The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-12-11

70 DC aomtteo az .. m. into
the big courtroom where Mrs.
Charlotte sharpless 10 on trial
on charge Of killing her husband.
lesmins shsrpless, with a lodge
sword, 40 he slept November ~
IN the shsrpiess apartment at
1929 Yale Place.
All through the presentation Of
testimony today Mrs. Sharpless APP
peared 20 be under great strain. AS
Que bloodstained bit OF evidence after
another was exhibited Mrs. Sharp
less turned her head away.
-.--' Her Quick Grange.
The testimony was intimately con.
nected with the actions and conduct
OF the accused woman. II had to do
with the finding OF the lifeless and
almost nude body Of her husband.
II was given by Detectives W. III,
Fox and James Bezanson, the first
persons except Mrs. Mary Chrisman,
wife Of the janitor OF the apartment
house. who we're admitted TO the
death room. The calmness OF the
sword widow I'm first telling OF how
her husband came 10 be lying on the
floor, blood issuing from three
wounds on his breast. her story be-
ing that he had been shot. was re-
lated. Her quick change to semi
hysteria when the detective told her
he was dead seemed again 10 be
enacted by her in the courtroom as
the memories Of that fatal night
were brought out in testimony beads
OF perspiratiop had stood out on her
forehead the detectives said. when
they told her her husband was dead.
She sobbed and made frequent use
Of her handkerchief when this por.
ton of the testimony was given
today. ''.'-N r..
goefense Has No Theory.
George Armstrong OF counsel said
the defense has no definite theory
upon which to proceed, except the
story OF the defendant that she did
not kill her husband and does not
know who did. The crime may
20 unexplained" said Mr.. Armstrong.
"Regardless OF what the state may
attempt TO prove Of family Quarrels.
Mrs. Sharpless maintains that her
ten years OF married life with Lean
ing Shsrpless were the happiest OF
her life. She knows OF no enemy OF
his that would wish his death and
ayows that least OF all could she be
so classed. She will tell her story
of what happened the night Of the
crime. and that II she can be con-
nected,, with the killing Of her bus-
band.Sss principal I have no faith
in human nature" -. Ia. o.. 49,.
Matthias Baldwin, prosecuting the
case. said he expected the state would
close its case by Wednesday. Occu.
pants Of the house will tell what
they know Of the domestic affairs
OF Mrs. Sharpless and her husband.
Tale That Mas Told.
Minneapolis, december ~ Nv a s
Leaning Sharpless stabbed to death
by a mar. who loved a daughter of
the murdered man. a daughter to
whom Ire never gave his name?
That this is the true secret Of the
mystery. that surrounds the sword
murder at the Sharpiess apartments.
1929 Vale Place on the night OF No
vember ~. viii be the story OF Mrs.
Charlotte Sharpless, the sphinx WON
an" accused OF her husbands murder
when she takes the stand in her
own defense in district court before
Judge Leary this week.
Wien the sphinx woman finally
speaks, and she will speak. her at
torneys have declared she will bare
the. secret of her home and of her
life before the throng OF spectators
In the court room and will reveal
before them all the skeleton In the
closet that she says haunted her
life and her husbands for many
years.
Says There 10 a Nameiess Child.
When she Is. called to the witness
stand. she will tell OF a child born
u" her husband by another woman
years before she knew him. She
will, tell OF hearing from the child
At intervals until the child had grown
10 womanhood. Then she will pic
turc. the love OF a man for this
child without name and Will tell
OF. his terrible hatred Of the man
who, he believed had ruined the life
of the woman he loyed-ruined IL
before her birth. That will be the
theory OF her defense.
Claimed the Husband az Father
The defense Will call the widow
TO the stand TO tell of a lover OF
the nameless child. They will at
tempt to show that this man trailed
Sharpiess for months waiting for his
bloodlust TO rise to the striking
point, waiting for the time when
he could slay and fee. and leave
the evidences or his crime at an
others door. 70.
IL is the theory Of the defense,
that on the night of the Sharpless
murder o man waited outside the
door until his victim should be left
alone. They say the man saw Mrs.
Sliarpless leave the room on her way
10 the attic. whittier she told Mr..
Baldwin after her. arrest that she
had gone for few moments on the
night Of. the murder. The man seized
this opportunity, they say TO enter
the Sharpless home, revolver in
hand. The door to the apartment
was closed but not locked. The win
dow but little more than three feet
from the ground. was open Access
10 the place was easy. j
Gun 10 Discarded; Uses Sword.
When the murderer opened the
door. the defense will seek 20 show,
he saw his victim lying asleep on
the couch. He heard voices I'm the
next room and his nerve failed be-
fore he could pull the trigger. Then
the defense will saw the u1urdererS