The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1907-03-12
VERDICT OF ACQulTTAL
Jsry frees tfs. 1sAAary Of ne CAxse
oi 1srterlaS Her Hs>laat.
to the Daily Light.

Special to the Daily Light
Clcbarne. Tex March Il Mrs.
Anna Mahauey. who was arraigued
for trial In the district court last
week on charge OF the murder Of
her husband at Venus on January
~. ~ today free woman and Ii re-
ceiviug the congratulations of scores
of friends who have attended every
session Of court since the beginning
of the trial
When the court convened this
morning at sac the jury was ready
to report with verdict of not gull
ity. This verdict did not come as a
surprise to those who have closely
observed the trend of the testimony
during the trial It is doubtful If a
murder case previous to this one was
ever tried here in which the prepon-
derance of the evidence was so over
whelmingly in favor of the defend
ant. The fact that no evidence in re-
buttal was offered by the state was
taken to mean that the prosecution
had failed 10 make out a case against
Mrs Mahaney.
The courts charge was delivered
to the jury yesterday afternoon
shortly after O'Clock The jury re-
tired at once to begin its delibera-
tions and many persons hung about
the court room until a late hour in
the night, expecting that verdict
would be agreed upon in few min
utes. No information came from the
jury room until 1t was announced at
$50 this morning that verdict had
been reached.
The testimony in the Mahaney
murder trial came to an abrupt and
unexpected end so far as the public
was concerned Monday morning.
Somewhat to the surprise of the
public the state did not attempt to
rebut the testimony the defendant
had been fortifying herself with for
the past three days and did not offer
anv evidence at all in rebuttal unless
the evidence Of Al Mahaney, brother
OF deceased. to the effect that fsd9al
breeze, brother OF the defendant
had told him on the day foilowin'
lhis return from Sherman, whithe
he had gone to see his sister in res
ponse to the sad letter which wa
finally admitted in evidence, that b
had been to Sherman to see his sis
ter and had learned that Joe Maha
ney had quit his sister and that M
would move his sister to Venus and
told him Al Mahaney, to warn his
brother not to come to Venus or he
or Anna Mahaney, the defendant,
would kill him, could be called EVIL
dence in rebuttal
The defense then put on one wit
ness and in three minutes the evil
dence in this famous case was all IN
and Senator Odell, leading counsel
for the defense, said he would sub
init the case without argument, but
the state objected and it was agreed
to give each side two hours in when
to present the matter to the jury
Mason Cleveland opened for the
state in a powerful address III when
it was soon shown that the state was
asking a conviction for murder IN
the first degree. He was followed oy
Senator Odell who consumed all OF
the time allotted the defense in
brilliant argument and impassioned
plea for the liberation of the defend
ant. in which he pictured the suffer
ing she had undergone at the hands
of the deceased and tracked the evil
dence in mastery effort. Judge
PoindeXter closed for the state. Inc
Judge contended that the state had
made out a plain case OF murder
that no insanity had been shown by
the defense. while on the contrary
great preparedness had been proven
! by the state. He reminded the jury
that they were not sitting as board
; of pardons. but as jury 10 try the
b case on the law and the evidence
, and the fact that the defendant was
A woman should make no difference
- in their verdict under the law.
: Judge Lockett announced that he
had decided to withdraw and did
withdraw from the jury the letter
written hy Clara To her father which
referred ia his giving her quarter
= and that he would also withdraw
from tho Jury ali testimony relating
, To the burning of the home In Wor-
G. than except that portion which was
!, connected with threat by the de
ceased agalns, she defendant. also
The testimony of Mrs Mahancy with
i. reference to what occurred the morn
B fnc when the donr was locked which
I, ess aul, a fsu mornings before she
b nral ..nsfsffnu and related to hts
,hrwtst a.f ubiph hn Thought wuUld
b. a sH