The Caucasian., 1913-12-11


Not at the Trial.
On the afternoon of April IA, 1910,
Mrs. Della Stroud and her friend,
Ed Beeler, when enjoying the pleas
ure of horseback riding, were sud
denly confronted by her husband
Jesse Stroud, who demonstrated
with his wife and insisted that she
return to their home without
Beeler. Words were exchanged be-
tween Stroud and Beeler, who, haV-
ing dismounted from their steeds,
engaged in fight which terminated
in Beeler getting licked.
Following this first encounter
Beeler and Mrs. Stroud resumed
their ride, with Stroud on his horse
hurrying towards them. AS he
reached Mrs. Stroud and Beelef
there was another parley between
them. when Stroud, having dis
mounted, was trying to pull Beeler
from his horse to lick him second
time. During the activity Of these
proceedings a shot was fired, as al
leged by Mrs. Stroud, which killed
| her husband, whose body was found
afterwards on the Vivian road.
Jesse Stroud was not armed, nor
| was there any indication that he
had been armed.
| During the firing Beeler received
a shot in the leg, which led to its
amputation. Having improved ne
, departed from Shreveport, since
| which time he has not been located
/ although as far as. can be ascer-
Itained no effort has been made TO
secure his presence as a witness foI
the State. nor did the defense seek
4 to secure him as witness. Pos
sibly had Ed Beeler been called
las a witness he would have ex-
/ Iplained that when he left the resi-
i Idence of Mrs. Stroud where he had
a room he put quart OF booze Sr
+ one Of his pants pockets and a bic
| six-shooter in the other. He Woulo
/ have explained that he was appre-
4 hensive of struggle with Stroud i
| he had met him on the highway, ant
Therefore was ready TO meet him
i but he would have added that Jesse
Stroud being the quicker and TN
better man he was soundly thrashee
| for being too familiar with Mrs
Stroud. He would have related. II
detail how he and Mrs. Stroud hat
gone to Vivian with a little girl wh'
was left with friend in Vivian, AM
The would have told of several mno
incidents Of the journay and how h
had been licked a second time, WheI
Mrs. Stroud shot and killed her hus
band. and from the same pistol fire.
a shot which lodged in his leg whel
Eeswas fighting with Stroud.
Possibly Beeler's testimony ma.
not have been considered material
Isince a woman could scarcely b.
convicted in Caddo Parish for kill
ing man..
In explanation why Beeler wa
mot secured by the State as a wit
lncss. District Attorney Mabry sal
he was apprehensive that Beele
would corroborate Mrs. Stroud
Il statement, which is that when sh
n shot her hsuband she was beln
beaten by him. It may be noted tha
not one Of the several versions Q
this murder is in accord with th
actual occurrence of this crime.
/. T.. At the time of the homicide it wa
3. said that Mrs. Stroud had killed ne
husband because of his inslstene
. lon her returning to life of sham
from which he would profit, but
Ithat was his intent Mrs. Stroud WI
ri at liberty to quit him and not ki
III him.
Al According TO Mrs. Stroud's stof
Jesse Stroud met Beeler as she w;
riding with him on the highW;
y from Mira to Vivian; that Strot
pulled Beeler from his horse al
81 attempted to beat him; that 81
- rode down the road and then turne
- when her husband yelled at her
- dismOunt the horse or he would k
* her: she explained that as she g
=, eff and when she got off she got
shooting too Mrs. Stroud e
presses4no sorrow or sympathy !
this killing.
This is the substance of the ca
and there need be no surprise
Mrs. Stroud is turned loose on t
community.
AL The jury comprise D. Lorenz,
,4AlG. Austin, G. H. Harper, David Ca
ter, H. T. Snyder, R. NJ. Sellers, B
Wise, F. Bodenheim, w. r. Eva
- A. H. Atkins, C. w. Barlow and G
III H. Ray.
997| The State is represented by u