Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-05-12
GUILTY"

Murder in the First Degree,
and Josie kensler in the Sec
ond Degree, for Numbering
Her Husband.
Last week we gave the proceedings In the trial Of
Alfred Freel, of the murderers Of John Rensler,
up to the close Of the evidence and the commence.
ment Of argument BY counsel Wednesday night the
case went 10 the jury, which, after being out several
hours returned a verdict finding Alfred Rosencrans
Freel guilty OF murder in the FIRST degree as charged
in the information.
Freel exhibited but little concern at the reading
of the verdict showing conclusvely that he, like his
paramour, is yeritable fend in human FORM and
possesses no emorse Of conscience at committing the
foulest deed ever recorded in Idaho
Josie kensler Also Convicted.
Mrs. kenser's trial was taken up Thursday and the
following named gentlemen composed the jury:
Robert Brainard, John T. Gilman, Clarence Nichol.
son, Oliver Lawson, Ed Nicholson, Martin Knittle,
Gid Cumphell, Hugh Riley, John c. Hayes, Fred.
Lljegran, p. Stanley and p. TAYLOR.
The evidence, for and against, in Mrs Kensler's
trial very similar to that given in the Freel case.
Myrtle Kenser, little daughter of the defendant,
In addition TO her testimony in the Freel trial. said
that after heing awakened by the report OF the gum
she heard her mother and some one else talking, and
that after being told TO go to bed by her mother and
doing So she got up in little while, looked out of
the back window in the room and saw her mother in
the direction OF the hay stacks
r. A. Goodliffe Of Genn's Ferry testified that in
the latter part Of November last he received letter
signed by Mrs. kenser, urging him to go a bail
bond for Frec or else she would make trouble for
him He tore it in two and sel.t it back to her by
her messenger.
letter from Mrs. Kenser to Freel, written in Jail
and intercepted was read by District Attorney Rog-
ers in which she said it too bad that innocent
party like him should be in jail that she hoped he
would get ont, and If he did hoped he would call on
her; il she had to lay over during all summer, she
would do all she could to help. She called him her
darling, her pet and such endearng terms, saying
also it too bad they and yet so far.
and closed by signing herself "Baby"
Mrs. Kensler's confession. made in writing by her
last December, Immediately after the finding of her
husbands body, was introduced and read 1t was
substantially the her testimony for the State
in the Freel case the effect that Free did the kill.
ing that she begged him not to do it, people would
her of it, and then asked him not to do it for
the childrens sake hut he said he did not care and
fired tn fatal shot; compelled her to turn the water
out Of the ditch, and told her what to say about Mr.
Kensers disappearance, and scared her into silence.
Mrs Mary +. Garfield, cross-examinaton, said:
Mrs Kensler said some time before the conversation
in which she boosted that she would soon be sole
Of the ranch, that she feared John would sell
for less than the value OF the ranch. | suggested
to her to buy his interest out and let him spend the
money. She said gentleman friend would loan her
the money.
At the conclusion Of the evidence, District Attor
ney Rogers, in his opening speech, charged the ury
not take the question OF sex into consideration i
they deemed her guilty, unfolding woman uDde
such circumstances has tendency to degrade thu
sex.
Judge Waters responded in able appeal to tn,
jury in behalf Of his unfortunate client endeaverine
to show every item Of evidence leaning in her favor
Saturday evening District Attorney Rogers CLOSED
the argument in the case He engaged the attention
of the jury for about an hour in plain spoken bu
mastery speech. After the Judges charge the inr,
retired, and in about three hours returned with tn
verdict equity Of murder in the second degree.