The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-25
Lawyers Conclude Arguments
in Richardson Case.
Spectators Shed Tears i'm Sym
pathy For Defendant.
NO HALFWAY MEASURE
The Verdict Must Be First De-
gree or Acquittal.
Reading OF Letter From MUIR
dered Man a Feature.

Plattsburg, Mo, Jan. 25.-Arguments
! in the case of Mrs. Addie B. Richardson,
on trial for the murder of her husband.
were resumed this morning. They were
| concluded during the early afternoon
and the case given to the jury. A ver-
dict is expected today.
Judge r. E. Culver and A w. Brews-
ter closed for the defense. Clifford Cross
and Prosecutor Booher ending the
! argument for the state.
Judge CulVer'S defense of Mrs. Rich
ardSon brought tears to the eyes of
many and several times during Attor-
ney BrewSter'S plea for the defendant
there was scarcely a dry eye in the
court room.
Plattsburg, Mo-, Jan. 25.-The jury in
the case of Mrs Addie b. Richardson,
who is on trial here for the murder of
her husband, Frank w. Richardson, at
Savannah, must, under the instructions
given by Judge A. d. Burnes, either
find the defendant guilty of murder in
the first degree or acquit her.
The taking of evidence was finished
at a few minutes before O'Clock Court
then took a recess and Judge Burnes
and the attorneys on both sides went
to the probate judges office, where the
instructions were drawn up. More than
an hour was consumed in this work.
Charles F. Booher, leading counsel for
the state, asked for instruction per-
mitting q verdict of murder in either
the first or second degree. This pro-
VOked a heated controversy between the
lawyers, and there was a sharp ex-
change of personalities between Q. f.
Booher and Jules A. Sanders. The at
torneys for the defense opposed Mr.
Booher and Judge Burnes finally over
ruled him.
Under the instructions, therefore, Mrs.
Richardson must either hang or go free.
The other instructions were similar
to those usually given in murder trials,
varying only to fit the peculiarities of
this case. The jury is instructed that
If it is convinced beyond a reasonable
doubt that Richardson was killed by
Addie B. Richardson or by Stewart Fife
or by some unknown person who was
aided and abetted by her, it shall find
her guilty. On the other hand, it is
pointed out that Mrs. Richardson's
presence in the house at the time of
the shooting is not an evidence either
of her guilt or of her knowledge of
the guilt of anybody else, because it
was her home and she had a right to be
there. But the jury is instructed that
if her presence there encouraged the
slayer, because he knew she was there
and ready to aid in the crime, this
should be considered, against her.
All interest in the trial of Mrs. Addie
B. Richardson for the murder of her
husband in Savannah centered in the
story told on the witness stand by the
defendant herself. Mrs Richardson was
dressed as usual in black She wore a
black silk waist and WO0len skirt.
The defendant produced a favorable
impression in giving her testimony. Be
fore she finished her story the women
in the court room were in tears. Once
only Mrs. Richardson gave way to emo
tion and buried her face in a black
bordered handkerchief. Aside from this
one instant the defendant bore up we'll
Mrs. Richardson was subjected to a
severe cross examination by Attorney
Rooher, but her story was not material
ly changed. When asked questions af-
fecting her character, with reference to
her relations with Stewart Fife, she
would answer with emphasis accom-
panied by an expression of pain and
anger.
How did you come to meet Stewart
Fife at the stone steps that night?"
ascked Mr.. Booher.
1T was purely an accident"
You knew at this time that your
husband was jealous of Stewart F'ife?''
''I can't say that I did,
"IS it not a fact, Mrs. Richardson,
that you had known your husband to
jealous of Stewart Fife.
Not desperately jealous. He showed
some feeling along that line when he
was drunk"
when you and Bruce Stanton were
taking your husband home that night,
he quarreled with Stewart Fife. You
knew that Stewart Fife was follow
ing?"
Il did not know until he caught up
with u.s.
You heard Stewart Fife tell your
husband to shut his mouth or he would
shut it for him; what did you say?"
81 told Frank to come home and not
mind him.
You did not say anything to Stewart
Fife; why didn't you?"
Il did not think it was lady's place |
to do SO'
after your husband accused Fife in
your presence of paying too much at
tention to you. and you knew when he |
was drunk that he was jealous of Fife, |
your attitude towards Fife continued
unchanged" p"
"Yes, sir Mr. Fife was a mere boy, |
and 1 always treated him as such. I |
did not see why 1 should treat him diff !
ferently from the other boys in the |
store. / saw no reason why I should |
refuse to speak to him after that"
Did Stewart Fife's mother ever re- |
monstrate with you, in your husbands |
presence, about your relations to Stew |
art?''
mo. sir. never"
Mrs. Richardson denied with emphasis |
that she had ever been in the Catholic |
church yard at any time with anybody. |
She admitted that she often walked in /
the street with Stewart Fife when go
ing to and from the store. She also |
said that her husband, when drunk, |
was jealous of DR.. David Bryant, the |
family physician
The defense offered in evidence the |
letter written to her by her husband |
when he was in the Kelley institute in |
ST. Joseph Mrs. Richardson trembled |
and tears came into her eyes when it |
was handed to her to be identified. In /
this letter Richardson asked forgiveness
for making charges against her virtue /
while he was drunk. The letter was
admitted as evidence before the court, |
but not before the jury.
THE FATHERS TESTIMONY.
Mrs Richardson's father was placed
on the stand and said that Mrs. Rich |