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


hours yesterday Mrs. Charlotte
Sharpless, the Sphinx Woman" as
spectators in Judge Leary's room
referred 10 her. sat silent and mo-
tionless as attorneys battled over
the choice OF the men whose word
may send her 10 cell in the state
penitentiary for the remainder of
her life as punishment for the muir
der Of her husband. whom she is
charged with stabblng 10 death with
Il ritual sword.
During all those hours the strange
woman clad in deep mourning did
not speak. did not alter her position.
did not even shift her gaze from
midway between the witness stand
and tho jury box. except when the
attorneys would turn To ask her n
question. Scores of spectators craned
their necks in vain 10 get glimpse
Of the white mask-like face almost
hidden behind a flowing black veil.
A the afternoon wore on and the
woman gave no sign. those who
watched her said that she was
brazen and unconcnTned. They mar
veled and whispered together over
the manner Of woman that this
could be who faced such crisis
without q tremor. At night the
woman with the stony face OF al
most deathly pallor was led out OF
the court room by Mrs. Nels Clau-
sen, county jail matron. and through
the triple-lined Gordon of women
that stretched from the door Of the
room 10 the county Jail elevator.
With eyes fixed straight ahead. the
woman walked apparently uncon.
srious Of the whitening gaze that
followed her from hundreds OF pairs
OF eyes 20 the elevator.
"Why Are They So Slow"
II was not until she had reached
the consultation room adjoining the
women's ward IN the county Jail
that the mask fell and Mrs. sharp
less ceased 10 be- the Sphinx Won
an" and became just an ordinary
woman. scorneh by the morbidly
curious members OF her sex. The
mask of indifference fell ~ the
black veil was lifted and Mira. Sharp
less sank into chair and buried
her white face In her arms. he
face OF woman weary In distrac-
ton vas lifted. The hard. fixed
mask was gone entirely. In its
place showed deep lines ''Oh.
why are they so slow" she almost
moaned. 1T Is awful TO sit there
all day long and be stared at and
hear and almost see men and women
whispering and pointing at one and
10 be able to do nothing. From the
bottom OF my heart will be thank
FIJI when a jury is finally drawn
and the trial actually begins. II
Will be better thousand times
when the state actually begins TO
call It's witnesses, even though they
accuse me, than to bear all day long
this suspense and those whisperings
that ] can feel instead OF hear"
Harry Volk, formerly of Mankato.
h one OF the triers ut the trial.
She VIII Go On Stand.
After t:s state has put in evil
dence all the circumstances upon
which Il relies for conviction.
Mrs. Sharpless win take the wit.
ness stand.
tirely on eircumstantial evidence.
In addition to showing that the blood
marked lodge sword found near the
body was sword left Sharpless
by HIS father the state will show
that n bloody bundle OF mans UNI
derwear was found outside the win.
dow OF the fat and that Il night
gown covered with blood was found
in a closet
Mrs. Sharpless Is named as bene-
fciary under two policies on the
life OF her husband for $4,000.