Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-11-14
Directs a Verdict For Defense
in Case of Former Marshall
town Woman
STATE SHOWS A WEAK CASE
After States Evidence is Concluded
Motion to Direct Verdict is Sustained
by Judge Brennan, at Des Moines--
Case Has Attracted Considerable At
AanAinn
tention.

Mrs. w. ii. Clements. the IOTHlel
Marshalltown woman charged with ar
son at Des Moines, accused of setting
fire to her own office. was acquitted IN
Judge Brennans court at Des Moines
Wednesday afternoon. The court di-
rected the verdict, claiming that ne
would be compelled to set aside a YER
dict should the jury find the defend
case, and the evidence was altogether
insufficient to warrant even sem
blance of conviction.
The Register and Leader of this
morning contains the following con-
corning the case and the discharge Of
the defendant:
Mrs. w. H. Clements. accused of
setting fire to her rooms In the Younk-
err annex in order to get the insur-
ance, was vindicated yesterday after
noon when Judge Brennan directed q
jury in district court to return & YER
dict Of acquittal. When the state. rest
ed it's case Attorney j. M. Parsons
arose and moved that the court direct
verdict for the defendant.
Even IL you were to find this de-
PENDANT guilty, I would be compelled
to set the verdict aside" Judge Bren-
nan said to the jury in sustaining Mr..
Parsons motion. THE state has proved
nothing against this defendant and the
,ubo TO S,rcrfctnn Won
will return verdict finding tine de-
PENDANT not guilty
Detectives e. E. Johnston and A. II.
Bracket both made admissions on
cross examination which greatly weak
ened the states case. 1t was the claim
Of the defense that when Mrs. Gle
ments entered her rooms on the night
Of the fire she was attacked by man
named Mandel who had previously
written her number of threatening
letters. Mandel testified at the Justice
court hearing when Mrs. Clements was
discharged.
Detectives Make Admissions.
Detective Bracket admitted that
he had made the statement that the
state made mistake in putting Man
del on the stand and that he would
never be allowed to testify again. Since
that time Mandel has left the state.
Detective Johnston testified on
cross examination that on the night OF
the fire Mrs. Clements told him that
she had received threatening letters
from Mandel. Charles s. Wheeler, a
hack driver testified that he ran up
the stairs and found Mrs. Clements
living unconscious in the hall several
feet from the door, which was locked
City Physician j. r. Miller said he ex-
amined Mrs. Clements the same night
and discovered a red spot on her
cheek which might have been caused
by acid. Mrs. Clements claimed that
the man threw the contents Of bot
tie toward her face and then struck
her on the back Of the head, knocking
her unconscious. DIR. Miller said he
found no marks of violence on her
head.
Had $1,000 Insurance..
"The state showed by Mrs. Mary
Erase Meyers that Mrs. Clements had
taken out $1,000 insurance with the
German American Insurance company
for which Mrs. Meyers is agent.
Fireman William Brady and Charles
E. Corbett told of finding Kerosene In
the rooms. They also said. that some
Of the fire was found inside Of table
drawers. Detectives McKercher and
Jackson, who were also called to the
scene, said they smelled kerosene in
the rooms.
"Mrs. Clements, was indicted on
charge of arson by the last grand
jury, after she had once been dis
charged in a justice court hearing. Her
case was called for trial yesterday
morning. Attorney Henry II. Griffiths
assisted Mr.. Parson in the defense"