The sun., 1900-06-17
WOMAN DEFENDED ny WOMEN
Novel Scene In a 50. Louis Court.
From He Globe DsmOcrof.

From he Globe DemOcroi.
Defended by two female attorneys. an un.
usual occurrence In the criminal courts OF st.
Louis. Fannie Russell, co.orcd was tricd in
Judge Spenccr's court Yesterday morning oil q
charge OF assaultng Maggie Bowman, a ne
gress, with intent 20 kill Tho Russell woman's
attorneys were Misses Milligan and Barbee.
Miss Milligan conducted She examination Of
witnesses and made the address 10 the Jury
in behalf Of their client. Miss Barbee acting
simply as Associate counsel.
A large audience gathered In the court room
when it became known that two female lawyers
were defending one of their own sex in crimi.
nal case. Old court attaches who are accus.
toned to such cases and usually pav huls
attention to them, occupied places OF vantage
and listened TO every word spoken by Miss
MilligaL rs she examined the witnesses. ard
paid close attention Ia her hile she was arpu-
ing the points In the case before the twelve
good mon and true.
Misses Miiligan and Rarbee paid close attcr-
uon 10 jurors, the former plying their with
question:, and scanning their counte enances
carefully. She seemed a triGe nervous at first,
hut rs the case went on she regnned her com-
posure, and 10 all who heard her seemed 10 la
making hard fight for her client. Miss Earbee
sat behind Miss Millignn and smiled pleasantly
al the humorous answers Of the negroes who
were on tho stand Miss MRRn was seen 10
he supprrssing a laugh on several occasions
when n witness gave her some ludicrous reply.
The witnesses manifested a respect for the
woman who was asking them for information
regarding the case. resi'ect quite often not
given to lawyers Of the serner sex who ask
rointcd questions. Once the prosecuting Wit
ness, Maggie Bowman. showed Indignation.
but a smile from Miss Milligan toned her down.
A big policeman, the Dno who arrested iaI nie
Russell, was witness. He had, no doubt,
been on that same witness stand before. but
he plainly showed In his actions that the female
lawyer wa- q novelty he did not relish. lie
hcaNcd sigh Of relief and remarked She's
n corker," when he stepped down from the Wit
necs chair.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Alphonss
Howe conducted the case for the State. lie
found II unnecessary 10 object 10 any Of Miss
Milligan's questions, and treated her with the
greatest courtesy. Judge Spencer watched
Miss Mllligan closely and gave her a smile Of
encouragement when she arose 10 address the
Jury. Miss Mill gan to the Jury said she be-
lieved her client had assaulted the Bowman
woman in selr-defcnce. She talked hut few
minutes In a low but distinct voice End made
no attempt NJ dramatic ora'orv She smiled
heamingly on the Jurors ma she talked TO them.
She made plain statement Of the case ard tic
jury wns on hut half an hour returning
sealed verdict which will be opened In court
NJ 10 o'clock this morning.
II was Charged that Fannie RUSSELL stabbed
Maggie Bowman in the side and hend Nav !.
a. SO7 North Eleventh street. The defendant
did not deny siabbng the woman. but said she
did II 10 keep the latter from throwing n box u
strong I've into her fnce which she feared would
blind her Miss Mllgan brought ont tho I've
feature forciblv and made peG of se.f-deforCs
on tie part Of her client which could hprdly
have been better done by an experienced crin,-
inal lawyer.