Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-10-25
MRS. RUSH NOT GUILTY.
So Declared the Jury i'm the Famous
Rush Murder Case at Hamp-
ton Last Week.

Inc RuSn murder trial winch was
begun in the district court last We'd
nesday morning, ended suddenly,
when the attorneys for the defense
waived their pleas to the jury, and
after thirty minute session the jury
came in with verdict in favor of
Mrs. Aletha Rush, and in the ver-
dict of mot guilty" it meant that
the jury believed that Mrs. Rush
killed her husband in self defense.
Evidence of the popularity of the
verdict was demonstration such as
few courts have ever seen. The re-
joicing was general and demonstra-
tive and no effort was made by the
judge to suppress it. No sooner had
the words not" which preceded the
word guilty" come from the jury
foreman's lips than the applause
broke out. Shouts and the stamping
of feet followed it. A crescendo of
joyous noises made the court room
walls ring. The news spread about
town quickly, almost everybody was
glad. Within a few hours Sheffield
celebrated the event.
The six days trial had its dra-
matte scenes and tense situations.
1t had its hours of suspense, of heart
throbs, of tears and fears. But all
these were overshadowed by the JOY
Gus climax that marked the close. 1t
was ten minutes after the jury silent
ly filed into the court room before
the prisoner was brought in and the
attorneys could reach their places.
About 100 people had remained after
the jury retired, and as the news
spread during the wait the room rap
idly filled. In a stiffness that was
absolute Judge Wright asked if a
verdict had been reached. In stem
torian tones F. A. Thayer of Bows,
the foreman, answered, 1--WE have"
read it," ordered the Judge. Not
guilty." answered the foreman, a
ring of exultation sounding in his
voice.
Before he had finished hands be-
gan clapping. The shouts arose,
swelling to mighty roar, and feet
beat the floor. Hats were tossed on
high and back and forth through the
audience spread the wave of happy
rejoicing. And when the shouting
was at its height, the town bell, in
the steeple above, as though swayed
by the JOY waves from below tolled
the hour of six. Immediately men,
women and children began pushing
and jamming toward Mrs. Rush
Forcing their way forward they
crowded about her. Women Rugged
and kissed her. Strong men seized
her hand, emotion clutching them at
the throat. Joy spent itself in tears
down many woman'S face.
Conducted by her attorney to in
front of the jury box, she grasped
the hand of each juror in turn and
thanked him. The lips of brawny,
brown faced farmers quivered as
they attempted to reply. To some of
them she said: I'm always try to be
worthy of you all, as l have tried to
be worthy in the past"
Lulu Warner, the 10 year old tele-
phone girl, whose relations with |
Rush were interviewer so closely into |
the fabric of the case that it could !
not be separated therefrom, and
whose affection for the dead man the
jury held by its verdict was in no
small measure responsible for the 1
was not in the court room
when the verdict was returned.
With her mother, Mrs. Funk, she
was found in a secluded corner of
dim room on the first floor of the
court house. They had heard of the
verdict. They quietly left the build
ing and walking through the crowds
of rejoicing people, they started for
the station. No one noticed them.
They felt themselves cut off, alone.
Many rejoiced, but they were not of
them. To avoid the stares and re-
marks they left the station, where
scores of Sheffield people had gath
cred to take the train home.-Hamp-
ton Chronicle.