The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-10-30
Widow of Rear-Admiral ,Accus-
ed Of Having Caused Hus-
hands Death, Wins Victory
on Own Testimony
GREAT CROWD WATTS
FOR FOREMAN'S KNOCK
Sympathizers Remain for Hours
In Courtroom-Cheer Greets
the Verdict

PLYMOUTH, Mass. Oct 30.--After
seven months imprisonment on a
charge Of having poisoned her hus-
band. Rear-Admiral Joseph q. Eaton,
Mrs. Jennie May Eaton stepped from
the court house here early today a
free woman.
II was before daybreak when the
jury, which had heard the case
against Mrs. Eaton. hled into the
court room, after eight hours Of de-
liberation, and announced the ac-
quittal Of the accused woman. She
gripped the arms Of her attorneys.
standing on either side of her. and
then sank into a chair. The news
waS 1nshed by telephone to the Eaton
hom4nt Assinippi, where the accused
wos111t crippled daughter. Dorothy.
and her aged mother. Mrs. Virginia
Harrison, had waited throughout the
night. Mrs. Eaton was then hurried
to q waiting automobile and sped
away to join them.
II was 7:46 p. m; yesterday, when
Judge Aiken completed his charge.
and gave the case over to the jury.
A great crowd waited I'm the court
room throughout the night for the
verdict. Before daylight word came
from the foreman that decision had
been reached. Judge Aiken hurried
from his hotel, near the court house,
and, at $40, the verdict was an
uouncod. The crowd had been warned
alhtnst any demonstration, but
fa)ot chSsf which was stopped by
sharp order from Sheriff Porter, could
not be restrained.
The all-night session Of the jury
had led 70 reports Of . disagreement,
ln& Ao1Sf1erable uno4slness wss
sh0SGSs5k~the crowd which was open
y IN sympathy with the ascused wom-
IN. Many believed II was the record
II Mrs. Eaton as wife, mother and
daughter, O. told by herself on the
witness stand which had the greatest
influence In causing her acquittal.
Although the prosecution was at no
time able to prove direct case
against Mrs. Eaton. the circumstan-
tial evidence was damaging when At
torney Morse announced that Mrs.
Eaton would take the stand. 1t had
been shown that the accused woman
had hurried from her daughter. June's
home, to her own home In Assinippi
on Wednesday, March s. on hearing
June's declaration that Admiral Eat
on had proposed to her putting Mrs.
Eaton and Ralph Keyes. June's hus-
band. out Of the way. That same
evening Admiral Eaton took sick. and
on Saturday morning. March 8, he
died. With this evidence, and the
tehtimony of neighbor's against her,
<1~os soto vA
and for three days was remarkable
witness.
Failing conviction. the prosecution
hoped to prove Mrs. Eaton insane.
On the stand she was clear-headed
calm and convincing. She developed
the story Of her life as a life Of SER
vice to her husband and her daugh.
tiers, and withstood all attempts by
the prosecution to involve her In con.
tradictions.
The defense proved the admiral to
be Q drug user. and his wife ex.
planned that she hurried home on
hearing her daughters story because
she knew the admiral must be under
the influence Of drugs, and needed
protection"
The sympathies OF the spectators
who had heard her described as
everything that was very vicious.
swung to the accused woman. The
Ave physicians placed In the court
room by the prosecution to observe
the prisoner for signs Of insanity
failed.
Mrs. Eaton Is today practically
penniless. Her aged mother was
weakened by her ordeal on the stand
and the strain Of the trial. What IL
left Of the Eaton family faces dim.
cult future.
Mrs. Eaton had been confined In
the Plymouth Jail since March 20.
when an inquest into the death Of Ad.
miral Eaton resulted IN her arrest.