Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-02-13
PRISON GATES OPEN.
King Edward Grants Pardon to
Mrs. Maybrick.
Takes This Method of Emphasizing
His Regard for America-Brief
History of the Celebrated
international Case.


London, Feb. 11.-At ten o'clock this
morning the gates of Aylesbury prison
will swing open and Mrs. Florence
Elizabeth Maybrick, the American
woman whose case has stirred two con-
tinents for years, will walk out free
woman. The news that King Edward
VII. had granted the appeals made. by
those who have been stanch friends of
this woman during her long trial and
her term of penal servitude became
noised about Sunday night--too late,
however, for the glad tidings to get
much beyond her circle of friends. The
greatest praise is heard upon all sides
for the graceful act of King Edward
1t is understood that in thus granting
clemency to Mrs. Maybrick the king
wishes to emphasize the character of
his regard for America, and in the
Judgment of most Americans he could
not better inaugurate his reign than
with this striking example of mercy
Many of Mrs. May bricks friends and
admirers will be at Aylesbury prison
at the morning hour when her release
is expected to welcome her again into
the air and sunshine of freedom. What
her plans for the future may be are not
known now, but it is believed she will
start for America at once. Although
official red tape may delay for time
the release of Mrs. May brick, the wom-
ans friends are confident she will be
freed from the prison life which she has
led for II years this morning. It>is
said upon reliable authority that King
Edward will not grant the pardon di-
rectly-that is, as personal action
but it will be issued through the home
office.
From the time Justice Stephen con
demned her to death and the mob upon
the streets Kissed and hooted the Judge
and jury and the monster petition from
the people forced from the home secre-
tary a communication of her sentence,
Mrs. Maybrick's English sympathizers
have kept up their efforts to secure her
release.
Story of Maybrick's Death.
In 1879 Miss Florence Elizabeth Chan
dler, the daughter of William G. Chandler,
a prominent banker of Mobile, Ala, was
married to James Maybrick. Mrs. May
brick was II and Mr.. Maybrick was AZ, a
dissipated, well-to-do Englishman. They
had met on an England-bound Atlantic
liner. Mr.. and Mrs. Maybrick lived in Liv-
erpool, where their two children were born.
It was brOugh. out in the evidence at the
trial that Mr.. Maybrick was a confirmed
arsenic eater The two became alienated.
and Mrs. Maybrick had taken steps to-
ward procuring a divorce One HaV
Maybrick rode to the Wirral races He
went against the advice of his physician
and his wife, was caught in the rain and
drenched, yet otaid out for lunch and late
dinner. The fndiscretion brought on high
fever, and the next day physicians pro-
nounced the illness fatal 1t happened to-
ward the end of his sickness that Mr. May
brick asked during the nurses absence,
for some white powders which he kept in
his dressing-room These were procured
by Mrs. Maybrick and under his direction
one powder was mixed with some beef ex-
tract. When the dose was prepared Mr.
Maybrick had fallen asleep and Mrs May
brick set it aside, not knowing what it was
1t was found where she had left it by the
police and was recognized by her in court
After 13-days illness Mr. Maybrick died.
Accused of Murder.
The moment Mr.. Maybrick died his broth
ers-Edwin and Michael-stepped forward
yet each detail was followed with interest
by the people of two nations. Sir Charles
Russell presented a masterful Defense but
the court was overwhelmed with arsenic
bottles and the possible divorce proceed
ing. The jury was out So minutes and re-
turned verdict to convict The death
sentence was read, and although the in
dignant spectators mobbed the court and
threatened the judges life the prisoner
was carried off to await her death There
is no court of criminal appeal in England
and the only hope of her friends was
through a pardon from the crown. A pc
titiOn of SOC, 900 names was soon in readiness,
which was presented to Home Secretary
Matthews with the request that he review
the case. The request was granted, and
at it's close Mr.. Matthews announced that
the evidence did not wholly exclude doubt
whether death was caused by the admins
tration of arsenic. The sentence was there
upon committed to life imprisonment