The age-herald., 1902-01-26
Overwhelmed With Congratulate ton from Friends Who
 Crowd the Court Room
HER HUSBANDS BROTHER
 HUGS AND KISSES WIDOW
Stewart Fife, the Young Man Who Is Alleged to Be Implicated In the
 Murder, Will Be Tried
 for the Crime. x

Plattsburg, Mo. January 25.-Mrs. Ad- die Richardson was this afternoon ac- quilted of the charge of the murder of her husband, Frank W. Richardson. wealthy merchant who was shot and killed on Christmas eve of 1900 as he was entering his home In Savannah. Mo. A dramatic scene followed the rendering of the verdict. Mrs. Richardson was over whelmed with congratulations from friends who had crowded the courtroom to await the verdict of the jury.
 The jury went out at S:3o and returned with verdict s5 minutes later
 The announcement of the verdict was received with joy. not only by Mrs. Rich ardson and her own and her husbands relatives but by all the spectators.
 Rugged and Kissed Her.
 J. D. Richardson, brother of the dead man, seized the widow around the waist and kissed her again and again, while the crowd cheered Then her father, Adam Lawrence, embraced her. while all of her relatives and the attorneys for the defense gathered around them with con gratulations. The little Richardson boys were hugged and kissed by scores of peo- plea atgss--.A
 "The defendant is dismissed.' shouted Judge Buras
 Thank a,d thank Godr was shouted | in all parts of the room. | Mr, piobardaor Nraseod forward and shook hands with and thanked each member of the jury. tears of joy stream ing down her face.
 l Mrs Richardson was indicted for mur- 1 der in the first degree and the State en- l deavored to prove as a motive the in- l fatuation of one of Richardson's em- ployes named Fife Fife was arrested re- gently in Washington on a charge of complicity in the crime and is now in jail at Savannah awaiting trial Closing Argum ii. Judge R. E. Culver and A W. Brewster closed for the defense, and Clifford Cross and Charles F. Booher ended the argus ment for the state. The defense laid par ticular stress upon the fact that Mrs. Richardson was typical young south ern woman. who with characteristic hos pitality had thrown her house open to her husbands friends.
 Judge Culver's defense of Mrs. Richard son brought tears to the eyes of many and several times during attorney Brew sters plea for the defense, there was scarcely dry eye in the court room.
 Attorney Booher during his speech in closing the case for the state. said:
 If there is anything that I can tell that would clear the cloud from this poor woman's character, I would be glad to do it. I willing to concede that prior to the death of her husband no one stood higher in Savannah than Mrs. Richardson. There was not a breath of suspicion against her.
 Fife Will Be Tried.
 After the trial was over Prosecuting Attorney Booher was asked what effect the verdict would have on the prosecu- tion of Stewart Fife, now in jail at Savannah He said
 Stewart Fife will be tried for the mur- der of Frank Richardson. I will let a jury decide whether or not he Is guilty"
 No date has yet been fixed for Fifes trial The only interests Mrs. Richard son and her relatives will have in that trial. it is asserted, will be to protect the name of the widow. Mrs. Richardson probably will go to the home of her father in Alamo Gordo, N. M, to remain for awhile.