The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-06-16
WOMAN GUILTY OF
1ST DECREE MURDER
Mrs. Agnes Myers Assisted Her
Paramour to Kill Her
Husband.
WHILE NE HELD HIN She CUT
HUSBANDS THROAT WITH RAZOR.
The Verdict Carries With IL the
Deaf Pennlty-rhe Jury Renders
Its Decision 10 the Judge While
a sunday school Is Occupying the
Court Room.

Liberty, Mo, June I've, the
Jury, find the defendant, Agnes Myers,
guilty Of murder in the first degree
A Sunday school was in session in
the court room when this verdict was
returned. The deal benches that all
the week had held a crowd Of inquisi-
tive and morbid folk were filled with
little girls in white dresses and boys
in knickerbockers. A church organ
stood in place of the prosecutors chair,
aid before it sat a charming and de-
mure young woman.
1t was $50 o'clock. The superin-
tordent Of the Sunday school had risen
to give out a hymn, when a loud rap
ping upon the door of the jury room
echoed above the quiet of the Sabbath
morning. The superintendent sat
down again with the hymn book in
hand and turned to watch that mystic
rious door, which the sheriff was n
locking.
The sheriff put in his head, in a mo-
ment withdrew it, and again locked the
door.
Then he went to the judges room;
his bunck OF heavy keys jingled as she
walked. The judge came out and tool
his chair behind the judicial bench.
The sheriff raped for order.
.
Bring in the defendant" ordered
Judge Alexander.
In a moment Mrs. Myers, her mother
behind her, walked briskly out of an
other door and sat down together in
the jury box.
The children of the Sunday school
looked with mouths agape at the muir
deress. She had on d loose wrapper,
all black.
The Jury's Verdict.
Bring in the jury" ordered the
judge. The door was unlocked and the
~ men marched in and stood in a row
before the Judge. The foreman reached
over and handed a piece of paper to
the clerk. There was a minute of in.
action while the clerk looked at the
sheet of paper upon which was written
the fate of Mrs. Myers.
Gentlemen, have you agreed upon a
verdict?" asked the Judge.
I'VE have, your honor" answered
the foreman.
Read it," the Judge said to the
clerk.
we, the jury. find the defendant,
Agnes Myers, guilty of murder in the
first degree" he read
The boys and girls of the Sunday
school. understanding what it meant,
stared, with pity on their faces, at the
little woman in black.
"Gentlomen," said the Judge, ''you
have the thanks of this court for the
manner in which YOU have conducted
Yourselves You have been subjected
to great inconvenience, but il was UNI
ayoidable, You are discharged"
The sheriff backoned to the CON
demned woman, and she followed him
ont. AS the yellow doors swung be-
hind her the superintendent of the
Sunday school. with hymn book yet in
hand arose faced the lines of white
dressed girls and announced:
I'VE will sing the hymn on page 49,
The HYMN sounded loud in the cell
of Agnes Myers, not twenty feet away.
but she did not listen. She hung over
the foot of the iron bed. still smiling,
still posing as she talked with the
n~ewspaper 1aen.
The Atrocious Crime.
According to the story of her para
mour. Frank Hoffman. who confessed
to being an accomplice with Mrs. My.
ers in the murder of her husband. the
crime was p~remeditated. and was ex.
ecuted in the most brutal manner
Huffman was tried last February for
The crime. and was convicted. and Is
I HUN I'M I'LL "a nv