The age-herald., 1902-01-25
One of Richardson's Letters Read in Which He Said He Was to Blame
 e
ATTORNEY FINED $50
 AND JURY IS REMOVED
Prosecuting Lawyer Objects to Ills Name Being Brought Into the Case, and Causes a Dramatic
 Scene in Court Room.

Plattsburg. Mo-. January 24.-Mrs. Ad- die B. Richardson today made her own defense to the charge of having killed her husband. Frank w. Richardson, in their home at Savannah on Christmas eve. 1900. Her attorneys produced a let ter written by Richardson to his wife while he was an inmate of drunk cure institute. It exonerated the defendant of the slurs against her character, acknowl- edged the writer's own guilt, and begged forgiveness.
 'I know full well I am to blame, and feel justly and honestly I have never had any right to think you have been at any point at issue in the least wrong but, honey. you know how jealous I am. Do not grieve for l am not worthy of your pure thoughts"
 The jury received its instructions late today and the arguments were begun. Under Nthe instructions the jury must find Mrs Richardson guilty of murder in the first degree, for which the penalty is death, or it must acquit her. The in- structions are considered to lean slight ly in favor of Mrs Richardson.
 Dramatic Incident.
 While Mrs. Richardson was on the stand sensational incident took place that resulted in the court fining O. F. Boohr leading attorney for the State, and father of the county prosecutor, $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 coroners s jury, but to MT. Boohr'
 What did you tell to MT. Boohr?'
 Your honor" interposed MT. Boohr his voice trembling with emotion and tears coursing down his cheeks, "I have stood this long enough l object to the court allowing my name to be ,cnntinual- 1v dragged into this case with insif1ua- tions that the witnesses have told me more than have made known, I-'
 Here the attorneys voice gave out. MT. Clerk said the court, fine Mir Boohr s25.
 T protest your honor, that I am not being treated fairly"
 "Fine MT Boohr s50,' said the court land MT. Sheriff, take charge of Mir Boohr and remove the jury from the room"
 recess was taken. A few minutes later Attorney Boohr returned apologized to the court and Mrs. Richardson pro- ceeded.
 Mrs Richardson detailed the events of
 
 At 7:15 in the evening MT. Richardson and George Crowley had. she said, left the house for Richardson's store She was to go later to the Episcopal church. where the children were attending a Christmas entertainment. and from there to the store to accompany her husband to the theatre
 Forgot a Brooch.
 She told of leaving the house and re- membering the way that she had for gotten a brooch given her by her hus- band. and of returning to the house for it. Realizing 1t was late. she telephoned Richardson that she would not go to the church. but would stay at the house and fix the Christmas tree for the children and await him there.
 Then Mrs. Richardson told of the ar- rival of her husband and of his death "I heard a buggy drive up," said the witness. ,and then heard foot steps com ing up the si6Awalk I turned the light down in the .rNn and sat on the couch near the door. expecting to surprise Frank. There seemed to be two persons coming up the walk. Just before he reached the doorway leading from the hall to the bedroom. there was a report and he fell backward. When he was in the hall heard some one say:
 '' Has 1t come to- or something like that. When l placed my hand under his head to raise him up. 1 supposed he was trying to frighten me. Then I lit the lamp. I was startled, but at first did not fully realize what had happened Whom I lit the lamp there was blood on my hands"
 Mrs. Richardson bowed her head and vept before she was able to continue.