The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1902-01-31

The Accused Woman Takes the
Stand in Her Own Behalf and
Tells Her Story.
G. f. BOoher, Leading Attorney For
the State and Father of the Coun-
~ Prosecutor, Fined Fifty Doll
lars for Casting Reflections Upon
the Court.

i Plattsburg, Mo-, Jan. 25.-Interes
in the trial of Mrs. Addie b. Richard
son for the murder, at Savannah, o
her husband, Frank w. Richardson
centered in the story told on the wit
ness stand by the defendant. Mrs
Richardson apparently produced fla
vorable impression, and before sh,
finished testifying the women in TIL,
court room We're in tears. Once dur
ing the recital Mrs. Richardson her
self gave way to emotion, and buried
| her face in her handkerchief.
While Mrs. Richardson was on thu
stand sensational incident tool
place that resulted in the court filming
z. r. Booher, leading attorney for the
state and father of the county prose.
cutor, $50 and ordering the jury from
the room.
Mrs. Richardson had been asked if
she had told everything to this jury
that she had told to the coroner's
jury.
No. she replied, mot to the cor
oner's jury, but to Mr.. Booher.'
what did you tell to Mr.. Booher?"
"Your Honor" interposed Mr..
Booher, his voice trembling with emo
ton and tears coursing down his
cheeks, Il have stood this long
apr,,oh T oI;ao+ ~ +bo ,o,,,.+ allow,
ing my name to be continually
dragged into this case with insinua-
ton that the witnesses have told me
more than l have made known.
IT."
Here the attorneys voice gave out.
Mr.. Clerk" said the court, fine
Mr. Booher $25."
II Protest, your honor, that I am
not being treated fairly
Fine Mr.. Booher $780," said the
court, "and, Mr.. Sheriff, take charge
of Mr.. Booher and remove the jury
from the room"
A recess was taken. A few min
utes later Attorney Booher returned,
Richardson proceeded.
as a climax in her defense, her
attorneys produced letter written
by Richardson to his wife while re
was an inmate of a drink-cure insti- |
tute. 1t exonerated the defendant
of the slurs against her character,
the writer's own guilt,
and begged numbly for forgiveness.
The reading of the letter, which was
admitted as evidence, proved a sensa-
tional bit of evidence. Richardson
wrote:
MY Dearest Ada: Do I dare to
apologize and beg forgiveness, not
only in this case, but for all the in
iignities ! have heaped upon you
through the entire IA years of our
married life? Since / can not recall
he base actions of the past year, 1
'eseech your forgiveness and pray
iod you will grant same. When I
how beautifully and nobly1
you have raised them (their children)
md how hard you have tried to in
'ulcate those refined and noble prin.
'iples in me, and yet my worst ma
ure has rejected everything good
hat you have offered. Try me, Il be-
eech you, once more, and [ assure .
'ou you will never regret it, for be-
ore God and all that is good and
oly, l will devote my entire life try
ng to make you happy, and un,ler
10 condition will / ever break myl
marriage vows. / know full well I
m all to blame, and feel thai Justly
nd honestly / have never had any
light to think you have been at any
oint at issue in the least wrong;
ut, honey, you know how jealous l
m. Do not grieve, for / am not
'orthy of your pure thoughts"
The arguments were begun during
he afternoon and it is expected the
ase will go to the jury by to-day
Don. The instructions viii, it is
tated, favor acquittaI
The jury received it's instructions
tie yesterday and the arguments
ere begun. Under the Instructions
ne jury must find Mrs. Richardson
uilty of murder in the first degree.
Or which, the penalty is death, OF it
lust acquit her. The instructions
re considered to lean slightly in ia
or of Mrs. Richardson.
Thomas Walker, prosecuting attof-
ey of Clinton county, made the FIRST
rgument for the state. He was fol-
wed by julie A. Sanders, of Savan-
an. for the defense.
Mrs. Richardson listened closely TO
e arguments, but the expression of