The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-08-21
RYANS SKULL
IN COURT ROOM
Mrs. Hodge Confronted by the
GhOstIy Exhibit.
PUTS HAND TO HER EYES
TESTIMONY IN CASE WILL De
FINISHED TONIGHT.
PUTS HAND TO HER EYES

A grinning skull. with a lead-fringed
hole in its crown. was a grewsome .ex-
hioit that confronted Mrs. Aurora
Hodge before the bar of justice yester-
day. 1t was the skull Of William y.
Ryan, the man whom she is accused
OF having murdered and robbed.
The skull was brought into court in
me afternoon in a small paper box.
Mrs. Hodge glanced at the box. but lit
re guessed what IL contained. DR.. II.
\. Mayo was called to the stand and
the skull was handed to him by the
county attorney Mrs. Hodge sat look
ing down in her lap. but suddenly she
looked up. When she saw the skull
she gave an almost imperceptible start.
her face grew dedthIy pale and she
dow
During the entire time that the doctor
was testifying as TO the course pursued
by the bullet she would not cast her
gaze in the direction of the grewsome
object. When the doctor had finished.
Mr. Westervelt took the skull in his
hands and started toward Mr. Loot
borrow. The lower jaw being loose
made the teeth rattle with a decidedly
unpleasant sound. Mrs. Hodge glanced
up quickly. She instinctively shrank
back in her chair. her face grew red
ana her hand flew over her eyes She
turned quickly to The window and her
attorney mOtiOned Mr.. Westervelt TO
take the skull away. He put it down
on the table before the Judge
Strain Trying One.
While this was happening the crowd
OF people who thronged the court room
watched the accused woman with
searching glances. a hush prevailed
in the room that would have made a
pin drop audible to every one. The
strain was a trying one for the pris-
oner and she was noticed TO heaye
sigh Of relief when the skull was
returned to its pasteboard box.
BEFORE an after the presentation OF
the skull Mrs. Hodge was an entirely
dihereSt woman. She seemed to take
an interest in what was being said and
laughed heartily frequently at funny
remarks made by witnesses She
seemed 10 be in the best of spirits and
smiled her peculiar smile at each in
cident that gave opportunity for an
exhibition of mirth.
Just before court opened i'm the morn
ing a refined looking young girl rushed
up 10 the prisoner and embraced her
Mrs. Hodge greeted the girl with en-
thusiasm and they chatted together in
a lively manner for several minutes
Inc name of the girl was not divulged
out II was learned hat she was a
Schooimate of the prisoner i'm Denison.
Iowa
During the morning session of the
court five different witnesses were
called and identified Mrs Hodge as the
woman seen camping with Ryan in the
vicinity of Murray and WincheSter's
ranch. A. IT. Atkinson said he and his
wife passed what he supposed was
Ryan's camp on the night of July 10
ana saw a woman tying a man with
rope. The man. he said did not
seem to be trying to get way and
there was no indication of trouble. The
rope. he said. was wrapped around the
mans arms and body. He could not
say that Mrs. Hodge was the woman.
Ryan Died Struggling.
DR.. Rausher testified i'm the after
noon that from the examination he
made he was positive that Ryan died
struggling to loosen himself from his
bonds. He testified that the mans
strength, as the thongs had cut into
the flesh.
g. A. Seabring. deputy sheriff at Og-
den. testified as TO Mrs. Hodge having
been in the Crittenton home there. and
also that money and ticket had been
sent there by her brother, but she
never claimed them.
George Draper of Clearfeld had
walked from that place nearly to Lay
ton with Mrs. Hodge the night of July
3. and he saw in her hand what he
thought was a revolver It was
wrapped in q handkerchief
G. a. ReCkerstall testified that he
had met Mrs. Hodge the same evening
and he had seen a revolver
William Wright of CentervilIe testi-
fled that the girl took supper and
spent the night at his home July 6.
She had a revolver wrapped IN a hand
kerchiet when she came there, he testi-
ned Mrs Wright testified to the same
effect.
Several witnesses were then recalled
and testified that when the body of
Ryan was found they saw no revolver
i'm the camp.
J. p. Swenson was called and swora
70 the correctness Of a map Of the RYAN
mitted
The hearing will probably be brought
10 a close tonight