The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-12
Sudden Ending of
Guilford Case in
Bridgeport.
TEN YEARS IN JAIL.
Sensational Conclusion Of
the Famous Manslaugh-
ter Trial.

Bridgeport, Conn. April 1l.-Dr. Nan
cy A. Gulford, who has been on trial
in the superior court for the past three
weeks on a charge alleging murder in
the second degree in the killing of EN-
ma Gill of Southngton, by a criminal
operation, tomorrow will enter upon a
10 years sentence at the state prison
at Weathersfield. The close Of the
prison doors upon the noted midwife
will end as far as she is concerned, one
of the most notable cases that ever
came before the Fairfield county courts
The trial has not only attracted atten-
ton all over this country, put aisJ
abroad. as did the finding of the dis
membered body of Emma Gill i'll the
Yellow Mill pond last September and
the long chase before Mrs. Guiito1d
was arrested in London and eXtradlt-
ed.
Of the many surprising and une&-
pected developments since the case Cd
ened, however, probably nothing oc-
casioned more surprise than its abrupt
ending this afternoon, when plea OF
manslaughter was accepted by Judge
Wheeler, who imposed the maximum
prison penalty with the minimum me
of 81 and costs.
To the request of the counsel for the
defense that clemency be granted,
Judge Wheeler said that in accepting
the plea of manslaughter he thought
the court had shown sufficient clemen-
cy. The prisoner took her sentence
calmly. In a voice that had not the
slightest tremor she replied in response
to the court, guilty of menslauShter.
She heard her sentence without talter-
ing and resumed her seat after the or
deal without the slightest evidence OF
emotion.
IL was stated about the court at the
close of proceedings that the decision
to offer a plea of manslaughter was op-
posed by Mrs. Guilford very strongly
and it was with reluctance that she IL
nally consented. 1t came about after d
series of conferences between state
Attorney Fessenden and Mrs. Guilford,
who was in the sheriff's office, CnrouSn
her attorneys, who were kept pusy
running to and fro for upwards of two
hours in their efforts to arrange the
matter.
Were it not for the fact that Juror
George Gregory, who was taken i'll last
Wednesday, would not be able to again
appear in court until some time III
Nav, which would mean that the jury
would have to be excused for at least
four weeks, it is doubtful if the plea
of manslaughter would be entertained
by the state. 1t is understood that the
defendant was willing to plead guilty
to that charge last week.
The CHASTITY remains of the dlSmeIh
bered victim were discovered III tha
yellow Mill pond on the evening Of sep
TENDER 10 last, and the following morn
ing Mrs. Guilford left Bridgeport. sep
TENDER IA, and was afterwards traced
to Montreal where she succeeded IN
eIuding the officers, then to Liverpool
and Londan.
She was extradited on the charge OF
murder in the second degree and her
trial was to have taken place at the
January term of court, but was post
poned, and when the case came mp at
the next term Mrs. Gutlford's illness
necessitated q still further postpone
ment. The state had about completed
its case when one of the jurors was Ia
ken i'll, which indicated the necessity Of
a retrial and added greatly to The eX-
pense of what has already proved a
very costly trial, as well as seriously
mountaineering the other business Of
the state. Harry OXley, Eudora Gui-
ford, Harry Guilford and Rose Dray-
ton who are charged with manslaught-
er as accessories after the fact, VIII not
be given a trial until the May term OF
the court.