Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-12-07
MRS. BRADLEY NOT GUILTY
Jury Returned Verdict tuesday
Morning at 10 O'clock,
HER AWFUL SUSPENSE OVER
Crowd in Court Room AppIauds Yer.
dict--The unwritten Law Again
indicated.

indicated.
Washington. Dec. 1.-The jury yes.
terday returned verdict declaring
Mrs. Annie M. Bradley not guilty Of
the murder of Senator Arthur Brown,
of Utah.
AS the jufy, fled into the courtroom
following short deliberation on the
case all ehattering among the great
throng of spectators ceased. and all
listened eagerly for the announcement
they felt sure would make Mrs. Brad.
ley free. The defendant, every nerve
nj her body aquiver, stared wildly at
the jury and strained herself TO hear
the word that would either mean a
prison sentence for her or freedom.
The judge. the lawyers and the jury
men who for days have listened in the
jury box to the pitiful story of Mrs.
Bradley's relations with and Staying
of former Senator Arthur Brown, of
Utah, all looked tired.
I'VE find the defendant not guilty"
said the foreman.
A long. sobbing breath OF approval
went up from the men and women in
the court room
Order! Keep your seatslr shouted
the court crier
The prisoners body quivered as an
aspen leaf. Her lifelong friend, Emma
Pischel, violated the order and no one
chided her for it. She went to her
friends side, and. leaning close to her.
brushed her cheeks with her lips.
But a moment later when the YER
dict became generally known shouts
of approval rang throughout the cor
ridors of the building, and in front
of it where a throng. denied admis-
sion, had assembled. Mrs. Bradley
was on the verge of collapse.
The frail woman had spent sleep
less night, her face entirely without
color and her eyes red from tears she
had shed during her all night lonely
vigil.
The greatest crowd since the trial
began besieged the entrance to the
court, al eager TO express sympathy
for the prisoner. They could not un-
derstand why the jury had not reach
ed verdict within a few minutes.
Judge Stafford's charge was regard.
ed as decidedly favorable to Mrs.
Bradley.
Almost a year to the day from the
moment she walked into the Raleigh
hotel, December s, last, and the trag-
edy was enacted, she breathes once
more the air of freedom, of vindica-
tioh and comparative happiness. She
has been discharged by the court
there is no charge against and she is
told to Go and sin no more"
The moment was one Tor which she
has longed for a year; it holds her be
fore the world as blameless for the
deed committed IN desperation, when,
after years of pleading, the man VINO
wronged her finally refused to give
name TO her helpless children.
Never has there been in a Washing
ton court room a scene TO equal that
attending the returning OF this verdict.
Never. perhaps, has any court OF jus.
tice ever furnished an exhibition OF
such dramatic intensity. with graphic
heart interest. so replete with pathos
and withai. happy IN its denouement,
as that witnessed when Annie NJ.
bradley beard the words that wildcat
ed her.
AIRS. Bradley shot Senator Brown. in
the Raleigh hotel. Washington. on De
cenber s. 1906. He died at the Finer.
geDcy hospital. December 1S. Mrs.
bradley was vindicated by the srand
jury February 10. 1907. on charge
of murder In the first degree. The trial
began November II before Justice
Stafford and occupied twenty-one days.
Mrs. Bradley says she win devote
her future 10 the care OF her children