The Detroit times., 1913-12-10

WWtam y. Or9t0s was u0uOo ~
s Frank Baker, prosecutor OF Marion.
q county, today. Raosdals was sx'
4 ecutor OF the estate Of Or. knabs,
4 and IN the indictment was charged
u With being an accessory after the
Il fact BY sscretino evidence Incrim.
4 mating; Or. Crais.
a (stam Correspondent United Press.)
81 SHELBYvILLE. Ind, Dec. 9.--Ths
death OF DR.. Helene Knabe remains
IL mystery. When DR.. William B. Craig
a In q dramatic court room scene here
today was acquitted Of the charge oi
1slaying the beautiful indianapolis
4 woman physician. both Judge Alonzo
q Blair, who directed the verdict. and
q Fred McAllister. deputy prosecutor
lot Marion county. who went through
1.-TWO grand jury investigations OF the
}crime. and who brought the indict'
dment against Craig. admitted that II
Iwas homicide, but stated that 1t re-
1mained as deep q mystery today az
son the morning OF Oct. "a, 1911. when
.the victims nearly nude body was
Hound In her apartments with a gap
ling wound In her throat.
Throughout the reading of Judge
sBlair's opinion, directing = verdict OF
Acquittal. the defendant and his moth
yer.ess 15-year.old daughter. Marion
6miled, but did not change their po'
sition. When the jury brought in their
Normal verdict. however. the crowd In
Abe court room applauded vigorously.
n Marion Craig threw her arms
g. foQn
She was crying from sheer happi.
khess. She embraced Henry Spaan,
thief OF counsel for defense. and KISS
ed him several times. The women
|1p the court room crowded around
the little brown haired girl, and more
|4han so women kissed her.
IN Practically every person In the
room shook hands with DIR. CRAIG.
And congratulated him.
III "Of course, | am happy at acQuit-
Hal" said DIR. Craig, and l appreciate
This demonstration. l have felt all
Along that the people were with me
E2n this trial"
Judge Blair's written opinion grant.
9ng the defense motion to dismiss the
fase virtually admitted that Helen
|sknabe was slain and was not sui
Side as many have claimed.
But" he said. 1T n not sufficient
4or the state to clothe this crime In
Aystery and then fail to prove that
|tDr Craig committed It."
[S Judge Blair held that the state mad
| introduced no evidence that Craig mad
| Murdered DR. Knabe.
IL recognize the unusual procedure
| AZ taking q case OF such magnitude
rom the Jury" said the court, but |
Fave gone through the evidence ana
md that the state failed to support
he charge.
The state also failed to show shat
{N marriage contract existed between
| ne defendant and DR.. Knabe. So far
| = the evidence shows, their relations
! aers pure. His auto rides with her
Md other attentions were merely acts
kindness"
! y Judge Blair laid stress on the fact
NAT both Arnold Moore. who saw .
Ryvterious peeper at DR.. Knabe's bed
5abom window, and Harry Haskett. who
Encountered q man running from the
Nain wopAn's apartments on the
lRht Of the crime. could not positive
al Identify DR.. Craig as the man they
Nv.
81 Evidence of DR.. Craig's nervousness
bllowing the murder whenever he met
Hiss Augusta Knabe, cousin OF the
Had woman, should have no weight.
1ldge Blair told the jury.
N The courts action surprised no ono
3ho had followed the case closely.
81 Mics Katherine Fleming. Avon, ma.
Ieiress, named by the state as the
kther woman" In the case, fatly de-
led she was engaged to marry Dr.
@kaig. Nothing testified to by states
R;itnesses showed that Helene Knaoe
xhd the veterinarian were lovers.