Weekly journal-miner., 1913-12-24
ACQUIT MAY CLARK
 OF MURDER CHARGE.
(From Thursdays Daily. )

llOeIdIlon, the Jury III the case Ol May Clark on trial for murder handed in a verdict of mot guilty last night. The decision was the quickest on record ever reached in Ia Yavapai county murder trial. But one ballot was taken after the jury retired to its room in the Sher- ifs office.
 The exonerated woman broke down after the verdict was read and then recovered her composure, shaking hands with each juror as he passed by the rail When the words of mot guilty" rang out through the courtroom at about 10 o'clock, the attorney for the de- fence, R. P. Talbot, swerved around and shook hands with the defend ant The latter was in tears.
 Not even the attorney for the defendant had hoped for such quick action by the jury. After the jury retired 10 its room, the usual cus- tom of taking the first ballot was followed Usually one or two jury men cast a reverse vote in order % provoke argument But even this was not in evidence.
 When the foreman of the jury rapped upon the door, the bailiff ap- preached, anticipating that some thing was needed. The foreman announced "a verdict" however. The diffehent officials connected with the case were then secured.
 It was foregone conclusion that if a verdict was arrived at last night, it would favor the defend ant. But no one apparently an. ticipated such quick work The throng of POO spectators, which had filed out of the courtroom less than a half hour before, was making preparations to be on hand when the verdict was delivered But the audiences of it all upset all plans. But a score of spectators were on hand when the foreman delivered his verdict.
 In order to finish the case yester. day, Judge Smith called a night session. At 5:30 o'clock, Attorney Talbot of the defense interrupted his arguments to the jury for the recess. When court convened again at : o'clock, he took up his forceful address where he had left of.
 Over POO spectators and members of the special venire thronged the courtroom during the day and heard the interesting testimony sub mitted in the case. Three able sets of arguments delivered by As sistant County Prosecutor J. H. Morgan, Attorney R. P. Talbot oi the defense and County Attorney P. w. O'Sullivan, together with the instructions by Judge Smith, fea- tured the afternoon and evening sessions.
 It was the first time in many jury trial sessions that an evening session was called. Assistant Coun- tv Attorney Morgan spoke for full ly an hour during the afternoon Ses- sion, reviewing the testimony sub mitted and various phases of the case. He was followed by the de- fense attorney. In a forceful and convincing argumeat, he cut to shreds most of the testimony of fered by the prosecution. He in vestigated and exposed every little detail in connection with every phase of the case. County .Attor- ney O'Sullivan was pitiless in de nouncing Lorion \. Fife, the for mer friend Of the dead man, who had turned witness for the defense.
 The case went to the jury at 9:l5 o'clock. At 9:30 o'clock the verdict was announced
 Seli-defcnse was claimed by the defense in the shooting of Charles F.. Pitts by May Clark in front of her room ill the red light district of Seligman. The testimony brought out the fact that the accused was the girl" of the murdered man, that after a falling out he had threatened to 'get her" and that while he was attacking her ill his drunken frenzy, she shot to save herself.
 Love letters sent by May Clark to Pitts were read by County At torney O'Sullivan. The letters were spicy and filled with such cndear- ing terms as Dear Little Pal" "My Little Baby" Your Sweet Swede Long Time Dear Sweetheart" and Dear Charley"