Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-11-25
DAKOTA WOMAN is
PLACED ON TRIAL
FOR SHOOTING MAN
Mrs. Mcmahon Pleads Not
Guilty to Charge of Muir
dering Judge Thomas.

Sturgis, S. D., Nov. 16.-This morn
ing before Judge Rice, Of Deadwood,
who is holding court here, Mrs. Nellie
Mcmahon entered a plea of not guilty
of the murder OF d. Z. Thomas, whom
she killed in his office In this city on
the morning of July 80 of the present
year. 1t Is understood that her de-
Tense will be a plea OF insanity at the.
time the crime was committed.
Judge d. =. Thomas, the murdered
had practiced a. in Iowa, kla
homa, New Mexico, and had entered
into the practice of law at Sturgis.
He had also served as the United
States land commissioner at Washta,
S. d., and had been nominated for
judge just prior to his death. At Stur-
SIS he had formed 1t pai inersiIip with
Mr.. Mcmahon. An unusual mount OF
work came to them. In early July Mr..
Mcmahon died very suddenly. He was
a man % considerable means and Mrs
Mcmahon endeaVored to step in and
take his place. Differences sprung UP
at once and she ordered Thomas tC
vacate the Office. She was the owner
OF the building. Mr.. Thomas asked
for a little time to adjust himself. She
finally served legal notice on him &c
vacate, and this did not bring about
the desired results. Then she nailed
the door, but Attorney Thomas forced
entrance. He demanded a year in
which to settle up the business of the
firm. This angered Mrs. Mcmahon
and on the evening of July 20 she went
to her physician m asked for the use
Of a revolver, claiming that some men
were prowling round the house and
she could not sleep. She had as her
guests that night her sister, who re-
sides in Chicago, and a niece of Mr.
Mcmahon, Mrs. Harry Hanify. Un7
known TO these women she concealed
the revolver in the folds of her dress
and asked them to go with her TO the
office in the morning. They arrived at
the office at about $50. Mrs. Mcmahon
was the first to enter. She opened he
door, Seated ct the table W2s Mr..
Thomas with his back 10 the door. In
the office at this time was Attorney I.
l. Andrews and NJ. J. Kerper, assist
ant county auditor of Meade county.
There was no palavering on the part
OF Mrs. Mcmahon. Addressing herself
to Attorney Thomas she shouted: Va
cate this office at onCe!" At this Mr..
Thomas turned his chair but did not
nave time to make reply before a we'll
directed bullet crashed through his
brain and fell to the floor. Attorney
Thomas, without a struggle and
without uttering a word, sank back in
the chair dead. She then turned the
weapon upon Mr.. Andrews and he ran
for his life. All three women were
placed under arrest, but at the prelim-
mary on August 4 the sister was Ter
go and Mrs. Mcmahon held for muir.
der. Mrs. Harry Hanify was also held,
David P. Thomas was horn in Corn
ing, Ia, graduated from the high
school, entered the law department. of
the state university and was grad
uated from that. He married a Clear
Lake girl. Miss Elizabeth HOLSTER.
She is a daughter of Charles HoIlister,
a utn1l m 1n rauiHant nf 4 nrrrtnn To
Following this trial Mrs. Nellie Me-
Mahon will be sued for SO, 900 dam
ages by Mrs. Thomas for the loss II
her husband.