The Caucasian., 1911-07-23
MRS. LOU ALLEN CONNiGlED'


in Caddo parish.
The Jury reached a verdict soon
after they had retired from the
court at noon, but owing to the ad-
iournment until o'clock, their
finding was not made public until
about ten minutes after that hour,
when the court resumed its session.
III was soon generally known about
The court house from the report OF
1. deputy sheriff to Judge Bell that
the jury had agreed on verdict,
which was anticipated. Even Mrs.
Allen and her friends who sat near
by seemed to realize the finding OF
the jury.
When the jury filed into the court
room and took their seats Mrs. Al
lens face was ashen pale. She tried
TO control her emotion, but in vain.
Sitting at her side was Hon. M. c..
Elstner. who comforted her as best
he could.
For a few seconds the silence in
the court room was SO intense that
a pin could have been heard strlk-
ing the floor.
The verdict of the jury was re-
ported through G. E. Gilmer, their
foreman, who handed it to Deputy
Clerk Hardin who passed 1t to
Judge Bell. The judge scrutinized
it closely and then returned it to
Mr.. Hardin, who read i'll clear
voice the verdict finding Mrs. Allen
guilty as charged and c. E. Allen,
her husband, not guilty. They had
been indicted jointly by the Grand
Jury, but he was not connected with
the case by evidence or otherwise.
As the word guilty was spoken
by the deputy clerk, Mrs. Allen
screamed and almost tainted, but
her sister was at her side comfort
ing her while her two boys clasped
their arms about her, all weeping
and caressing her. Tt was an Incl
dent which moved the stoutest of
hearts.
Then followed two pollings of the
jury, which is unusual, and in each
polling the jurors when asked to say
III this was his verdict answered yes
or no. In this case ten answered yes
as follows: w. H. Billingsly Jr, j..
M. Taylor. Gilmer McKenny, Gus
Hendricks, C. f. Brown, r.. ]. Viii
iiams, G. E. Gilmer, o. M. McDuff
and j. e. Murray. The other two
jurors who are recorded as not
guilty are 7. E. Ellis and George
Murray. As the penalty does not
involve life, nine jurors could reach
a verdict.
The verdict is responsive to the
evidence.
There never was a clearer case
presented to an intelligent jury, and
yet there was generally entertained
the apprehension that the case
would end in a mistrial or an ac-
quittal.
This apprehension was based on
yerdicts heretofore recorded when
the jurors We're moved by misplaced
us maudlin sentiment for the person
on trial for murder or some crime
of lesser degree. In this case wom-
an was the accused.
In this case the play for sympathy
had been exercised to the fullest
limit, but fortunately the jury failed
to be moved in the discharge of
their duty through that sympathy
which is unwarranted and would
have led to q discredit of justice.
This case was remarkable in many
of its features. The defendant had
for counsel three of the most prom
inent attorneys practicing at the
Shreveport bar, Hon. John D. Will
kinson, Hon. NJ. G. Elstner and Judge
A. ]. Murff, and these three gentle
men exercised all their ingenuity |
and all their skill in law to secure
the acquittal of Mrs. Allen.
In his presentation of the case
District Attorney Foster was unas-
sisted, but never before during his
years as the representative of the
State did he have to contend against |
such an array Of talent. To his cred
ii be it said that he rose to the re-
spensibility Of the case and exceed
ed the antieipations Of his friends.
His effart was commended on all |
sides and is the talk Of the town. In |
his presentation Of the case District
attorney Foster referred in most |
complimentary terms to Sheriff |
Flournoy and his deputies, who had
been prompt and diligent in secur-
ing the arrest Of Mrs ALLEN and in
locating the evidence in the case.
The charge by Judge Bell was
short. clear, foreeful and to the
point.
It may be said that there never
was a palmer case Of guilt tried in