The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1912-06-15
ny FREES MAUD CHILDERS
FAMOUS MURDER CASE
IND ~ ,cuED AT THIRD TRIAL.
mid Not Introduce Any Tes'
pefense "a and the Jury Was Out
tlIlVnS +. Twenty Minutes.

MD Not Introduce ANY AOS-
fenss ~ and the Jury Was Out
tinlOp Gnly Twenty Minutes.
uDTGrrs-"We, the jury, hnd
Ah iltondant not guilty." was the
be o.t dsl5a verdict written by the
lil'lR Ws5pesday afternoon in the
ny ~ Maud S. Childers on the
tsl,s " Of murder by the poisoning
1 his young wife. .+,u
1 DE inry remained out exactly
llV minutes and only one vote
VVn .sten and that for acquittal.
a. 's .oon as the verdict was read to
Al .o ou the tense feeling of sus-
% ~. s' that had gripped every one IN
Sl'' ,oom was relieved. Childers
Dc sr.d quickly across the space in
lo. living between himself and the
. shars of the jury and shook
s Sds' with each one, expressing un-
a.tskable gratitude for the verdict
eturned' 49, ooorsod
- now that his son had been set
w. ~ hurst into tears, as did his
~, .tborc Solicitor lack Childers OF
- oitv court and Mr.. Lee Childers,
noII as many other relatives pres
# was indeed a dramatic scene,
:" .ignaIized by the intensity of hu-
ar emotions that were for the time
mont and unbridled. There was
ar5Iv a person in the court room
so was not visibly affected by the
Nurrence.
% Witnesses for State.
Tventv-three witnesses for the
,te testified Tuesday in the trial of
!. hnders. The court room was crowd
at the opening of the session, so
inch 50 that the galleries allowed
or negroes we're cleared and given
ver to white spectators. More than
40 ladies occupied chairs in the
burt room and we're interested lis
pners throughout the proceedings.
5. Solicitor General Williams and At
mney H. A. Wilkinson of Dawson
ODducted the case for the state,
kbile Attorneys Jos. B. Hudson,
rank Hooper, William w. Dykes,
ames A. Hixon and l.. j. Blalock
nade up the able array of counsel
presenting Childers.
Childers His Only Witness.
The testimony of the score of wit
es8es among them several women
Smithyille, friends and relatives of
be deceased Mrs. Childers, testified
to facts surrounding her tragic
cath last August Their testimony
aS practically the same as adduced
pom the second hearing in Deem
Der, and not new or surprising bit
evidence of Importance was
brought out All of the witnesses
ere residents of Smithvil1e, with
gO EXCEPTIONS.
The state rested it's case at five
clock Tuesday afternoon. Counsel
of the defense then sprung a sur
Prise with the announcement that
hey would rest the case with Chill
erS statement, introducing no
worn testimony whatever.
Cnllders went on the stand and in
clear voice read his typewriter
a,ement of fifteen pages, covering
ompletely all incidents connected
ltl the tragic death of his young
lie and reviewing touchingly their
fel married life of four months
"a asserting he had deep love for
VF' The statement was almost iden-
Val with that made in the former
pal here
Inc case was argued before the
~ Wednesday. Solicitor General
mans opened the argument for
state and was followed by Judge
aleS A Hixon for the defendant.
,tOIney II. A, Wilkinson followed
a0se Hl1on, while Frank A. Hooper
Auanta, formerly solicitor gener-
VI thlS the Southwestern circuit,
hilders
An UnsOlved Mystery.
"a
ile verdict frees Maud Childers,
'e IAe tragic death of his wife
august last at their home in
''yn' a crime which shocked the
remains today an unfathoma-
mystery. The evidence at the
wy. w. Trials Of Childers was wholly
SUBSTANTIAL. Not even a motive
Tue alleged crime upon his part
In. s,e' presented by the state, and
=. Two Juries trying the case fail
sr w make a verdict general opinion
n ,a,,llg mere was to the effect that
,oula be acquitted this time.
y" CnlIders, a beautiful young
r, VI Tour months, was poisoned
IN. hands in August by hay
s5i ~, ychnlne placed i'll a bottle of
,s a.'ne which she was taking. The
n ~ o. her husband under suspi-
ma. tsoIloWed, and for nearly twelve
H ~ lie has been a prisoner in
t ,D,ee times tried for the crime
r, quay completely exonerated.
:. nc Parents Loyal to Prisoner.
Fem 80 d remarkable fact that the
sssas COS and other relatives of the
stl r9so Mrs. Childers have stead
! inr suck to Childers, believing in
" It was no4;.-,,