Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-04-27
MRS. ANNA E. GEORGE.

Mrs. George smiles with the rest. When
the sad features of the case are touched
upon she is moved to tears, that trickle
down her pale cheeks, but are not OBJ
servable to the great mass of spectators.
Only once has her nerve deserted her.
That was when the blood and powder
stained waistcoat worn by Saxton on the
night of the murder was introduced as evil
dence.
Mrs. George is apparently the least con-
cerned person in the court room. She
knows that the penalty upon conviction in
the first degree is seat in the awful new
death chair at Columbus. The thought of
it has probably come to her many times
during her long incarceration, but she is
SO confident of acquittal that the visions
of the death chair do not appal her. While
the jurors were being examined prior to
their acceptance and asked if they had
any objection to capital punishment, par
ticularly where a woman is the victim,
some Of the spectators turned pityingly
to the stylish prisoner, but she gave no
evidence of thought that this question
concerned her.
According to a correspondent, the people
of Canton have made heroine of Mrs.
George. They have paid for her meals
during her long imprisonment which have
consisted of the best foods that the best
restaurants in town could furnish. In
addition there have come fruits and flow
ers. A local florist received a letter from
a far-off State the other day, inclosing
money for a bouquet for Mrs. George.
The prisoner has been visited frequently
by some Of the society ladies of Canton,
who have encouraged her to look hopeful
~ into the future. Letters of sympathy
have come to her from afar, from stran-
gers who had read of her case in the pa
pers. Mrs. George has really been a
boarder, and not prisoner, in Sheriff
Zaisers care. Ordinarily Mrs. George is
bright and cheerful and in happy CONVEX
sational mood. Nearly every day, before
and after court, she receives callers and
her merry laugh may be heard in the jail
corridors.
The prosecuting attorney, Atlee Pome-
rene, q young man of marked individual
ity, conducts the case relentlessly and he
is ably seconded by his assistant, James
j. Grant, who was Saxton's most intimate
friend. In his opening address Pomerene
called Mrs. George an adventures and in
timated that her relations with Saxton
were AOC the OAly DidCh SpOlS III her lie.
He said the crime could be brought home
to her and it could also be shown that she
had forfeited all confidence that Saxton
might have reposed in her.
Mrs Georges attorney, John G. Welty
who, assisted by James S. Sterling, is
making as good an array of legal talent
as could be found in the vicinity-outlined
her defense. He said that she was not
guilty, but dwelt mainly on her relations
with Saxton, indicating that the defense
would rely upon the plea Of justifable
homicide or emotional insanity. While
Mr.. Welty drew pathetic picture of her
unhappy past Mrs. George sat with eyes
closed and averted and face inclined to-
ward the table in front of her. With
dropping countenance she heard the his
tory of her girlhood, her happy home, her
removal to Canton, and her relations with
Sayton