The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-07-18
WOMAN LIFE HAD
BEEN THREATENED
BY Man She Murdered and
When She Fired He Was
Prepared TO Shoot Her,
Says the Defense.

Robinson murder case was furnished
in the statement made for the de-
fense by Attorney A. M. McCarty, af-
ter the jury had been secured We'd
nesday morning. The prosecuting at
torney had read the indictment ami
set forth What the state expected to
prove. when McCarty arose on behalf
Of the defense. He spoke with much
vehemence and feeling and seemed con-
fident Of his ground. After reviewing
the indictment the attorney said:
ITO this indictment Sarah Robinson,
the accused, has pleaded not guilty,
and that plea puts in issue every
material averment and allegation of
the indictment. We mean to insist
that she is not guilty OF murder in the
first degree or of any other crime,
and that she was justified in what she
did.
"McNair was large, strong man
a vicious, brutal ferocious negro, of
character that could not be dupli-
Gated In Stark county. The evidence
will show his general vicious DISPOSE
tion. He ruled everyone in his estab-
lishment with whom he came in
contact with high hand. He walked
about with two revolvers in his hip
pockets and was an adept In the use
of these and other weapons which he
carried with him.
REVIEWED THE CRIME.
d. Every man and woman was afraid
of him, as he was known to be dan
gerous and man who would do what
he threatened to do. His dangerous
character and skill with revolvers was
known to Sarah Robinson.
"The testimony will show that Sarah
Is woman but 20 years of age and
that prior to that time had never shot
revolver. She knew little of the
power of a revolver and after the
shooting did not think she had fatally
wounded McNair.
Coming to the tragedy, which oc-
Cured about 80 in the afternoon of
April IA. Just before the shooting
McNair was in the back yard and
Sarah in the saloon. She sent some
one out to tell McNair to come in as
she had to commence getting sup
per. He did not come, and after wait
ing a while she went herself. When
she went out and insisted upon his
coming, he became angry and struck
her in the face, knocking her down,
and said:
/" You -- ---. go back there
II
knocking her down he compelled her
to get mp and go back into the sa-
loon with him.
HER PRovocATIoN.
"On the shelf in the saloon lay one
revolver. Near where the beer was
drawn lay another. When Sarah came
in. fearing for her life she picked up
the revolver off the shell and hid it
under her apron. 4 fttie later, Sar-
all had opened the door, when some
one told her to shut it. She said she
would in moment. McNair. who
was drawing beer, and who was with
in reach Of the second revolver, yell
ed:
=" You - -. If you don't
shut that door right now. I'll kill you.
and reached for the revolver lying
near.
Fearing for her life, the woman
drew the revolver from under her ap-
ron. pointed 1t toward McNair and
fired. She still fearing. turned and
fed to a neighbor's, where she asked
protection from McNair. fearing hi
would follow her.
"We expect to show that on second
Saturday night before the shooting,
she wanted to go home. and that Nc
Nair compelled her to stay with him,
She had asked several of the colored
boys to take her trunk to the station
for her. but they refused because they
were afraid of McNair. She asked
others and they also refused
WILL ASK ACQUITTAL.
"McNair went into her room and
saw her trunk packed. He demanded
what 1t meant. She said she wanted
to go home. and when she said this
he became enraged and struck her
with his fist, knocking her over the
trunk where she lay unconscious for
about five minutes. Her face was
bruised and her eye blackened, When
she came to he compelled her to un.
dress and go into the bed room where
he locked her in.
after McNair was shot. we expect
to show that he stated that 1t was
his own fault he was shot, and that II
she had not shot him he would have
shot her. Thee is more than this
that we can prove, but It Is not nee
essary to go into 1t at this time.
II think we can be able to satisfy
you of the innocence of this woman;
that what she did was in self de-
fense and justifiable. and we will ask
a verdict of acquittal at your hands. y
CHOOSING THE JURY
The work OF selecting tho jury was
taken up at the opening OF the court
Wednesday morning, The principal
thing In evidence was the vacant
chair" As often as It was filed. II
was vacated again. William b. Lind
soy was challenged peremptorily by
III. state, which was their last chal-