The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-24
Ends g. Famous Central
Kansas. Case.
TRIED THREE TIMES.
Accused of KiIIing-Her Husband
With an Ak.
The Defendant and Children
Very Much Affected.

Salina. Kan..S Dec 24.-The jury in
/ the Caldwell murder case returned a
verdict late Saturday acquitting Mrs.
Susan Caldwell of the charge of muir
dering her husband With this verdict
ends the most famous murder trial of
i central Kansas Mrs. Susan Caldwell
was arrested for the murder of her
husband in September, 1905 She was
twice tried and both juries disagreed.
1t took the court / days to secure a
jury this time. The jury was given
the case at z o'clock Friday evening
and deliberated until after midnight
when the Judge allowed the members
to go to their beds for the remainder
of the night. They took four votes be-
firing
The first vote stood for conviction
and for acquittal. The remainder of
the votes stood for conviction and 10
for acquittal. When the first vote was
taken Saturday morning one more
man had been won over for the de-
PENDANT and the vote stood Il for con-
v1ction and IL for acquittal. This is
the way the vote stood until o'clck
Saturday afternoon when the one man
was won over for the defendant and
Mrs. Caldwell declared innocent of the
murder of her husband.
When the jury was brought in there
was but few auditors present and the
prosecuting attorney was late in arriv-
ing. When the clerk read the verdict
of not guilty, Mrs. Caldwell seemed
i
down her cheeks. To a friend she
said: 4 feel just like crying. but I'm
not going to do it,
A large tear was then rolling down
each cheek. She perceived this and
said: Il am not going to cry any
more" And she didn't. Her. son,
Harry Caldwell, was very much af--
fected and wept quietly. None OF. tn e.
other children were present. ~ss-z4 4
When the jurors were dim1ssed Mrs.
Caldwell took the hand of each~and
thanked him for the verdict. Mrs.
Caldwell has been freed but her home
is gone. She sold her farm and the
money received for 1T has been used to
defend her in this case. But she win
not lack for a place to live. All her
children have been faithful to her. She
will probably live with one of them.
several of whom are married and have
comfortable homes.
I. f. Caldwell was found dead in his
bed the night of September 3, 1905.
Caldwell was a wealthy stoekman- and
farmer, known throughout the county.
1t was known that he had not always
lived happily with his wife. Before
coming to this county, Mr.. and Mrs.
Caldwell had some trouble at Lyons.
After their arrival IN Sa3ihas before
we'll left her husband ana quit Salina.
She was induced to return to him, and
since then until the death of Caldwell
no one had believed that any i'll feel
ing existed between them.
The instrument used for CaldwelTs |
destruction was an AK No less than
six blows we're struck upon one of the
mans temples as he lay asleep. The |
first one apparently killed him. as he
was lying with his hands crossed on !
his breast as If in sleep and there was
no evidence that there had been
struggle on his part.
The ak with which the man was
killed was found the next morning in !
its accustomed place at the barn 1t |
had been carefully washed in water |
and wiped. A towel was found near |
the kitchen door of the Caldwell |
home. Near the ak was a. footprint. It |
was the print of a bare foot and Mrs. |
Caldwell was asked to place her foot |
on plaster cast. The footprints. the |
officers said, on the plaster and the !
footprint near where the ak was |
found alike