Arizona republican., 1911-11-30
That is What the Jury De-
clared in the Case of Mrs.
Patterson, the Denver
Woman Who Killed Her
Husband.
VERDICT WAS A
POPULAR ONE
Hysterical Crowd Gave a
Wild Demonstration When
the Defendant Left the
Court House to 60 to Her
Hotel.

DENVER. Nov 29.-Gertrude Glib
son Patterson. accused OF the murder
Of her husband. Charles a. Patterson.
whom she shot To death while the
couple were walking together in
suburb September %, was declared
not guilty by 4 jury in the district
court today
The verdict was announced at 2:S4
p. M. more than two hours after the
jury had agreed The long wait, car
rying with it an agony of suspense
for the little woman on trial, result
ed from the absence Of Judge George
w. Allen, who was attending the
funeral of a colleague. Judge Carlton
NJ Bliss.
As the clerk finished reading the
verdict, Mrs. Patterson sprang TO her
feet and caught the outstretched hand
of her attorney From outside the
courtroom came a loud roar Of cheers;
inside the crowd was quiet and or
derly. But as court adjourned and
Mrs. Patterson stepped forward 10
thank the jury. the crowd sureed in
upon her. overwhelming her with con-
gratulations 50 that her efforts 10
reach the jury were vain. Later four
nf the jurors called on her as she
was making ready to leave the Jail
To these she expressed her thanks.
and through them her gratitude TO the
remainder of the jury.
When Mrs Patterson stepped from
the little court building for the last
time To make the journey to the jail
"a journey that for the last four
days she has made four times a day
through a lone of curious humanity,
the space between the courtroom and
the Jail was packed with cheering
crowd. On the arm of her attorney
she struggled through a crowd of men
trying to shake her hand and women
irving to kiss her Behind her, both
hands waving in the air, came her
father, shouting his JOY aloud Close
behind him came her mother and sis
ter, both in tears. At the Jail prepar-
ations for leaving were quickly made
Ii was just three o'clock when she
stepped through the barred doors and
into an automobile that carried her to
the hotel at which the family was
staying. As she passed through the
Jail rotunda, gay with Thanksgiving
decorations, $50 more prisoners gave
her a round Of cheers.
At no time during the deliberations
of the jury were there more than two
votes for conviction. Four ballots
were taken, the first ersulting in ten
for acquittal and two for conviction
of murder in the first degree.
This ballot was taken after the jury,
O.. had made
a preliminary survey of the evidence
and instructions. After that ballot
the jury went to bed. The second
ballot was taken soon after the jury
returned from breakfast. resulting as
at first. An hours discussion fol-
lowed. when third ballot was taken
Ii stood eleven to one for acquittal.
AT l1:l5 this morning the jury took
the fourth vote and was solid for ac-
quittal.
The courthouse was practically de-
serted when the first news of an
agreement leaked out Because of
Judge Bliss funeral, all courts had
adjourned and all county offices Were
closed. only the two bailiffs who had
charge of the jury and a few deputy
Sheriffs and a handful of newspaper
men were on the ground. Word was
sent to Judge Allen at the cemetery.
mt il was more than two hours be-
fore he was able to reach the scene
hours of agonizing suspense for Mrs.
Patterson and fruitless speculation on
the, part Of others.
4 little after noon the jury filed
cut for dinner. When the twelve
men returned an hour later all of
Them apparently were in a cheerful
mood. and the first whisper went
around that they stood for acquittal.
News of the agreement spread quick
Iv throughout the city. and from every
directjon a great crowd made its way
,o the courtroom. Admittance was
denied all until a few minutes before
tho iurv was brought down, when
the doors finally were opened. Only
- small part Of the tnrong was able
IN crowd into the building. Mrs. Pat
terson was brought into court shortly
before the Jury entered. Seated be-
sido her counsel. she chatted with him
,nerrilv. in strikil lg contrast to her
demeanor of the last few days. The
vardict hung, it was declared, upon
Ntre Patterson's trip To Europe with
,o,ber man after she had married
peterson. Whether this trip was tax
with her husbands knowledge.
c.. no had received $500 from the
man with whom she went, as she
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