The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-03
Verdict Is Reached After
Two Hours Delibera-
ton by Jury
IMPRESSIVE SCENE
IN THE COURTROOM
Grace Declares Action of the Jury Is
"Rotten" and Declares His Wife
Is Guilty-Intends to Bring
Suit for Divorce

Opie Grace mot guilty of the charge
of shooting her husband, Eugene II.
Grace, with intent to murder.
The verdict was reached after two
hours deliberation during which the
accused woman underwent all the
agonies of one in her position. When
she was supported into the courtroom
Just before the entrance of the jury
at o'clock this afternoon Mrs. Grace
appeared to be bordering on collapse
Trembling from head to foot, she was
assisted to the chair she had occupied
all during the trial, which began last
Monday, and awaited the announce
) ment which was to make her either
felon or free woman
AS the jurymen filed in one by one
Mrs. Grace Strengthened herself In her
chair, then sank back and gritted her
teeth. t.s.z....
gentlemen of the jury, have you
agreed upon verdict?'
Judge Roan's inquiry broke silence
similar to that of the tomb.
1--WE have" responded the foreman
..Wa rnd the defendant not guilty
Silence Follows Verdict
in that courtroom stirred Mrs. Grace
bowed her head and uttered fervent
prayer. Then the newspaper men, max
ing a mad scramble for the door TO
get the news 10. the world, Transformed
the scene into one of activity. some
enthusiastic spectator gave vent 10 ms
feeling and shouted Then there was
some hand clapping. Judge Roam raised
his hand and any demonstration tnat
might have occurred was quickly sup
pressed.
while Mrs. Grace's head was stili
bowed. Attorney Moore, at her SIDE
arose and said:
your honor, Mrs. Grace would IKE
to thank the jury
Like one in daze. the woman was
assisted to her feet.
"Gentlemen,'' she said in voice
hardly audible, II want to thank you
rog your slndnese to me.
she sank back inert, while friends
srowded around her and grasped her limp
hand Not even smile expressed the
relIef she must have felt after her ter
rihle ordeal
Women struggled frantically to reach
the place where she sat only TO be toheeo
hack without reaching their goal. Ihe
4,rvmen remained in their places even
after they had been discharged A run
,n,n,,te elapsed and then Mrs. Grace arose
and was assisted to the jury box. For
the first time she showed sign OF ANNA.
ton as silently she grasped the naho ol
aah ~ tbose 70 men who had spoken
their belief In her innocence and had gwen
her freedom.
Mrs. Grace was helped from the court
room Immediately afterward
To Go to Philadelphia
n WAS announced that she would leave
tonight for her old home in Philadelphia.
Her ioy had to be tempered by sorrow.
Hardly had she heard of her acauittai
before she was handed telegram an
nouncing that her blind son In the Quaker
city was seriously i'll. Mother love then
conquered every other feeling, and her
only thought then was to reach her
child's bedside.
Argument in the case was conSiuded
shortly after O clock this afternoon, and
Judge Roam Immediately began his charge
to the jury. In this charge he said:
sYou have heard the defendant make
her statement. She was not subject TO ex-
animation or cross examination, and her
statement was not made under oath. The
Jury can take that statement as 1t sees
1T. II can believe II all or reject II all
as II sees fit 1t can believe one portion
Or reject another portion as 1t sees mt.
In other words, it Is for the jury to de-
termine the force and effect that shall be
given her statement.
"There is some evidence, two ietters
claimed to be in one envelope and
addressed to Mrs Grace, claimed to
have been mailed in Atlanta and ad-
dressed TO Newman and Furthermore
the envelope Is claimed to have been
backed by Eugene H. Grace. The de-
fense claims one of the letters was
in the handwriting of Eugene H Grace.
sjmply let in the two letters for
YOU to determine one point. III you
believe that E. II. Grace backed the
envelope or wrote the letter these let
ters should be excluded"
To Sue for Divorce
Announcement was made by the
commemorative attorneys that Eugene
II Grace, the husband, would shortly
file suit for divorce.
1t was said also that charges might
be brought against Rebecca Sans, the
negro dressmaker. who testified for the
defense, accusing her OF tampering
with commonwealth Witnesses.
Grace. who has been attending the
trial lying on cot as a result of par
tia1 paralysis. caused by the wound re-
ceived, was not present for the final
act in the court drama today. He was
returned to Newman. near here, last
night. where he is staying al tho home
of his mother, Mrs. s. L. Hill.