The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-25
Her Testimony Draws Tears from the
Eyes of Women, and She Gives
Way to Emotion Herself.
SHE RESENTS DESTINATIONS
HER MEETING WITH STEWART FIFE
IN CHURCH ACCIDENTAL.
Letter Written by Her Husband Some
Time Before He Was Killed
Begging for Forgiveness.

PIATTSBURG, Mo, Jan. A.-Mrs. Addie
B. Richardson to-day made her own de-
Tense to the charge of having killed her
husband, Frank w. Richardson, in their
home at Savannah, on Christmas eve 1900.
Her attorneys produced letter written
by Richardson to his wife while he was
inmate of drink-cure institute. 1t
exonerated the defendant of the surs
against her character, acknowledged the
writer's own guilt, and begged for forgive
ness. The letter was admitted as evidence.
The letter concludes as follows:
Il know full we'll l am to blame and
feel justly and honestly L 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 1 am. Do
not grieve, for 1 am not worthy of your
pure thoughts"
Mrs. Richardson apparently produced a
favorable impression, and before she fin
ished testifying the women in the court
room were in tears. Once during the re-
cital Mrs. Richardson herself gave way to
emotion, and buried her face in her hand
kerchief.
While Mrs. Richardson was on the stand
a sensational incident took place that re-
suited in the court filming o. H. Booher,
leading attorney for the State, and father
of the county prosecutor, $50, and ordering
the jury from the room. Mrs. Richard
son had been asked if she had told every
thing to this jury that she had told to
the coroner's jury.
NO" she replied mot to the coroner's
jury. but to Mr.. Booher''
What did you tell to Mr.. Booher?"
your Honor" interposed Mr.. Booher,
his voice trembling with emotion and tears
coursing down his cheeks, 1 have stood
this long enough. L object to the court al
lowing my name to be continually dragged
into this case with insinuations that the
witnesses have told me more than 1 have
made known. /"
Here the attorneys voice gave out.
"Mr. Clerk" said the court, fine Mr..
Booher SIS"
II protest, your Honor, that 1 am not
being treated fairly"
Fine Mr.. Booher $780, said the court,
land Mr. Sheriff, take charge of Mr.
Booher and remove the jury from this
room.
recess was taken. A few minutes later
Mr.. Booher returned. apologized to the
court and Mrs. Richardson proceeded.
Mrs. Richardson detailed the events of
the day of the murder, Dec. "a, 1900. AT
lis in the evening Mr.. Richardson and
George Crowley had, she said, left the
house for Richardson's store. She was 10
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 theater
She told of leaving the house, and re-
Numbering on the way that she had for
gotten a brooch given her by her husband,
and of returning to the house for 1t. Re
alizing it was late, she telephoned Rlch-
ardson that she would not go 10 inc churGh
but would stay at the house and fix the
Christmas tree for the children and await
him there.
rival of her husband and his death. Il
heard buggy drive up said the witness,
land then heard footsteps coming up the
sidewalk. 1 turned the light down in the
room 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 lead
was a report and he fell backward When
he was in the hall / heard some one say:
Has it come to?' or something like that
When he fell placed my hand under ms
head and tried to raise him up. L sup
posed he was trying to brighten me. Then
/ lit the lamp. l was startled, but at first
did not thoroughly realize what had hap
pened. When | lit the lamp there
Mrs Richardson bowed her head and
went before she was able to continue. She
was questioned closely about the condi-
ton of her husbands body, and the man.
ner in which he had fallen to the floor.
do you know who shot your husband?"
she was asked.
II do not
Did you see the person who shot him.
az did not"
Mrs Richardson said that the meeting
of Stewart on the church steps was acct
dental On crOss-eXamination when asked
questions with reference to her relations
with Fife, she displayed both pain and
anger but replied with emphasis She
had, she declared, considered Fife mere
bow and had not for this reason paid at
tention to her husbands accusations
against her, made while he was intoxi-
Gated.
The jury received its instructions late
to-day and the arguments were begun.
Under the instructions the jury must find
Mrs Richardson guilty of murder in the
first degree for which the penalty Is death,
or IL must acquit her. The instructions are
considered to lean slightly in favor OF
Mrs Richardson.