Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-22
MRS. FOSTER ON Trial
Sensational Case Now Before
the District Court in Kos-
suth County.
Alleged Paramour and Cocoon
spirator Of Clarence Robin
son the Defendant.
Jury Secured and Taking Of
Testimony Begun-.Histor
Of Case.

Of Case.
Special to Times RE publican.
Algona, March % The trial of Mrs.
Emma Foster. who is accused of COM
plicity in the attempt to murder her
husband Feb. last, was begun in the
district court here yesterday. Mrs. Eos
ter was arraigned a the regular session
three weeks ago and pleaded not guilty
and her trial set for an adjourned term
which began yesterday as stated. The
case is attracting the greatest interest
here and the court room was crowded to
suffocation at the opening yesterday.
The case has perhaps more sensational
features than any case tried here in the
past five years. The readers OF the
Times Republican news columns are
familiar With the circumstances sur
rounding the crime of which Mrs Fos-
ter is charged. 1t will be remembered
that on the night of Feb. 9, while Fred
Foster was returning from work at his
barber shop about midnight, he Was ac-
| costed and ordered to throw up his
hands He did SO and was then shot
| by, his assailant The ball penetrated
| the face near the left eye and at first
Was thought to be fatal Foster how
ever, recovered and is now able TO be at
work.
Al first the crime was supposed to
have been committed for the purpose Of
robbery. Developments, however, cast
suspicion on Clarence Robinson, who.
was suspected of too intimate relations
I With Mrs. Foster. He was arrested and
/ placed in jail, where he admitted the.
1 crime. In the meantime Mrs. Foster,
4 the Wounded man . wife, was suspected
| ofscomplicity. She became aware of the
suspicion and breaking down in tbs.
presence of her husband and officers ad s
i mitted that she had helped plan the
;murder and that she and Robinson had
/ planned 10 run away together as SOON
as matters Quoted down. After her
i confession she made an unsuccessful at
4 tempt to commit suicide. Robinson and
Mrs. Foster We're both indicted. Rob
inson pleaded guilty. at the last term Of
court and was given seven years in the
4 penitentiary In the meantime Foster
had apparently forgiven his erring wife
4 and She decided to deny her confession
i and make a fight for her liberty
be one of the hardest fought contests in
4 the history of the court. Ro1inssn vas
brought back from the penitentiaiy to
given.
5. A special venire Of forty jurynen
was summoned and, after examination
:. of nearly the entire panel. a jury WIS
i secured and taking of testimony begun
! Fred Foster. the husband of the defend
I; ant, Was the first witnesaso on the stand
!, He told all about the circumstances 81
1.-THE Shooting and claimed at the time he
iwas not aware Who it WAS that did this
J, shooting. He stated that his domestic
life up tothe time of the shooting haG
. rot been unpleasant He carefully
avoided any statement s.iat might i'm
J. ipIicate his wife and all questions which
tended in that direction Mere objected
Ito by the Defendants attorneys on the
ground that the husband can not bs
compelled to testify against the Wife
These objections were sustained and az
consequence his examination brought
tout nothing Of Importance
"a Clarence Robinson was the next Wit
ness There was a general craning Of
necks and an air of expectancy when ht
took the stand Robinson does no
snow any i'll effects of prison life. HI
-.
,,,,s;, i, s.,,,,3, &,
IS r,b; s,,,, sd,,,it,s
,,a 49,.
!. fs, IN, ,;,,,s. ,I,at he ,isita,, 49,. s,
}. ~ 90 u, a,,5a uaal. v,b;ls Eas
!, ,y.,rl. 4, N. Ia rhar shnn =,
th,. ~. ana Mrs., Robin ss,, mad, t,ss.g7 =,
~, ~. b;,,, "a ss,.s,re Nv xyav n II,
t cf.,,s, window II, ca "a Fred 81. any sine
J, ,,ers,n should come t,,sstha house VIM
thay we're together. He also admire,
Y |,haf he and Mrs Foster had on s,svsra
s occasions ia llsed over the matter III q
shooting and of going away together
s iHe did not. however. directly inplicat
$ Mrs Foster in the conspiracy d shoo
her husband and showed an evident in
u clination to shield the woman
Mrs Foster vas in court in custod.
cf the sheriff. She stood the trying or
$ deal we'll and showed no signs OF weak
ening. She is pale and has grown some