Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-21
WOMAN DEFENDED BY WOMEN.
Novel Scene in a st. Louis Court.
CFrom the Globe-DemocratD

(From the Globe Democracy
Defended by two female attorneys,
an unusual occurrence in the criminal
courts of st. Louis. Fannie Russell,
colored. was tried in Judge Spencer's
court. yesterday morning, on charge
of ASST. ultng Maggie Bowman, a ne
gress. with intent to kill. The Russell
woman's attorneys were Misses MILL
gan and Barbee. Miss Miligan con-
Quoted the examination of witnesses
and made the address to the jury in
bthalf of their client, Miss Barbee act
ing simply as associate counsel
A large audience gathered in the
court room when it became known
that two female lawyers were defend
ing one of their own sex in a criminal
case Old court attaches who are ac-
customed to such cases. and usually
pay little attention to them. occupied
places of vantage and listened to every
word spoken by Miss Millgan as she
examined the witnesses. and paid close
attention to her while she was arguing
the points in the case before the Il
good men and true.
Misses Milligan and Barbee paid
close attention to jurors the former
plying them with questions and scan
ming their conferences carefully. She
seemed tritle nervous at first. but as
the case went on she rega ined her
composure, and to all who heard her
seemed to be making a hard fight for
her client. Miss Barbee sat behind
Miss Milligan and smiled pleasantly at
the humorous answers of the negroes
who We're on the stand. Miss Milligan
was seen to be suppressng laugh
on several occasions when a witness
gave her some ludicrous reply. The
witnesses manifested respect for the
woman who was asking them for in
formation regarding the case. a re-
spect quite often not given to lawyers
of the sterner sex who ask pointed
questions. Once the prosecuting wit
ness, Maggie Bowman, showed indig-
nation. but q smile from Miss Milligan
toned her down.
A big policeman, the one who arrest
cd Fannie Russell. was a witness. He
had. no doubt. been on that same wit
ness stand before, but he plainly show
ed in his actions that the female law
yer was a novelty he did not relish.
He heaved a sigh of relief and remark
Il
from the witness chair.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney AL
phOnse Howe conducted the case for
the state. He found it unnecessary to
object to any of Miss Milligan's ques-
tons. and treated her with the great
est courtesy. Judge Spencer watched
Miss Milligan closely and gave her a
smile of encouragement when she arose
to address the jury. Miss Milligan. to
the jury. said she believed her client
had assaulted the Bowman woman in
sclf-defence. She talked but a few
minutes in a low. but distinct voice,
and made no attempt at dramatic ora
tory. She smiled beamingly on the
jurors as she talked to them. and they
listened attantively to every word.
She mad plain statement Of the case
and the jury was out but half an hour.
returning a sealed verdict. which will
be opened in court, at 10 O'Clock this
morning.
1t was charged that Fannie Russell
stabbed Maggie Bowman in the side
and head. May l. al 500 North Eleventh
street. The defendant did not deny
stabbing the woman, but said she did
1t to keep the latter from throwing a
box of strong lyp into her face. which
she feared would blind her Miss MILL
gan brought cut the I've feature forci-
bly, and made a plea uf self-defencc on
the part of her client. which could
hardly have been better done by an
experienced criminal lawyer