The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-07-17
DEFENSE SEEKS AN
INSTRUCTED VERDICT
Argument on Motion for AC-
qaIttal still in Progress at
Oklahoma City
sreelal to Daily Lender.

Special to Daily Leader.
Oklahoma City July l7.-shouid tn,
ruling Of the court be unfavorable tc
the defense as regards the motion.
now being argued before Judge Geo
N. Clark, 1t Is given out from an au
tho7itatiye source that Mrs. Lila
Meadows VIII be placed on the stand
A n. Munden. who is assisting the
defense. declined to discuss the move
lie did not deny that Mrs. Meadows
would testify IN her own behalf.
Argument upon the motions made
by the attorneys for Mrs. Meadows
vas not completed yesterday. owing
10 the adjournment of court out Of re
peet TO the late r. G. Hays, former
county attorney. and most of today
robably VIII be consumed in finishing
he argument
Attorneys for the defense, and es.
2eeially j. w. Johnson. argued thai
he state had failed absolutely to
maize out a case; that there was not
a particle OF eyidence to connect Mrs.
Meadows with a conspiracy to mur.
der her husband. Mr. Johnson found
Serious objection to the manner in
which the prosecution had dragged
out family skeletons and paraded Mrs
Meadows grocs immortality before the
jury, He did not think II proper that
aer treatment Of James r. Meadows
should be brought before the jurors
for the reason that it might prejudice
them against the defendant He con.
tended that none OF the circumstances
thus far brought out by the prosecu-
ton should be used against the defen.
dant. In an effort to conect her with
the death of her husband. no stories
OF her relations with other men, her
7ppcrent Indifference towards ner
husband, her fights with him and vile
epithets applied to him on numerous
occasions-none OF these, according
20 Mr., Johnson. should be used to ar.
peal to the passion and prejudice of
the jury. We say that tho judicial
conscience of the court cannot allow
him TO pronounce the vemsict In this
case" said Colonel Johnson.
Prosecutor Harris said that the do
fendant in any case has a right 20
an instructed verdict II the evidence
is not sufficient to convict, and
though this procedure may often ex-
onerate guilty person. the right ex-
lists, nevertheless. There are two
views in this case for the jury 10 take
be held, that of Mrs, Meadows her
self. as murderess, Of that Of Rudolph
Tegeler as murderer with Mrs. Mead
ows aiding and abetting.
Mr.. Harris stated that he had no
desire to make personal attacks, but
merely had the sad duty 10 perform
OF showing the evidence In the case
whe Gin the depraYity in the morals
Of q woman led her to have pro
nounced contempt for her husband,
led her to curse him in vilest tsrms,
beat him, drink and hold clandestine
meetings with other men caused her
to let her sick husband lay IN a back
room in need Of medical attention
while she caroused and had criminal
relations with Rudolph TegeleG under
the same roof
He asserted that MS Meadows d's-
cnssed the question of a divorce while
In company with Rudolph Tegeler.
consulted Mrs Myers on the matter
whose handwriting has been identi-
fed as that OF Mrs Meados. took bug
gy rides with Tegeler, sent him fruit
received an Of the letters that Tege
Ter wrote and gave TO Teeeler tire let
ters that fell into the hands the
police aud laid hare the plot wherein
James r. Meadows was tha victim
Mr Harris also pointed ouf that
Meadows had some life inarra aee a.
vel as some money and thar he was
a nuisance while all~s and q 'pizf
If dead and that It was based on Ih's
gs a motive that the crime was COIN
mitted She expressed no desire e
spend any money in on effort 10 %
cate him or discover who Was "a
blame. bnt said that others who had
money could investigate II theg want
ca 10. During his entire absence
said the prosecutor she IS shown %
have made no effort 10 find HIM de
played apparent unoncern until sai
was warned by Dorothy Keith that
people would look 70 her S. tha re-
sponsible one for the disappearance
and accordingly she sent sheriff
Garrison said Prosecutor Harris
She reads a letter only part,l
through that has neen published IN
ihe newspapers TELLING of her hus
bands murder thereby displaying he'
real FEELING ~ not caring q read i
tarongh Does that sound prohable1 p