The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-01-15
PRICE IS FOUND
GU|ITyoF MURDER;
JURY OUT 18 HOURS
Minneapolis Man is Convicted for
Numbering His Wife; May Get
New Trial. = ~
STAY OF SENTENCE IS =. Z "
GRANTED UNTIL WEDNESDAY
Verdict Carries Automatically SEN j
tence to Saltwater Prison for
Life.
STAY OF SENTENCE IS =. Z "
GRANTED UNTIL WEDNESDAY

MluueapOllS, Mlnn., Jan. To-
Frederick Price was found guilty
this afternoon for the murder of his
wife after the jury had been out for
18 hours and 40 minutes. The YER
dict was returned at 12:45 o'clock.
Trembles Violently.
When the verdict was given Price
trembled violently and broke down
for the first time since the trial be-
gan.
He said that a few indiscreet ac-
tions on his part Influenced the jury
against him.
For New Trial.
II don't know about a new trial."
said Price. 81 will consult my at
torneys. I don't understand Etchi-
sons story. I am unable to under
stand the verdict"
The verdict carried with it auto
matically the sentence of life i'm
prisonment in the state penitentiary
at Saltwater
Stay Granted.
Attorney Brady for the defense
moved for a stay of sentence until
Wednesday. This was granted.
Seven years ago, Price, a travelling
man, visited Fridley, little Mime
sofa village and met Mary Fridley.
They were married in October, 1908.
On Thanksgiving day, 1914, records
show that Mrs. Prices father gave
her $4,000. Three days later, Nov
2S, 1914, Price, his wife and Charles
Etchison, a friend, attended mat
inee. At Prices suggestion, the
three went for a drive along the
cliffs overlooking the Mississippi
river.
for Damages. -. :
When Oh rocky ledge 40 feet
high, Price stopped the machine,
claiming engine trouble, and sug-
gested that Mrs. Price and her dog
go for walk up the road while he
worked on the engine, according to
Etchison's signed confession. An
hour later Mrs. Price was picked up
at the foot of the cliff. Price sued
the park commissioner for damages,
but dropped the suit when they
threatened counter charges of never
having secured legal divorce from
Rose Smith Price, whom Price mar
ried at Wheaton, ILL.,, in 1896.
Prices Story.
Prices story as given on the wit
ness stand is as follows:
Price, Atchison and Mrs. Price
were riding on the East River road
for an outing when the auto engine
failed to work properly.
Price stopped the auto at the wid-
est place in the road to fix the en-
gine.
Price suggested that while he and
Etchison worked, Mrs. Price take the
dog for walk
She acted on his suggestion.
AS Price and Etchison worked they
suddenly heard Mrs. Price say, "Oh,
Fred"
They walked to the bank, looked
for her and failed to find her.
They looked down on the river
level, 40 feet below, and saw an OBJ
ject they could hardly make out.
They hurried down the patch and
found Mrs. Price unconscious and
bleeding.
Price remained with her until Et-
Gibson got passing autoists to help
carry Mrs. Price to the top of the
cliff.
Price held his wife in his arms
she died.
Etchison's Story.
EtchlSOn'S story as given on the
witness stand is as follows:
Mrs. Prices automobile with Price
and Etchison in the front seat and
Mrs. Price and her pet dog, "Chum,"
in the rear, was driven by Price to
"a point selected on the east river
bank weeks before.
At Prices suggestion that she walk
around and exercise "Chum," Mrs.
Price stepped backward out of the
auto. :. - ~'
Price stood on one side of the auto
door and Etchison on the other.
AS Mrs. Price placed one foot on
the; ground, Price grasped her around
the waist, catching Etchison's arm
at the same time, and dragged both
to the edge of the river bank.
At the brink Price released Etchi-
sons arm. ~s'- .s @'
Then Price with great effort hurl-
ed his wife backward over the cliff
onto the rocks 40 feet below.
Both men ran down the river bank
along sloping path and found Mrs.
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