The Washington herald., 1906-12-12
MRS. BIRDSONG LOSES
Manslaughter Verdict for
Senator's Niece.
SWOONS AWAY IN COURTROOM
Uncle So Confident Of Her Acquittal
He Had Left Town, but Will Re-
turn To-day 20 Argue for New
TriaI-Juryman Affected by His
Stand-2O Years Maximum Penalty.

HazeIhurst. Miss. Dec. n.-"Guilty OF
manslaughter; but we. the jury. recon-
mend the prisoner to the mercy of the
court"
These words. spoken in a solemn man
ner in the courtroom here this evening,
sounded the doom of Mrs. Angie Bird
song, who killed her family physician. DR..
Butler when he boasted Of his intimacy
with her. and came as an Overwhelming
surprise 20 all those who had closely fol-
lowed the trial When the case was given
to the jury at o'clock last night the
hopes of the defense were high that a
speedy verdict of acquittal would be rem
dered. Then, as the hours sped on. and
from the jury room came the report that
the jury stood eleven for acquittal and
one for conviction, the young woman
prisoner was reassured by her attorneys
and friends that this one would be won
over and she would be set free.
When the jury fled into the courtroom
tonight, it was plain from the hard set
faces Of the veniremen that they had not
been swayed by sympathy or by the sex
of the accused. Mrs. Birdsong. hanked by
her faithful maid, scanned the f2bes Of
the jUrymen as she waited for the judge
to give them the authority 10 announce
their verdict. but she saw little to reas-
sure her there, and she was in semi-hys-
terical condition when the jury was asked
if they had arrived at final verdict.
Verdict Unnerved Her.
AS the words were finally spoken that
doomed her to a prison cell, Mrs. Bird
song rose to her feet, scanned the jury
men for an instant, and with one loud cry
sank back in her seat. crying and sobbing
as if her heart would break.
So violent did Mrs. Birdsong become that
il was necessary to restrain her. Her lit
tie baby boy was clasped close TO her
breast. and when the child was taken
away he sobbed. Mamma, don't leave
me-"
Mrs. Birds0ng was carried To her hotel.
where two deputies will guard her until
tomorrow morning. when proceedings
viii at once he instituted for an appeal.
The attorneys Of Mrs. Birdsong, as
well as her husband and United States
Senator a J. MCLaurin. her uncle. were
so confident that the woman would be
set free that they actually left town for
their respective homes, leaving Mrs. Bird
song TO follow this morning. when it was
expected that the formalities would be
complied with
Twenty Years Maximum Penalty.
Under the new code Of laws the maxi
mum penalty for manslaughter is twenty
years at hard labor in the State peniten-
tiary. The minimum is fine of $500.
Last Juror Grief-stricken.
The last juror TO come over is crazed
with grief and says he believes the
woman should have been promptly ac-
quilted. It is said argument for new
trial viii be based on this very issue.
IT is held that a mistrial would
have resulted had the lone juror held to
the courage Of his convictions and that
the ballot was more a matter OF chance
than deliberation. In fact, it is stated
that Mrs. Birdsong's liberty was gambled
away.
Senator McLaurin is hUrrying here from
Brandon, his home, where he went last
night after delivering his powerful three
hour speech in behalf of his niece. Il is
expected that early tomorrow morning
Judge Miller viii hear motions for new
trial