Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-11-15
MRS. .AMAA|NS IR|AL:
WOMAN Vvt1o SHOT AND KILLED
JUDGE THOMAS, FORMER IOWA
MAN, TO FACE JURY.
PROBABLE Her DEFENSE
WILL De INSANITY
Mrs. Mem ahen Now Regrets Her Action
in Killing Law Partner Of Her hus.
band-Judss Thomas Widow to Fol.
low Trial For Murder With $4,000
Damage Suit.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Mason City, Nov. 15.-f Mrs. Nellie
Mcmahon could undo her act of the
morning OF July 80 last. she would give
her fortune. Tomorrow morning, at
Sturgis, S. D.. before Judge Rice. OF
Deadwood,' she will enter her plea OF
mot guilty" to the charge of murder.
Her defense. Will undoubtedly be in
sanity, -
1t is trial that will have great in
terest all over the west. for Judge u.
2. Thomas, the murdered man, had
practiced law in iowa, Oklahoma, New
Mexico. and had entered into the prac-
tice Of law at Sturgis. He had also
served as the United States land COM
missioner at Washta. S. D.. and hao
been elected judge just prior to his
death. At Sturgs he had formed
partnership with Mr.. Mcmahon. An
unusual amount of work fell to them.
In early July Mr.. Mcmahon died very
suddenly. He was a man Of consider
able means and Mrs. Mcmahon en-
deavored TO step in and take his place.
A hatred sprang up at once for MT.
Thomas and she ordered him to vacate
the office. She was the owner OF the
building MIR. Thomas asked for a
little time to adjust himself She final
IL served legal notice on him to 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.
Anaered, Woman Shoots.
1t was this that angered Mrs. Nc
Mahon and was the occasion Tor the
tragedy which was so soon to follow.
On the evening Of the goth of July she
went to her physician and asked TOT
the use Of q revolver. claiming that
some men were prowling around the
house and she could not sleep. 1t was
an old automatic Colts revolver. that
was aged with years Of service. the
physician thought nothing Of this. She
went home and. according to the evil
dence at the inquest, arose the morning
OF the 30th at 8 o'clock She had as
her guests that night her sister. VINO
resides in Chicago. and niece OF MI.
Mcmahon, Mrs. Harry Hanify. Un-
known 70 these ladies she concealed the
revolver in the folds Of her dress ana
asked them to go with her to the once
and the thee went down They arrived
a the office at about $50. Mrs. Nc
Mahon was the frs. 10 enter. She
opened the door. Seated a the table
was Mr.. Thomas with his back to the
door. In the office at this time were
Attorney l. l.. Andrews and Mr.. NJ. j.
Ee-per assistant county auditor or
Meade county. There was no palaver-
ing on the part OF Mrs. Mcmahon Adj
dressing herself to Attorney Thomas,
she shouted: "Eacate this office at
once" At this Mr.. Thomas turned in
hi. chair but did not have time to
make reply when a we'll directed bullet
crashed thru his brain and fell to the
floor. Attorney Thomas without a
struggle. and without uttering word.
sank back IN the chair. dead.
Not Much Excited.
She then turned the weapon upon
Mr.. Andrews and he ran for his life.
She did this without seeming TO be
under much excitement. After it was
all over. she walked down stairs and
TO the office of the physician OF whom
she had borrowed the gun. summoning
him at the same time to the aid of the
man she had shot All three women
were placed under arrest, but at the
preliminary on Aug. 4. the sister was
Jet 20 and Mrs. Mcmahon was held for
murder Mrs. Harry Hanify was also
held She has engaged able counsel to
defend her. There has been no evil
slence and not even suggestion IN re-
aation to anything improper in the con-
duct of Attorney Thomas and the re-
ports that have gained circulation in
some papers are entirely groundless.
There will be no defense along the line
that she was defending her honor or
character.
Thomas an iowa Man.
This case is particularly interesting
to Iowa people on account Of the fact
that David P. Thomas was born in
Corning, Iowa, graduated from the high
school, entered the law department of
the state university and was graduated
from that. He married a Clear Lake
sirl, Miss Elizabeth HOLSTER. She is
a daughter Of Charles HOLSTER, Il we'll
do resident Of Hampton, Iowa, who
some years ago retired to private life.
Following this trial Mrs. Nellie Nc
Mahon will be sued for $4,000 damages
nv Mrs. Thomas for the loss Of her hus-
band. This will also be quite an in
teresting case, for few OF it's nature
have ever been tried.