New-York tribune., 1911-11-29
FIND WOMAN NOT GUILTY
Jury ACquitS. Mrs. 0'Shaugh-
messy on Ground OF Insanity.
ALIENISTS TO EXAMINE HER
Affecting Scene in Courtroom
When Foreman Gives Verdict
-Mahoney Breaks Down.

! Mrs. Frances O'Shaughnessy, vino
shot and killed Eer husband. George
O'ShauPhnessy. o on May , last, TO save
his soul" was acquitted Yesterday after
/ noon of murder in the first degree by 4
jury before Judge Foster. in General
! Sessions The ground OF acquittal was
| insanity Judge Foster then wrote an
order committing the young woman 10
the Tombs where she will be examined
to-day bv two alienists TO determine
whether she should be sent to Mattea-
wan.
As the jury filed into the box Mrs.
'Shaughnessy was led from the rear OF
the courtroom 10 the bar. The paleness
she had shown throughout her trial had
gone. Her cheeks were flushed, and she
gazed down at her black gloved hand as
it moved a little nervoUsly on the rail-
ing.
When Albert G. Bushnell. the fore
man. pronounced the words Not guilty
Mrs. O'Shaughnessy bent her head and
swaved toward the keeper half
smothered cheer was gathering strength
in the room. when Clerk Brophy and
Captain O'Brien. of the court, yelled for
order. jeremiah Mahoney and Joseph
Rosalsky. counsel for the defence, went
quickly to their client and shook her
hand.
She was trembling as she went silently
back TO the Tombs. On the way she
said to the keeper that she didn't eX-
pect a verdict so soon. Then she asked
him l. she would he sent to home. -
The keeper replied "PNhaps So" In
side the Tombs Mrs. O'Shaughnessy en-
braced Mrs O'Brien, the matron, and
wept while the prisoners who knew her
gave her a cheer. After she regained
her composure she said she desired to
change her name, and if she were ever
set free she would begin life again in q
new place. Mrs. Simeon Ford, of No. -
West 74th street. who employed her as
maid at the time of We shooting has
shown great interest in the girl. but Mrs.
O'Shaughnessy said she could not bear
10 accept Mrs. Ford's kindness again.
Back in the courtroom the assistant
district attorneys Mr.. Edwards and Mr..
Weller. were congratuating Mr.. Ma
honey and Mr.. ROsalsky. Tears gath
cred in Mr.. Mahoneys eyes, and when
the Jury pressed forward to shake his
hand he dropped into a chair buried his
face in his hands and sobbed for several
minutes
The jury went out at 100 o'clock in
the afternoon for luncheon and delibera-
ton. At 2:30 o'clock it returned ana
asked 10 hear the testimony Of Patrol
man Clerk. TO whom Mrs. O'Shaughnessy
gave herself up after she shot her hus-
band Clerk testified that Mrs. O'Shaugh-
messy told him that she killed George ito
save his soul. that he had engaged him
self 10 another girl and that he had
planned to take her 10 England. desert
her there and return TO marry the other
girl.
The jury retired again at 2:40 o'clock
and brought in the verdict at 80
/ o'clock on the first ballot the vote was
| 10 to for acquittal and remained that
: way until the final ballot.
Mrs. O'Shaughnessy was born in Ire
land in 1857 and came to America from
Liverpool with OShaughnessy to whom
she was engaged. They were married on
April Il, 1910. Early last March she
discovered her husband was making love
TO Tessie HAYES. a cashier IN the grocery
store where he was employed. She
found the girls letters under her hus-
bands pillow one night, and eventually
decided to Kill herself and her unborn
child.
Many things were oIerating in my
mind" she testified. Religion and
worry, because l loved him so and was
losing him-a bit Of jealousy perhaps
for weeks l had been thinking of It.
More than that l cannot tell you what
my motive was
on the afternoon Of May she made
her final plea with George to give up the
girl. He refused. and, going TO a bureau
drawer she shot him twice with a re-
voIver which she had obtained that
morning from the bedroom of Simeon
Ford. her employer Then she kissed his
lips. went outdoors and ran 10 the near
est patrolman and gave herself up
She will be examined to-day by Or
William Mabon, Of the Manhattan State
Hospital for the Insane on Wards Isl
2 d. and DR.. Mene3 Gregory. resident
alienist at Bellevue Hospital. both OF
whom testified at her trial