New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-20
MRS. ANGLE FREED
AS CROWD CHEERS
Jury Out Hour and Forty
five Minutes Widow
Faints in Court.
Bv EMMA BUGBEE.

Bridgeport. Conn. March l9.-"Not
guilty." At the words in the tense
silence that hung over the courtroom
Mrs. Helen VI. Angle fell in heap on
the floor. Her wild sobbing stilled the
"hurrahs" with which the crowd in the
room had greeted the verdict. Women
crowded around the PROSTATE defend
ant, lifted her to seat and famed her
excitedly. Leonard Blondell, her faith
er. with tears streaming down his
cheeks, left her side Tor the first time
in the eleven days since Mrs. Angle has
been on trial for msnslaughter IN con-
nection with the death of Waldo r.
Ballou. He rushed to telephone the
good news to his wife, who is i'll in
Stamford.
1t was o'clock. The jury had been
out Just one and three quarter hours.
Facing the bloody garments, the fate
full flatron and the broken bottle, the
twelve Unconditional farmers and gro
GERS of Fairfield County could not find
in them proof that the death Of Mrs.
Angles suitor had not been caused by
an accidental fall downstairs.
Jury Warned by Judge.
With the eloquence of Homer s. Cum
mings, States Attorney, still ringing IN
their ears. and the warning Of Judge
William Williams not to be swayed by
sympathy, fresh on their minds, the
jury retired at 3:15 o'clock this after
noon. Mrs. Angle and her white-haired
father went back to the Sherff's office,
where they have spent 80 many har-
rowing hours in the last three weeks.
Messengers brought them from time
TO time the latest gossip of the cor
ridors, but the quick running step Of
the Sheriff coming to tell the defendant
that she was wanted in the courtroom
was not heard until o'clock. She
shivered. Then she seized her fathers
trembling arm and wen: 20 ner seat in
front of the Jury. Sne searched their
faces. but they were eXuressIOnless. r.
f. Morgan, clerk OF the court. went
through the formula which preceded
the verdict. She rose, facing the Jury
the cold nortn ngnt beating down
mercilessly on hsr haggard face, with
the lines of terror and illness. which
have grown steadily deeper each day
since the trial began
As Byron Eddy, of Fairfield, foreman
of the Jury, shot out the words Of the
verdict Mr.. Blondell leaped from his
chair toward his daughter. But he was
to- late. She had crumpled down in a
heap on the floor. Judge Williams,
watching from the bench, called quick
order to the Sheriff: "Get the people
out Of the room. Open the windows
and give the woman air.
Sobbing hysterically, Mrs. Angle
presently opened her eyes. "Dld some
body say not guilty" she murmured,
did they say could go home with my
papa? | thought they said l was
innocent. Tell me | did
Women Weep in Joy.
Bv the time she was able to leave the
building a crowd had collected outside
which lined the sidewalk and the road
an and down the hill as far as she
could see. Shrinking back, she pleaded
not TO be taken out to be stared at.
Mr.. Blondell called to a passing auto
mobile which stopped, and stranger
drove the trembling woman and her
father to the station. Women with
tears streaming down their faces
crowded about her until train time,
shaking her hand, and telling her they
had known she was innocent from the
very first. The up train to New Haven
passed. Passengers on the back plat
form called out a query as to the Ver-
dict and waved their hats IN rejoicing
as they were swirled away.
In Stamford Mrs. Angle went to the
home of her friend, Mrs. Barrett, the
same woman for whom she was doing
the little Job Of ironing on the fatal
night last summer. She will remain
there only long enough to recover her
health sufficiently to travel. Then she
will 90 70 her fathers home, IN South
Portland. Me.
The Jurors refused to discuss the de-
tails OF their deliberations, but It was
learned that they stood ten TO two on
the first ballot; on the second II was
eleven to one, and on the third made II
unanimous.
Eve. / one, not excluding Mr.. Cum
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