The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-19
Mrs. Hearn Is Giuen
 Freedom by q Jury

mostly between the white woman and the black came with the alleged inf., delity of Hearn.
 Mrs. Hearn told. on the stand. that she had been molested by Nita Patton more than once and on one occasion even assaulted by the negress. while on her way homeward from the down town store at which she worked as Q dress- alterer.
 She carried the revolver with which the negro woman was killed. for pro- tection. she said. as most of the time 1t was after dark when she left her work.
 On the stand she told of the night of the shooting. She related that she had left the Store on Dexter Avenue, and that she met the woman on the cor- ner of Monroe and Decatur Streets. The woman followed her. she said. walking faster as she did. and slowing corres- pondingly. .
 She gained her house and went in- side. Then. coming to the front porch to call her little girl. she saw the ne- gross in the front yard.
 She held the revolver in her hand still, as she had expected to go out in- to the street in search of the child. she declared.
 Nita Patton was in the yard, behind the steps from the porch and stepped Into VIeW as MITE, CaiC oats "oS the evidence. Then. Mrs. Hearn testi- fled to crying out:
 "Oh, I'm tired of thiS''
 The negro woman answered her, said Mrs. Hearn, and then started up the steps. at the same time placing her hand to the bosom of her dress, One Had to Die.
 "Yes, I'm tired of. 1t, too." said Nlta Patton, according to Mrs. Hearn. and I m r0ip fo i'll you 0r yOIl will have to kill me-"
 Mrs. Hearn tells of warning the ne- gress not to come further, but Nita Pat ton continued on the ascent.
 Then 1t was that the young white woman fired. The first attempt to shoot was futile, 1t was said. as the revolver snapped. and the cartridge times, 1t Is not ascertainable which, the revolver was fired, and the negro woman fell.
 The chief State witness, a negro girl, who was on the scene. and who had been associated with Nita Patton, fur nished evidence that tended to sho that the meeting of the night of the shooting had been. in a way, arranged. and that Mrs Hearn was armed for the occasion.
 There were several other witnesses for the State and the defense, the most of them character witnesses. Many of the people testifying were women of the half-world, in which Nita Patton moved.
 Mrs. Hearn told of several occasions upon which she knew her husband to be in the house of Nita Patton. and one, even, when she herself went after him, and again when she sent for him. by the police
 Mrs. Hearn, a young woman of at tractive face and bearing. was trim in a well fitting black dress, with her face plainly pale, and with eyes plain ly red, even through heavy veil which she wore.
 As reference was made to her home and her two children and her efforts to make a living for them and herself. 1t was necessary to lift the veil to brush away the tears that came.
 Mrs. Hearn. on the stand, was her own best witness. Mrs. Williams, her foster mother. was also examined, as were several friends of the prisoner.
 The case was called early yesterday morning. going to the jury at about 4 o'clock, a verdict resulting almost im- mediately.
 The court room was well filled, much Interest having been aroused in the case. And. inevitably, there crept into the atmosphere of the room a subtle