The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-12
W0MANHACQUITTED
JuRY FINDS MRs. m'pdNALD NOT
 GUELTYs
The Resenaant aeeeae&a the Yeraie4 VVftheak Appsxea1 En1ekiaN~~Suxw Was Out sEx Ms&d M
 1FaAg Nx@mR~1

chscake, Fsh. 1a.-Mre. Dora Mcpon- ala. who has been on trial here since January 90, on the charge of nanrdering webster Guerin. was acquitted by q jury in the Criminal Court tonight. The verdict was reached after six and a half hours delIberation. the jury hav- ing retired at o'clock this afternoon.
 The defendant, who is the widow of Michael c. MoDonald. formerly a poe Etical leader in Chicago. received the verdict without apparent emotion. . During the trial. she had frequently collapsed and on several occasions the case has been interrupted in order that she might receive medical attention. Tonight. however. she was the least moved of any of the persons concerned m the defense, her attendant being so overcome that Mrs. McDonald was com pelIed to exchange roles with her ana try to quiet the woman.
 Members of the jury took an oath before reporting their finding not to reveal the historx of their delipera- tfons. The nrst ballot, they said, stood eight to four for acqquittal, but suoser auent developments were carefully kept secret. te
 After Mrs. Mcdonald had been dis charged, she was taken to hotel by relatives It was announced later that ahe will retire to a sanftarium. De- spite her nervous and physical condi- tion during the trial and the months following the tragedy no hint or possible attack of insanity was onereo by the defense at the trial.
 The case was given to the jury after q comparatively short closing address for the State by Assistant States Attor> neys Rittenhouse.
 Webster 8. Guerin was shot and kill ed in his studio in the Omaha Build ing, LaSaIle and Van Buren Streets, Feb. 2I. Is0T Mrs. Mcdonald was alone with him when the tragedy oc- ourred and was immediately arrested and charged with the murder. Her husband and Leopold Greeman. Presi- dent of the Champion Oh emical- Works, aIrned bail bonds for S50.000 after her indictment, March 30, 1907.
 The shock of the tragedy proved disastrous to McDonand and he died Aug. 9, 1907, after an illness of several weeks. His fortune was left to the accused woman and his two sons, one fine child of a former marriage. Spe- csal provision was made fin his will for Mira McDonald's defense. and the iIl- strunaent was attacked in court by his former wife. Mrs. Mary Mcdonald. from whom he had obtainedla divorce. The suit is still pending
 If developed at the trial just closed that Guerin and Mrs. Dora Mcdonald had been more or less intimate for alrnost ten years, their relations h9v- ing begun when Guerin was less than m years of age. The State asserted that Guerin had attempted to dissolve these relations. and that the woman shot him in a jealous rage.
 The defense attacked Guerin's char acter. asserting that he had systemat- icaIly bIaclxmaiied Mrs. McDonald for wears and offered evidence tending to show that he had attacked her In his studio on the day of the tragedy One of the dramatic incidents of the trial was the acting out of this alleged struggle by two physicians. who show ed how Mrs. McDonald might have twisted the revolver in Guerin's hand until 1t pointed at his own breast, and how the trigger might have been pull ed during the struggle.
 The trial attracted unusually large crowds and on several occasions the nolice and bailiffs had to unite forces to hold would-be spectators in check.