The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-09
FOUND HER GUILTY
[,xDA MAXWELL GOES TO THE
pESITENTIARY FOR LIFE.
woMAN'S NECK WAS SAVED.
Irpy,s RECOMMENDATION KEPT
urR FROM DEATH ON GALLONS.

no Carved to Death Matilda Mont
II oonery, About n Month AGO-Her
n contention That She Had Acted in
A soIf Defense DisprOved by the Pos
..,,,a evidence Introduced on be-
..If of the PrOsecution-A Juror
xvho relieved i'm Capital Punish
ant only in Certain Cases-The
III s4orv of the Homicide as 1t Was
ToId From the Witness Stand.
vordict Pleased the Prisoner.
Melinda Maxwell was found guilty in
H. Sunerior Court yesterday of muir
A. was recommended by the jury to
he mercy of the court, and was sem
Kancad by Judge Seabrook to impris-
nr,ant at hard labor in the peniten-
4iarv for her natural life.
4 THE woman stabbed to death Matilda
Montgomery about a month ago. 1t
4vas her contention that she had acted
self-defense, but the evidence to the
&ontrarv and to the effect that the
X,nling was cold blooded and without
&xtenuating circumstances was clear,
nd the iury's verdict was expected
Nv those who followed the develop
hents at the trial.
somewhat unusual incident pre-
4,oded the introduction of evidence on
behalf of the state. 1t was while the
kurvmen were being examined as to
4beir competency and impartiality that
ar John O'Gorman was called upon
r. mass this ordeal. Clerk Carr asked
kim if he were conscientiously oppos-
Il to capital punishment.
II am not" said Mr.. O'Gorman, and
&hen soto voce, mot in the case OF
higgers."
Aaen heard by Mr.. Walter w. Shep-
Rard who represented the defendant,
knd he accepted the juryman. Mr..
h'Gorman was sworn and had taken
kis place in the box when Mr.. Shep-
hard was advised for the first time of
lis answer to the question as to his
hpposition to capital punishment. Mr..
Sheppard then asked that Mr.. O'Gor-
han he excused from service on the
kurv. on the ground that his answer
e. TO his opposition to capital punish
knent did not indicate that he was alb
kolutelv competent and impartial. He
WAS excused and the slection of the
bury proceeded.
The prisoner struck seventeen, the
ktate seven and ten went off for cause.
Fhe iurv that tried the case was made
klp as follows: Harry White, Richard
koylan William S. Harrison, John H.
Milder. Samuel Adams, Horace "A.
Erane. Jr., ]. A. Englerth, John G.
Ewanston, George o. Penton, James X.
k4azelhurst, T. 7. O'Brien and John
Etoddard.
4 The witnesses for the state described
kn detail the incident of the homicide
hnd the events by which it had been
Immediately preceded. 1t appeared
that there had been bad blood between
khe two women for some days and that
khere was a quarrel, during which
Blows were passed, only a short time
Before the Montgomery woman was
&arved to death. The killing was done
H. house at the corner of Arnold and
iberty streets, in the eastern section
f the city.
There was a difference between the
witnesses as to the actual events of the
homicide. The defendant contended
hat she was being attacked by the
woman who was killed at the time she
Used her knife, and that the Montgom-
Rry woman had struck her several
ines over the head with a chair. The
witnesses for the state denied this and
faid that though a chair had been used
fy the woman who was killed it was
fome time before the stabbing.
James McCabe, a white boy, and a
fesro man, were eye witnesses
r. the killing. According to
their story the Montgomery woman
pad no weapon at the time she was
ftaooed and the attack by the defend
ant had no immediate provocation.
Inc defendant made a long and
gambling statement, to the general eff
ect tnat she was being attacked with
cnalr at the time she used her
Anlte. She said that there had been
Oad blood between the Montgomery
woman and herself for some days and
fnade the damaging admission that
time ''-'''
Judge Seabrook charged the jury
fnortly before 2 o'clock and a few
lnutes atterward it retired No YER
llct mad been reached at and dinner
as sent up to the jurymen. In another
kour II was announced that the jury
fldo reached an agreement and the
kail '"eN iioin 'Ae
When she heard read the verdict
iat consigned her to the penitentiary
pr the rest of her life, she seemed to
law long breath of relief. She APP
aIe9 10 think that she had got off
Aceeolhgly light and this was the gem
al opinion of those who had followed
he case 1t is improbable that a mo-.
pun lor a new trial will be made.
-ss