she seems more fiend man
human. and is such a specimen as Max
Ncrdau would unhestatingly seize upon
ms n Degenerate" victim OF both herid-
ity and environment.