Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-12-21
SHOOTING SHOW
GIRLS ARE FREED
Jury Deliberates for IS Minutes
before Arriving at g
Verdict.
DEFENSE GIVEN A SURPRISE
Nervy Miss Conrad Goes into
Violent Mysteries and Is
Soothcd by Her Wcepy
Companion.

Lillian Graham and Ethel Conrad Of Grim
inn charges on which they had been held
since last June for the shooting Of the
millionaire sportsman ahd hotel propre-
tor. ". T.. -. Stokes The jury arrived
at its verdict after IS minutes delbera-
ton
rhe shooting show girls were tried on
M Indictment OF three counts, the first he
.nr an at;ciup; to murder StokN OF con
sidcratlou oc this most serious charge
however. the Jurors were relieved by Jus
toe Marcus. who astounded the defense
~ the lith hour announcement that the
district attorney would withdraw the first
count; The court restricted the jury 10
,he second and third counts, which
charged, respectively, assault in the ilrSt
degree with intent to kill and assault III
the second degree with intent to 90 poui'E
injury.
While the jury was celebrating. the
Two defendants We're held prisoners !"
one of the ante-chambers OF the co"l'
room The period of waiting was severe
ordeal for both of them. When SUM
moned to hear the verdict Miss Grahan
appeared to be completely unstrunE ana
had to be assisted into the court room
She was trembling in every limb. me
more spirited Miss Conrad came uH'9-
sisted. but she seemed highly nervous
She had been overheard to say whie
waiting for the verdict: II can't stand II
until he gets through, Lillian.
TEARS HER HAIR IN HYSTERlA
A moment later, when the girls We're
facing the jury and the foreman an
nounced tina; they were mot guilty.
Miss Conrad cried THANK Cod ana
went into violent Mysteries. She sank TO
the counsel table jumped up again and
shrieking at the top of her voice. tore
her hair and threw her arms about Wild
,v II was n surprise to the spectators,
for Miss Conrad had kept much the
better nerve Of the two defendants
throughout the trial. on the other hand,
Miss Graham. who continually wept dur
ing the trial and who only sobhcd the
more when she heard the verdict, re-
covered herself when she saw her COM
panion so affected, and acted as the
comforter to her younger friend
1t was at drst thought that Miss Con-
rad had misunderstood the verdict and
her companion tried to assure her that
they were free. con, | know" he said
"TeH mother We are free. Tell her we
are coming home"
These were practically Miss Conrada
only coherent words during her hysteria
which continued fully 10 minutes.
She recovered as suddenly as she was
attacked and with Miss Graham on her
arm, issued from the court room to be
greeted with cheers by a large crowd
gathered outside. Many persons stepped
forward to pat the girls on the hack
and 20 shake their hands. They stepped
into "A taXicab and We're whrlcd away
TO dinner
JURY TOOK FOUR BALLOTS.
The Jury arrived at its verdict after
taking four ballots on three Of them
the Jurymcu voted each time II to !.
for nCQuittai. the one man dlssan Ing
being in favor Of 80 conviction or second
degree assault. The spectators VINO
crowded the court room did not appear
greatly Surprised.
No cne was present representing the
complainant, Stokes, except counsel. HIS
young wife who had been in he court
room most Of the day. had decided not
to await the outcome 1t was said at
Tho Hotel AusOn,a, some hours later that
ne news OF the verdict had not been
carried ~ Stokes up to tina, time lie
was said TO ne suu dangerously II fcl-
owing The recent operation for the re-
nova! oc a.. Gbsc=ss OF his kidney
The summing Up argument which AS
sistaEi District Attorney Emery Ruckner
made HSs!as: the girls was a dramatic
ccat1rc o. TIE late Afternoon session of
tcIT.. lie :onrishsd the revolvers with
which Tie f.r,s hai SHOT Stokes and
Puac.uA:el nus recital OF the shooting and
MS scorchinS denunc!ation Of bot!
Stokes and toe girls by frequent snap.
Of tho trigger.
Inv n'ust Re ecforce1 to be enaobiel
rot 20 10 laughed At. Tgp1ed at. spa
apoa and danced rpo1 and song over
Oh the vaudeville stage" were some 81
Mr., Euckners words He rcf.rred u
,hc contention Of counsei for the d,f4ls,
that Nj Stoh,~ could not he punvtn~t
pcd trat the Girls hna been punish~
enough. He spd
Stokes lIAS pgnN PUN!SHSD
"Pcrhsp, 1t is no punishment for MAJ
with & sin months bride and a ii-ye7 r
Old 500 TO have such things hsWKed abo I
MIN IN every village and hamlet as haV
been published in this state. And hoy
have these Eirls seen punished? Whit
Stokes was nursing his wounds they hum
his bloody trousers outside IT thcatr
ana asked the puri!c 70 dopos: ats mans
IN tho box Office"
The main contention Of the prosecution
was tina. the Defendants lurct Stokes 4
their apartment TO hlacknlai him an,
shoot him when lie refused 20 coI1pl,
wtt1 their demands, and that there wa
not, az the giTls c!ai:ncA. any basis 70
self-dcfensc Ny Bdckner spoke 70
three houlS and Il hnlf.
'Jdge Mnr;u1. after announcing tn
withdrawal az the first count In the in
G,ctmcnt, ea!t In his charge to the jur
that tho only theory OF tho defense wa
sclr~defcnsc. lie declared that all tn
other matters brought >it IN the cas-
we're relevant only 10 show The rela tian
O" ;ho parties, lie cautioned tire juror
not TO let their emotions overrun the,
reason, simply because the defen5an.
wac women,