The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-11-17
DAKOTA WOMAN IS
READY FOR HER TRIAL
ON MURDER CHARGE
Self Defense the Probable Plea
of Mrs. Mcmahon, Who Shot !
David Thomas.

Sioux Falls, s. D., Nov. IA. ThA
trial of Mrs. Nellie Mcmahon for the
murder of David p. Thomas, an attorS
ney and former United States commits.
court converting. in Meade county MonI
day. !
Mrs. Mcmahon has powerful friends
who will seek to have her acquitted
AS the result of a dispute over the oc 4
cupancy Of an office building at Stur1
gis. she is charged with shooting
Thomas to death on July 80 of the,
present year.
AS a sequel to the tragic death OF
Thomas his widow recently instituted a,
suit against Mrs. Mcmahon by which
she seeks to recover damages of &c.,
600. Mrs. Thomas was left in straight
ened circumstances. with five small
children to support. The suit was in
stituted for the purpose of compelling
Mrs. Mcmahon, who is a woman Of
means, to assist In caring for the five
children.
Grievances Was Prolonged.
Mrs. Mcmahon will be defended by
Harry p. Atwater Of Sturgis and A. X.
Gardner Of Huron. Naturally there is
keen interest as to the grounds upon
which the defense will be based In
some quarters 1t is believed the defense
will be conducted on the theory that
Mrs. Mcmahon was suffering from an
attack of temporary insanity. In other
quarters it is thought self defense Will
be urged.
Immediately after her arrest Mrs.
Mcmahon said she acted In self de-
tense. SO 1t is likely this will be the
grounds upon which her defense viii
be based.
The trouble leading up to the tragedy
was of several months standing.
Thomas had his office with Mrs Nc
Mahnn'G drIf n
and there had been more or less trou-
bic between Thomas and the Defend
ant over rent for the office building. .
Two Eyewitnesses.
It Is asserted that as the result OF
the trouble Thomas had threatened
office about a m, July 80, and the
quarrel was renewed. Thomas is al
legged to have reached for his pistol.
Mrs. Mcmahon Immediately drew her
own weapon from the folds OF her dress
and fired, the bullet piercing Thomas
head. Mrs Mcmahon was armed with
a 32-caliber Colts automatic revolver
The bullet entered Thomas head, over
the right eye, penetrating the brain.
There were two eyewitnesses to the
tragedy. One was William Curper, who
testified before the coroner's jury that
Mrs. Mcmahon went into Thomas Of
flee and said:
Curper said she then drew her re-
volver and fired. When she entered the
office. Curper testified, Thomas was
standing with his back to the door,
talking to Curper. When shot he fell
and died almost instantly.
The other eyewitness was w. FL. An
derson. After carefully investigating
the tragedy the coroners jury retdrned
a verdict to the effect that Thomas
came to his death from a gunshot
wound inflicted by a pistol in the
hands of Mrs. Nellie Mcmahon.
Woman Borrowed Revolver.
Thomas refusal to vacate appeared
to be the only motive for the shooting.
The prosecution will have evidence
that Mrs. Mcmahon borrowed the re-
voiver from DR.. Richards of Sturgis,
telIing him there had been suspicious
characters about her home. After the
tragedy the weapon was returned to
the physician. The prosecution will Of
fer testimony that the weapon was
borrowed the night before the ira
gedy.