The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-02-13
MRS. MCDONALD IS
ACQUITTED BY JURY
CHICAGO WOMAN ExoNERATED
AFTER LONG TRIAL.
ENDS SERIES OF TRAGEDIES.
Shooting Was Followed BY Death Of
Woman's Husband-Was Well
Known Character and Poll
tician In Chicago. ..
United Press Dispatch.


--
United Press Dispatch.
Chicago, Feb. 12.-Mrs. Dora Nc
Donald, who has been on trial here
since Jan 20 on the charge OF MUIR
dering Webster s. Guerin, was acquit-
ted by a jury in the criminal court
last night. The verdict was reached
after six and half hours of deliber-
alton, the jury having retired at one
O'Clock in the afternoon.
The defendant, who is the widow Of
Michael G, mcdonald, formerly polit-
ical leader in Chicago, received the
verdict without apparent emotion.
During the trial she had frequently
collapsed, and on several occasions
the case had been interrupted in order
that she might receive medical atten.
tion Last night, however, she was
the least moved of any of the persons
concerned in the defense, her attend
ant being so overcome that Mrs. Nc
Donald was compelled to exchange
roles with her and then try TO quiet
the woman
Members of the jury took an oath
before reporting their finding not to
reveal the history of their delibera-
tions. The first ballot, they said, stood
to A for acquittal, but subsequent
Developments were carefully kept Sc
crets
Il Crowd Hears the Verdict.
There was big crowd in Judge
Brentano's courtroom when it was
learned that a verdict = been
reached. Dora McEr. Nd, Seeee,avily
veiled and accompanied by her nurse.
Miss Amanda Beck, was assisted into
the room and sank into a seat-the
same one she has occupied since the
beginning Of the trial--in the iistless
manDer that has marked her demeanor
from the first day.
There were many OF her relatives
as well as relatives of the Guerin
family in court, and they all sat to,
gether on the other side of the court
room behind the press table.
There was brief delay while Judge
Brentano took his seat on the bench,
looking tired with the strain Of the
long trial, which has lasted nearly a
month. ..
Bring in the jury" said the judge
brusquely, and the bailiff opened the
door for the IL men to file in. They
entered the courtroom and took their
seats. The bailiff walked across the
room and took from the foreman the
folded paper. He passed back to where
Clerk Carter stood at the left of Judge
Brentano and handed the paper up to
him.
Unfolding it rapidly, Carter in a
single breath read the verdict mot
guilty" and sat down.
Mrs. Mcdonald Breaks Down.
There was gasp. Then a smoth,
cred sob broke the intense silence.
And then all semblance of order dis.
appeared for a few minutes: The at
torneys for Mrs. Mcdonald sprang to
her side and surrounded her. She
sank back utterly helpless. In the
courtroom excitement ragged for a mo
ment and then the repeated rappings
Of the gavels of half a dozen bailiffs
brought order back.
Webster S. Guerin was shot and
killed in his studio In the Omaha
building, La Sale and Van Buren,
streets. Feb 81, 1907. Mrs. McDon-
aid was alone with him when the
tragedy occurred and was immediate
ly arrested and charged with tie
murder. Her husband and Leopold
Freeman, president of the Champion
Chemical works signed bail bonds for
s50,D00 after her indictment. March
20, .ec7. -.
disastrous to Mcdonald and he died
Aug. 9, 1907, after an illness OF sew
eral weeks. His fortune was left to
the accused woman and his two sons,
one the child of former marriage.
Special provision was made in his
Tragedy Kills Husband.
The shock of the tragedy proved
win for Mrs, McDonalds defense and
the instrument was attacked in court
by his former wife, Mrs. Mary McDon-
aid, from whom he had obtained a
divorce. This suit Is still pending.
1t developed at the trial just con.
cluded that Guerin snd Mrs. Dora Nc
Donald had been more or less intimate
for almost ten years, their relations
having begun when Guerin was less
than II years old. The state assert
ed that Guerin had attempted to dis
solve these relations and the woman
shot him in jealous rage. The de-
fense attacked Guerin's character, as
serting that he had Systematically
blackmaIled Mrs Mcdonald for years
and offered evidence tending 10 show
that he had attacked her In his studio
on the day of the tragedy,
The trial attracted unusually large
crowds and on several occasions the
police and bailiffs had to unite forces
to hold would-be spectators in check,