Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-15
WIFE FREED
BY VERDICT
MRS. DE- ARMAN GIVEN HER
LIBERTY
CASE AGAINST WOMAN Is DIS
MISSED
Husband Carries Painting Wife from
Court Room-Many Friends Sup
port Couple DurIng'the
Examination

Mrs. U. z. De Arnan will not be
called upon to face jury In the su-
perior court to answer the charge of
killing Mrs. Helen Griffin, who was
shot to death in the postoffice at Mon
rovia on March 81.
Following an examination lasting
throughout the whole of yesterday JUS
tice j. b. Holloway dismissed the
charge against Mrs. De Arman, the
testimony introduced in her behalf be-
ing of such a nature that her act was
regarded as justifiable.
Woman, go home to your children,
were the words spoken by the justice
as he closed short statement regard
ing the testimony.
Mrs. De Arman reached the little
court room leaning heavily on the arms
of her husband and nurse. She was
attired completely in black and the
pale, wan features of the woman gave
evidence of the terrible mental and
bodily suffering she has undergone
since the afternoon of the tragedy.
Through a densly crowded chamber
she was led to seat facing the bench,
and within ten minutes the first and
last legal ordeal through which she
must pass was begun.
AS the first witness was called to the
stand the shufhing of feet, moving of
chairs and whispered conversation
ceased and a hush fell upon the large
gatherings gathering made up of
friendly sympathizers with the woman
in her hour of grief.
Deputy District Attorney Frank
Blair conducted the examination for
the state and Attorney Paul Schenck
had charge of Mrs. De Arman's inter
ests. ~
Ten Witnesses Examined
Ten witnesses were examined during
the day. the first of whom was the
chauffeur, who in the automobile hired
by Mrs. De Arman's husband, drove
Mrs. Griffin to the scene of the trag-
edy.
One witness to the shooting told the
story of that occurrence and of the
peculiar actions of Mrs. De Arman
at the time as of one laboring under
terrible mental strain. Mrs. A. Nes-
tab, long time friend of the accused
woman told story of the pitiable con-
dition of Mrs. De Arman prior to the
shooting.
"She told me her troubles were more
than she could bear" said the wit
ness, land her one prayer was that
she might find relief In death"
1.-THE woman was heartbroken," said
Mrs. c. Richardson, a neighbor OF the
De Armans. "On the morning of the
shooting she called to me to come to
her home. I found her weeping bit
terly, crying aloud expressions of her
grief over the thoughts OF the home
that was broken"
Other witnesses told of introductions
by De Arman of Mrs. Griffin as his
wife and that she had been taken into
their homes as such.
A sister-in-law of the accused woman
told of the latter's worries and fears
feelings that had become so poignant
she had sought TO find surcease of her
troubles in death.
Woman Bought Poison
"Once she bought quantity of car
bolic acid" said the witness, land 1t
was only by the merest accident that
this fact was discovered. Her mind
was distressed and she could not Sleep
I have often been awakened in the
early morning hours to hear her walk
ing restlessly about her room"
Efforts on behalf of De Arman to
prevail upon Mrs. Griffin to leave the
city were recounted by other witnesses,
who said their pleadings with the
woman were without avail-home, wife
and children alike having no influence
upon her actions.
Attorney Schenck. as the last wit
ness left the stand began a most i'm
passioned appeal to the court to dis
charge the woman. He painted vivid
word picture of her terrible sufferings
and how, after years of anguish, she
had sought to remove from her path
one whose presence meant the destruc-
ton of all she held dear.
Justice Holloway, in rendering his
decision spoke but few words. AS he
concluded he turned to Mrs. De Ar
man and with a voice shaking with
emotion. said:
woman. go home to your children"
There was not dry eye In the court
room and as the justice left the bench
the crowd gathered about the little
figure in black. but she was overcome
and could not respond to the tender ex-
pressions of sympathy and cheer.
De Arman picked his wife up in his
arms and carried her to waiting car
rio