The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-02-07
Two Negroes Found Guilty
Of the Physicians
Murder
JURY is OUT
EIGHT HOURS
Widow Swoons When She Is
Acquitted of Charge
Against Her

Providence, r. l., Feb Mfrs Eliz
abetht f. Mohr was acquitted Saturday
night by a jury in superior court ON q
charge of having instigated the murder
of her husband, DR.. G. Franklin Mohr
G. Victor Brown and Henry II. Spell
man, who were accused of the actual
killing We're found guilty. The jury re-
ported at 6:07 o'clock after having been
out since 1880 o'clock Saturday morn
ing
Mrs. Mohr swooned while the fore
man was announcing the yerdicts. Her
head dropped forward and she. was slip
ping from her chair when her attorneys
grasped and supported her, while a
court officer rushed for a glass of water.
as there any other charge against
these defendants ?" inquired Justice
Stearns when the verdicts had been
given.
"There is, your honor" replied Attor-
ney General Rice, but Mrs. Mohr is on
bail OH the other charge"
"The defendants, Brown and Spellman,
are committed without BAIL" said the
court, "and Mrs. Mohr is discharged
from custody ON this complaint"
The other charge against Mrs. Mohr
and the two negroes is that they com
mitted an assault on Miss Emily Burger
with intent to kill Miss Burger was
shot while riding with DIR. Mohr on the
night he was attacked. The negroes
are accused of actually firing the shots
at Miss Burger, while Mrs Mohr is
charged with being an accessory before
the fact to the crime.
The first word received from the jury
after it took the case came at 5:25, when
it was announced that further instnc-
tions were desired. Half an hour later
the prisoners had been brought to the
courtroom and the court was ready to
receive the jury, when deputy sheriff
entered and whispered to the Judge, who
announced that the jury
lad decided that the instructions asked
or were not needed.
Less than ten minutes elapsed after |
his announcement when word went |
lround that the jury had agreed upon |
is verdict and was ready to report The !
urymen looked tired and worn as they |
,assed into the courtroom. After each |
nan had taken his place in the jury /
,ox, the clerk asked the foreman:
do you find the defendant Cecil Vic
or Brown guilty or not guilty?" As the
oreman replied Guilty" Mrs. Mohr
elapsed. While her counsel were as
listing her, the clerk eontinued
''Do you find the defendant Henry
'pellman guilty or not guilty."
Guilty"
"Do You find the defendant Elizabeth
:. Mohr guilty or not guilty"
'Not guilty"
Mrs. Mohr was apparently in stu
or, when the foreman pronounced the
,ords "Not guilty" She recovered, how
yer, quickly. Newspapermen began to
urround her, but were told by her coun-
Fl, John J. Fitzgerald not to trouble !
er then, as she was not in any condi- !
ION to talk.
"The fight has only begun was the
of William II. Lewis, counsel
IT Brown. Mr.. Lewis has taken num-
-ous exceptions during the trial and 7
lid that he might carry the case to
he supreme court. Attorney General !
ice declined TO comment on the YER
ct. He would not say when the other :
Use against Mrs. Mohr would be tried :
at all.
The trial began January 10 and the
ry had been kept together all the time.
hey went to their respective homes
r the first time in four weeks after
ing paid off Saturday night. t
DIR. Mohr. physician practicing in b
,ovidence and Newport, was shot fatal 1,
on the evening OF August 81, 1915. n
he was sitting in his stalled automo :,
lie in lonely spot in Darlington, r. l. :,
George W. Heals, the chauffeur, made .
confession in which he alleged that
rs Mohr had agreed to pay him, Y
own and Spellman $4,000 ii they would Il
irder her husband. The police also n
timed that the other two negroes N
lde confessions which were subse- al
emily repudiated. Heals pleaded gull Dc
to manslaughter and became a wit
S. for the state. m
Dr. and Mrs. Mohr had been living n
art for two years as a result of quar-
IS growing out of his alleged attentions
Miss Burger and other women. Sep y