The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-12-24
oue MUST STAND SECOND TRIAL.
A.. Elizabeth Morrison, Will Have
Another Trial for Murder.


,r-T,TE Mont. Dec. 24-Mrs. Eliz-
both Morrison beautiful, stylish and
..sociated with many of the best
noonle of Butte City, Mont, has just
merged from most sensational
,.dar trial only to find herself con-
fronted by another.
After six months Imprisonment
,onding the trial and ten days of
tho most sensational testimony taking
,be iurv has failed to agree and has
been discharged.
The disagreement, however, means
that she will again have to go through
tho irving ordeal of trial for murder
in the first degree.
All Montana is taking sides for or
AGAINST Mrs Morrison, whose SEN
satiopal trial for the murder of Rich
ard Finnegan has occupied Judge Nc
Clernan's court. and score of law
vers for the past two weeks.
silver Bow county and Butte City
is rife with theory, argument and
debate as to the guilt or innocence of
tho defendant, as Butte is the scene of
: !. = tragedy - ,
Richard Finnegan was murdered in
thp summer home of Mrs. Morrison,
situated on the level tract of coun-
trv south of Butte, near the country
club and other fashionable stamping
grounds.
ON the morning of June "A he
rushed into a saloon on the roadway,
shot in the breast, the head and the
hand, smeared from head to foot with
blood and absolutely naked.
Finnegan had run 200 yards down
the public road and women who saw
him tainted at the sight, and one has
been nervous wreck ever since. The
saloonkeeper wrapped him in a
blanket and tried to make him talk,
but he refused. He was taken to a
hospital and died that night after in
tense suffering.
Just before he died he made. a-state-
ment accusing Mrs. Elizabeth Morri-
son, a well-known widow of the city,
of having shot him while he slept with
the intention of wiping out debt of
$4,000 she owed him.
He stated that Mrs Morrison had
allowed him the use of her house, a
courtesy she often extended to him
and that on the evening preceding the
tragedy she had come to the house
and they had been drinking. Empty
Wine and beer bottles about the room
tend to confirm this latter statement
~ The Arrest.
~ tmnegan'S ante mOrtem led to
Ii NE arrest of Mrs. Morrison. She was
found hiding at the home of her sis
h Ter and was placed under arrest and
Il ever since has been a prisoner at the
county Jail, bail being refused by the
court
Mrs. Morrison transformed her
rooms at the Jail into bowers OF
beauty, and the hair dresser, massage
woman and manicurist occupied the
uuD hours of her captivity.
>Ihe Morrison country house the day
leHoWlng the tragedy, disclosed a scene
winch evidenced the fiercest and most
soFF battle. Blood smeared the floor
Vie walls and the bed clothing and
"''uluIS of gold coin aggregating $16C
Il were found scattered about the floor
"a Uall of blood led from the bed to
VIE saloon. Furniture was broken
"~uoWs smashed, and articles lying
~'0u' the room were smeareI, show
ny mat they had been used as weap-
VI warfare. The gun lay on the
bed
duties, tfatirons and kitchen uten
SDS and even a heavy saw had been
N the struggle Mrs. Morrison's
'E was bruised and her eyes were
eackened
The Trial.
-Ae trial opened to a crowded court
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.