Hutchinson gazette., 1898-10-13
PLEA OF NOT GUILTY,
Mrs. George Arraigned for tho Muir
der Of George d. Saxton.
ENTERS A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY,
The Defence VIII Undertake 10 Prove
an abb - Claim u Mnn In
Wonan's Clothing Did
tho Deed,

George d. SnXton, was brought into
Justice Relgner's courtroom Monday
to enter her plea to the affidavit
charging her with murder. Long be-
fore the hour set the courtroom was
filled with men and women, all anX-
ious TO see Mrs, George and hear her
plea to the charge against her.
Mrs. George was clad II q plaid
skirt OF gray color and a gray shirt
waist aud jRunty hat trimmed In
the seasons style. She locked uncon-
cerned.
The eyes OF everybody in the court
room were upon her as she gazed
about the room, Prosecuting Attor-
ney Pomerene was the first counsel
to put In an appearance and he spent
some time in looking over the Grim
inal code OF laws,
In few minutes Mrs. Georges
counsel, Attorneys John c. Welty,
Mayor James A. Rice and James A.
Sterling, entered the room.
Attorneys Welty and Rice took seats
on either side Of Mrs. George, and At
torney Welty held n lengthy confer
ence with her and then asked for the
affidavit. This was given him by
Justice Reigner, and while it was be-
ing examined, Attorney j. j. Grant, a
close friend, and counsel Of the de-
ceased, came and sat beside the prose-
cutor.
After reading over the affidavit very
carefully, Mrs. Georges counsel spent
some time in looking over the GRIM
inal laws, and then Attorney Welty
said they were ready for the arralgn-
ment. He said they desired to waive
the reading of the affidavit and enter
a plea of not guilty to the charge.
Prosecutor Pomerene said that they
had a right to waive the reading Of
the affidavit, but that the prisoner
must answer for herself as to her
guilt or innocence.
With this statement by the prosecu-
tor, Justice Reigner asked Mrs.
George IL she was guilty or not guilty
10 the charge made against her in the
affidavit. Mrs, George, while SEEM
ingly not disturbed in the least, but
voice answered, "Not guilty"
After the arraignment, there was
some little controversy between the
attorneys as 10 the time for the pre-
liminary hearing,
Prosecuting Attorney Pomerene de-
sired to have the time for the prelim-
mary hearing set for Saturday, on
account of engagements in the COM
mon pleas court every day during the
week. Mrs. Georges counsel insisted
on having the hearing within the stat
utory time, four days and then Prose
cutor Pomerene named the hour for
Tuesday afternoon at o'clock, which
was ordered. Mrs. George was then
taken back to the county jail.
While the lawis taking its course in
the prosecution Of Mrs. George, so far
no special assistance to the prosecut-
ing attorney has been announced as
coming from the family, and it is not
believed that, so far as they are con-
cerned, they will in any way endeavor
to add to the usual agencies of prose-
cutting criminal cases in the courts
here.
1t is claimed that the defense will
he an allbl, and that the shots were
fired by man in woman's garb A
postal card dated Springfield o.,
October 8, addressed to the chief of
police. Canton, signed Y. Y. H., say
ing, 81 killed SaXton, and am not
sorry for it, Catch me il you cam"
has been received by Mayor Rice.
Tomorrow the state will be called
upon in justices court to present the
evidence on which 1t is expected to
hold Mrs. George to the grand jury
for the murder of George d. Saxton.
The preliminary hearing will be held
at the same time, and il the evidence
holds her, special grand jury is like
ly to be called to take up the case.
An indication that the defense will
not make fight in the lower courts
1s the fact that they have summoned
hut one witness, George Brown Of
Hanoverton, Mrs. Georges uncle.
The coroner spent the day examin-
ing witnesses, He took the testimony
of Mrs. Althouse, in front of whose
mouse the tragedy occurred. Mrs.
Althouse testified: "I was not at
home Friday night when the shooting
occurred. had not been there from
Monday evening, except on an errand
during Wednesday. / was taking
care of sick mother-in-law. Mr..
6aNton, for all know, may have rid
den out to the house that night to see
Il was at home, as he did not know
how long might be away. He has
gone there before in my absence and
attended to the bird and other things
about the house. He had a passlSey
that opened the door. He attended
ITO the bird and the flowers at the
house this summer while was away"
Russell Hogan, neighbor boy, tes-
titled to having seen what appeared
to lbe a woman fire several shots and
then walk away through o vacant lot.
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