The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-25
BLOOD. ON HER
HANDS, SHE SAYS
Mrs. Richardson's Testimony
Brings Tears to All Eyes.
HOW HUSBAND WAS KILLED
THOUGHT HE WAS TR-ING TO
SCARE HER.

Plattsburg, Mo-. Jan. 24-Between
sobs Mrs. Addie B. Richardson today
made her own defense of the charge
OF having killed her husband, Frank
Richardson. who was murdered in their
nome at Savannah on the night before
christmas in 1900 She told how she
had remained at home alone to fix the
christmas tree for the children; how,
when she heard her husband approach
ing, she turned the light low and pre-
pared TO surprise him when he should
enter: how the footsteps of two people
mad been heard, a moment later the
cry Has it come to this, and then
the shot, fired in the darkness, that
ended Richardson's life.
With emphasis she denied all knoWl-
edge OF the murder and with snap re-
tuJed insinuatiOns that her conduct
with Stewart Fife, a clerk in her hus-
bands store and now awaiting trial
himself for completely in the crime, had
Deen anything else but proper. She
told how her husband, jealous IF Fife
and their family physician, , III, when
under the influence of liduo-. m.1e
accusations against her. Then, as a
climax in the defense Of Mrs. Rich
ardson, her attorneys produea1 . Iet-
ter written BY Richardson to mis- wife
while he was an inmate of d drink
cure institute
1t eXonerated the defendant % slurs
against her character, Acknowledged
the writer's own guilt and begged num-
Oily Ior forgiveness. The reading OF
the letter proved a sensational bit OF
evidence.
The arguments were begun during
the afternoon, and it is expected the
case viii go to the jury tomorrow noon.
Inc instruction will, in the main. favor
acquittaL The state will demand a
verdict for murder in the first or sec
ond decree
While Mrs. Richardson was on the
stand a sensational incident took place
thdt resulted in the court filming c. f.
Boomer, leading attorney for the state.
and father of the county prosecutor,
$oV and ordering the jury from the
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 oOron-
er- jury, but to Mr. Booher."
Fines the Attorney For Contempt.
What did you tell to Mr.. Booher?"
1our honor, interpOsed Mr.. BoOher,
ms voice trembling with emotion and
tears coursing down his cheeks, Il
nave stood this long enough. I object
TO the court allowing my name to be
dragged into this case with
lnslnuatiops that the witnesses have
told me more than have made known
IL "
Here the attorneys voice gave out.
Mr.. Clerk. said the court, fine Mr..
L protest, your honor, that I am not
being treated fairly
Fine Mr.. Booher $50. said the court
and Mr.. Sheriff. take charge of Mr.
Boomer and remove the jury from the |
ROOM" nv
4 recess was taken. a few minutes |
.ater Attorney SBooher returned, apol-
osizet to the Court and Mrs. Richard
son proceeded
Mrs. Richardson detailed the events |
1f the day of the murden. Dec. "A. 1900. |
Al f'I5' IN the evening Mr.. Richard !
son and George Crontley had. she said. /
cit the house for Richardson's store. |
Sees Blood on Her Hands.
She was TO go late to the EpisconaI
-nurch, where the children were at |
-ehding Christmas entertainment.
ana from there TO the store to accom- /
pany her husband TO the theatre She /
-oid OF leaving the house, and remem- !
1erlng on theAWay that she had for /
gotten brooch given her by her hus- /
OdHo, ana or returning to the house !
Tor IT. Realizing it was late, she tele- |
richardson rat she would not !
90 TO the church. but would stav at |
ne mouse and fix the Christmas tree !
or the children and await him there. |
InGn inI,
TRIVIAL OF her husband and of his
ieath.
I heard buggy drive up" said
he witness, and then heard footsteps
'omlng up the brick sidewalk. | turned |!
ne hight down in the room and sat
N the couch near the door, expecting /
o surprise Frank.
There seemed to be two persons
coming up the walk. Just before he
eached the doorway leading from the
iall 10 the bedroom. there was re-
'ort, and he fell backward. When he
vas in the hall I heard some one saw
mas II come to or something like
When he fell / placed my hand nm
Ter MS head and tried to raise him
Up. l supposed he was trying to fright,
n me. Then I lit the lamp. I VS.
Jartled but at first did not fully real
ze what had happened When I lit
he lamp there was blood on my
lands"
Overcome by Apparent Grief.
Mrs. Richardson bowed her head and
'ept before she was able to. continue
Mrs. Richardson was questioned |
loosely about the condition or her hus-
ana body, and the manner in which
e had fallen to the floor.
DO you know who shot your hus-
and?' she was asked.
I do not
Did you see the person who shot
im?~
4 did not.
Mrs. Richardson said that the meet
lg Of Stewart Fife on the church.
tops was accidental In cross examin-
Ton, when asked questions with ref
renee 10 her relations with Fife. she
lsplayed both pain and anger but
7plled with emphasis. She Lad. she I ,
cleared, considered Fife d mere boy.
nj had not for this reason paid at
sntIon TO her husbands accusations /
galnst her while he was intoxicated. ,
A letter written By Richardson while | ,
e was in q drink cure institution at :
L Joseph in which. he had asked his
1fe's forgiveness for making charges }
Salnst her while he was intoxicated. !
as admitted as evidence The de- q
'nse closed its side this afternoon c
-ttorney Convicted of Embezzlement. /
spokane Wash. Jan. 2i.-W. A. Lewis ! y
pioneer attorney, was convicted today I
! the superior court Of embeZZiing about I 7
-5eg of clients funds Lewis and :
lmiy were prominent in society. When .
discovery %. m tnyy Ia