The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-28
mrs. NOBLE IS ACQUITTED.
MURDER CASE BEGINS At $50 AND
she WALKS OUT FREE At 3.


TO snow How the shots were Fired.
MrA Josephine leighton Noble, whose
hand held tbs revolver which killed her
husband, Patton Noble, on the night Of
Nov II last at their home In Long Island
City, went free Of the charge Of his murder
yesterday afternoon, just two minutes
before the hands Of the clock in the old
court house at Flushing came to the hour
OFFS II was, the lawyers said, the quickest
murder trial In this State that they had
ever heard Of.
jury was secured in SO minutes. After
tho calling Of many witnesses, the sum
ming up on both sides and the Judges
charge, the jury was able to retire at 40
P. NJ Then the Judge left the bench but
the spectators stuck TO thsir seats. They
had an idea that the finish was not far
away.
Before any one expected IL, Justice Gay
nor returned TO his chair and ten seconds
later the jury hurried in. Mrs. Noble did
not look at the twelve. Her gloved fingers
kept closing repeatedly and she put her
right hand TO her head. rested her elbow
on a table and closed her eyes, The lids
qlivered as though she was ready to cry,
but no tears came, She was in suspense,
but it was not long.
Gentlemen, said the clerk to the jury,
have you agreed upon a verdict in the
case Of the People against Noble?'
We have said the foreman, for the
defendant
you find the defendant not guiltyl'
we do said all the jurors.
Mrs. Noble opened her eyes, to see first
her sister Lenore, who kissed her, and then
her lawyer. Charles f. lie Barber, who
shook her hand and laughed as though it
had been a foregone conclusion. Three or
four women friends had been sitting near
her inside the rail and between kissing
them and shaking hands with some Of the
jurors she had busy time for three minutes
She smiled in a sad way and repeated
Thank you in response to oongratula-
tons. Once, when she was asked what
she thought about 1t all, she saiG what
else could they have done7" Then she
put on her black veil and went home to her
father, an old sea captain, who was too
nervous to 60 to the trial. and to her mother,
who was too Ill. They live in Long Island
City, and there abe will stay.
Justice Gaynor excused the jurymen
after thanking them for their promptness.
They took only two ballots on the case, one
informal, one formal, both unanimous.
Mrs. Noble came into court at e:25 oclock
yesterday morning, accompanied by her
sister and ]. N. Bhibley Of her defense.
Her chief counsel, Mr.. lie Barber, formerly
an Assistant District Attorney in this county,
was already there. She is quite pretty.
Her gown was Of black and she wore a large
black hat Her sister Lenore wore light
summer clothing. Another friend, Miss
Burnell. was q study In green. The case
was begun at ESQ o'clock. At 1906 the jury
had been obtained
District Attorney Gregg aid he would
prove that Noble was killed ten minutes
after he reached his home on the night OF
Nov. ~ and that his wife shot him. He
showed on his own coat where the bullet
entered and declared that the wounds
could not have been self inflicted.
DR.. p. f. Bumster Of Long Island City.
one Of the first witnesses called, did not
respond to his name. Justice Gaynor waited
fifteen minutes and then said sharply
This In very discreditable. II Is the
worst ever saw
When DR.. Bumster, who had not ex-
pected that getting the jury would be such
! swift affair, came into court. he explained
10 the Judge that he had been delayed and
begged to be excused. -
This is the Supreme Court and It Is en-
titled to respect said Justice Gaynor,
'ternly. II excuse you shall be asked |
10 excuse others / fine you $50, with the (
alternative Of spending Ave days in jail. |
After luncheon this was reduced TO SIS and |
a. tar he -, h. #
he lawyers on both Sides the fine was
RENTED altogether.
DR.. Bumster told OF finding Mobiles /
dead body in the Noble apartments. There |
Tere two bullet holes in his shirt, a wound
n the right breast and another just left
" the median line in the chest. Mrs.
Noble, he said. was almost hysterical.
Bottie Burnell, whose parents shared q
rouse with the Mobiles was not in court
Ehen she was called as a witness and Jus.
ice GaynOr said loudly:
DO the witnesses in this county think
hcy can come into court at any time they
pease7 II they 90 l will convince them
before the cay Is over He
orcered the case TO proceed without the
missing girl.
, Dr.. Flynn, the Coroner's physician told
u Mobiles wounds As he had been late
n coming TO court he had an experience
similar TO that OF DIT. Bumster. Both were
'harply lectured at the end Of the trial.
Mrs. Benjamin Burnell, who lived on the
ioor beneath the Mobiles, said she heard
he shots fired and the body fall. Mrs.
Noble came down stairs TO her with a re-
'olver in her hand and tainted. The re-
Tolver had been broken Mrs. Burnell
ave II 10 her husband. She heard no
words between the Mobiles.
Sergt. William A. Jones Of the New York
'olice Department testified that the re-
oliver was Of such a make that II could not
ave been fired except with pressure on
be handle, being Of the safety kind.
When Franz Mayer, with whom the
'obles once boarded at II Wolsey street,
.ong Island City, came 10 the stand, Mrs |
'oble plucked at Mr.. Le BARRIERS sleeve
nd whispered advice TO him, Mayer said
hat the Mobiles often quarreled and that
irs. Noble was kept from the table for
eyeral days by a discolored eye.
heard their voices in anger ana curses.
aid Mayer. -Once she spilled whisky
nd II caught fire and she threw his shirt
. the FIRE. Once he asked her whore she
ad been and she told him il was none Of
ia business. heard her call him damned !
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