Evening journal., 1914-05-14
lawyer 5 PLEAS
To- JURY BRING
Tears IN COURT
Mrs. Mckinney, Charged
With ManSlaughter, Weeps
With Children at Her Side
JURY Gets THE Case
after MORNING ARGUMENT

morning counsel in the case Of Bessie
l. Mckinney, charged with manslaugh
ter. summed up the testimony in the
case In his address Attorney General
Molcott pointed out that Reed had
been at least twelve feet from Mrs. Mc
Kinney when the fatal shot was fred,
and tnat she was therefore not on the
defensive at that time.
Mr. Wolcott remarked that il was
very unpleasant for the State to have
10 prosecute a woman on such a
charge, but that the defendant should
be considered as defendant only. He
contended that none of the defendants
witnesses had testified upon the actual
shooting and that their testimony OF
the struggle in the house only bore out
the contention of the State that Mrs.
Mckinney had been in the heat OF pas
sion when the fatal shot was fired.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Molcotts
address Mrs. Mckinney cried bitterly.
J. Frank Ball, counsel foi the de-
defense. made an eloquent address to
the jury, picturing the scene in the
house during the struggle that ended in
Reeds death.
The crowded court room was so
quiet while Mr. Ball spoke that fall
ing pin could have been heard. Occa-
sionally Mrs. McKinney's sobs could
be heard. Her three children sat by
her side.
Mr.. Ball contended that Mrs. Nc
Kinney had not shot Reed in the heat
of passion, but had shot him out Of
fear for her life. He called attention
to the statement that when Mrs.
Mckinney fired the shot Reed was
] STOPPING over to pick up something
with which he had threatened to kill
! her
The case went to the jury shortly
J before 10 o'clock.
Emma c. Reed, mother OF Mrs. Nc
Kinney, was the first witness called
} in the afternoon session yesterday.
J Mrs, Reed testified that she was
4 Reeds aunt by marriage, She having
I married Reeds uncle.
On Sunday afternoon January 25.
: the day of the shooting, witness said
she was in Reeds home She told of
2 seeing Reed drive up that afternoon,
lying across the seat of his wagon.
He backed the horse in his black
= smith shop and she saw him strike
the horse with a broom. She also
= saw him fall to the ground before he
J entered the house. Witness said she
!. was upstairs at the time, and when
] Reed came in she heard Mrs. McKin-
ney say, Dell, are you ready for
your dinner?" Witness said she did
not hear Reeds reply, but heard
! smashing glass which she afterwards
found was caused by Reed throwing
flower pots through the windows.
l Witness said she went downstairs
7: and saw Reed throw flower pots in
/ the corner of the kitchen. She then
saw Reed take hold of the kitchen
stove and overturn it, the red hot
Goals falling on the floor, Mrs. Nc
Kinney and the children screamed as
! the floor began to burn. When Mrs.
Mckinney called for water. Reed said,
Don't bring any water; let the 49,
! house burn"
I I The women got the water however,
and extinguished the blaze.
! ! Mrs Reed declared that Reed
! cursed the children and kicked at one
Of them. He declared that he had
been paid to smash the things"
The witness repeated oaths that
I had been uttered by Reed, and said lie
! had locked Mrs. Mckinney in her
] room Witness said she then took
! the children to Maggie Anderson
r house to Keep Reed from striking
4 them. When he saw Emma. one 81
the children, going down the road
' with the witness, he called:
a Emma, Emma, where are you 60.
q Ingg You come back here you little
--- or I'll scatter your brains All
. over the road"
a Mrs Reed said Reed then threw q
a table leg at the child.
: The witness said she called IN Z
!, magistrate to get an officer but he
: was busy.
e Later the children heard theil
e mother coming down the road callins
r, for her mother, the witness. and she
j. went out to meet her.
# She met her and went hack IN tbe
d house with her and saw Delaware
d Reed lying on pile of broken furni.
> ture. All the furniture in the house
Is was upset, and many of the windows
it were smashed. The stove was upside
down
Under crOss-examination witnes.
said Mrs. Mckinney had not told hel
I. she had shot at Reed, and she did not
!. know Reed was dead until after the
doctors examined his body. She saic
|. Mrs. Mckinney told her to be careful
l. when she went in the kitchen az
e Reed was in there When she saw
him lying on the broken furniture she
Z thought he had fallen down and re-
I manned there. He was lying on hit
back. Witness could not remember
II how long after she saw Reed that tn,
III doctor arrived She, Mrs Mckinney
VI and the three children remained sit
ting in the dining room until the doc
N tor arrived She declared that Mrs
" Mckinney did not give her any ac
count of the shooting
III Fay Mckinney, the 14-year-olt
daughter Of the defendant, was til,
next witness. The child gave he
testimony in a clear. intelligent man
ner, corroborating much Of the testi
mony given by Mrs. Reed FAY salt
she saw Reed throwing flower pot
n through the kitchen window. "NIrs
y Continued on Page Eleven.