Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-13
NINA J. DANFORTH
Pleads Guilty to MansIaughter
in Killing A. }. Emery.
Sentenced to q Months in the
House Of Correction.
Showed No Particular interest in Any
of Proceedings.

charge of manslaughter Nina j. Dan
forth of Newton. today. pleaded guilty
in the Middlesex superior criminal
court. Previously she had pleaded not
guilty to a charge of murder. her al
legged victim being Andrew j. Emery
of South birmingham. The charge,
after a consultation of counsel. today,
was changed from murder to man
slaughter and the defendant made a
change in her plea.
The affair took place at Emery's
home in South birmingham on May
II last. 1t was claimed that Emery
had led the woung woman. who is a
dwarf. to believe thatShe was in love
with her and would marry her, and
that she shot him upon learning that
he had a wife and children.
Few cases of late have attracted
more attention than this one. Miss
Danfort,. child in appearance on ac-
count of her deformity, although %
years of age, upon learning of Emery's
faithlessness. went to his home late at
night. ard while his wife and chill
dren were in the house shot him after
having called him to the door. He fell
dead. almost in the arms of his wife,
who had followed him down the stairs
Three bullets We're fired, each of which
took effect. and the man dropped.
Miss Danforth stood still by and when
neighbors who had been aroused by
the sounds of the shots came to the
house. she admitted that she had killed
Emery.
For months the lawyers in the case
have been considering how progress
should be made, for it was claimed
that on account of her physical con-
dition as well as because of mental
suffering, caused by the alleged per-
fidlty of Emery. the defence would be
insanity. 1t was considered doubtful,
moreover. if any jury would sustain a
charge of murder in view of the cir
cumstances attending the case. The
matter was not decided until today,
when the lawyers finally came to an
agreement that a plea of guilty to
manslaughter should be entered and
that it should be accepted by the pros
ecNtion.
In pursuance of this plan Miss DAN
forth was taken from the Jail, early
this afternoon. Sheriff Fairbairn and
the prisoners sister accompanied her
As she entered the court room she
looked like a child, wearing as she die
a short skirt. a Tam-o'-Shanter ha
and having her hair braided down hel
back.
The proceedings were very brief. Tht
clerk first asked if Miss DanfOrth de
cided to change her plea on charge Of
murder. Counsel announced that i
was desired to change the charge from
murder to manslaughter. This wa:
dore. and Miss Danforth when called
upon to answer to the manslaughte1
Indictment. answered, when asked
whether guilty or not guilty, Yes" il
a low tone.
She did not seem to be deeply affected
nor to take particular note Of the pro
ceedings.
District Attorney George A. Sander.
son addressed the court reviewing the
case.
Lawyer F. II. Krebs, Jr., on behalf OF
Miss Danforth. urged the court to ex'
ercise clemency. He stated that tht
defendant, mentally, morally and ply.
sically was like child, and she was
subject to violent headaches and that
within 80 days previous to the time OF
the shooting she was suffering from
hysteria to the degree that she was
constantly in a hypnotic and trance
like state.
Lawyer johnson, also representing
Miss Danfcrth, spoke briefly corrobo-
rating the facts set forth by Mr.. krebs.
The judge replied to counsel by say
ing that nothing which had been called
to his attention would justify such an
offense as that which had been COM
united in this instance. He said that
the conduct Of Emery towards the de-
PENDANT ought to be taken into consid-
Grafton with respect to its effect upon
the brain. He said that he would take
the matter into consideration and
would pronounce a light penalty. He
then sentenced Miss Danforth to serve
one wear and nine months in the Cam
bridge House of Correction.
The prisoner heard the sentence OF
the cour. without apparent emotion.
Mrs. Emery, the widow of the man who
was killed, who occupied seat in the
witness box, burst into tears. Miss
Danforth responded promptly to mo-
ton from Sheriff Fairbairn and accom-
ma MED him out of the court ROOM
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