New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-06
Courtroom Still as a Tomb.


no sign.
Courtroom Still as a Tomb.
At 6 o'clock Il second announcement
came that the jury was ready. This
time TIE rumor was correct. The faces
Of two Of the talesmen wore smiles as
they entered the courtroom. at is &C
quittal,' some one whispered loudly,
and the court officers raped warningly
for order
In q voice that sounded almost pro-
fanely through the Stiffness Judge
Stearns put the preliminary questions
10 the big. rawboned foreman. The
little negro Brown seemed suddenly
20 become thinner and slump in his
seat There were dark hollows under
his eyes. He showed his hands deep
into his trousers pockets and glanced
quickly about him, with short, search.
ing glances. Spellman, heavier and
less imaginative, stohdly che"ed his
gum.
1t had begun to snow. In the utter
Stiffness of the court the whisper OF
the fakes could be heard against the
panes. beyond which the lights Of the
city cleaned.
Arthur Gushing. Mrs. Mohr's prin-
cipal attorney. had not accompanied
her to court for this last ordeal. BY
her side sat tia short figure OF the
terrier-like Fitzgerald, who had borne
the brunt Of the hghting for her,
Here was the end Of the trial which
began the night Of August 81, 1870
when two revOlvers spoke from the
biackness Of the Washington Road and
struck down Dr. c. Franklin Mohr and
his companion, Miss Emily burger
q 4 J. u n FRIGHT
ened darky boys and pale, eager
woman sat awaiting their fate.
How do you ind the DEFENDANT
Henry Spellman, guilty or not guilty
A sort Of suppressed shudder ran
through the courtroom. The thin' piacS
hand OF the woman pressed hsru
against her mouth.
How do you find the defendant
Cecil Victor Brown, guilty or not
"Guiltv." the harsh voice reiterated.
The black glove seemed 10 be CHOKING
back something that struggled TO De
How do you find the defendant
Elizabeth F. Mohr, guilty or not
Not guilty" Clark replied.
Relatives Crowd About Her.
TTe woman's mourning-clGd figure
pitched forward across the table. she
made no sound. She just lay there,
while the courtroom was filled with a
murmur that grew and swelied until
the judge raped for order.
A minute later Mrs. Mohr and Fltz-
gerald. his face tear-stained, were the
. 1a vi D. I'M Y n a
woman's relatives. L. J. Sullivan, her
brother-in-law; Ella Henon, her niece;
Gustave Mohr, the dead mans brother;
Ella Hogan, his sister, all gathered
around her, petting, congratulating,
weeping.
over in the corner the two negro
lads stood, almost alone. Presently
one Of them tried 10 smile, and his
mate duplicated the effort. Only their
counsel whispered T. them. Far off
little darky girl wept softly. She was
Mrs. Gertrude May Daley, who on the
stand had lied desperately In an effort
10 save her brother and half-brother,
Brown and Spellman. She had her cry
out. all alone. She watched them lead
the bows away. Then she went home,
through the snow.
How could they convict those boys
and let the woman 90 free" William
A. Lewis. counsel for Brown. and John
3. Edwards, for Spellman, were not
the only persons in Providence who
asked that question tonight.
Mr. Edwards then went on 70 point
out that the whole charge against his
client hinged on the allegation that
Mrs. Mohr had bade him do the CRIME;
"What motive did Spellman have -
L ,.1t,~yopflyr fsgfufq Mr. NOnr
has gone free -
at does not seem 20 me 20 be fair
verdict" Mr. Lewis pronounced. and
added that he would appeal Browns
case to the Supreme Court
eve are not finished with this case
vet" he remarked finally.
Attorney General Rice refused to
night 70 comment upon the verdict HIS
assistant. Abbott Phillips. stated that
though Mrs Mohr was still out under
bail on the Indictment OF assault with
intent TO kin Miss Burger. he did not
believe that the case would be tried.
From her home i'm Reservoir Avenue
tonight the woman whom the court
had declared guiltless issued the fol-
lowing statement:
81 was confident from the beginning
that when the truth was known no jury
OF WE'VE men WOulN ever convict me
Of the terrible crime Of which have
been accused.
"The charge Of bringing about the
death of the man that was the father
Of my children and TO whom ! had al F.
ways hoped 10 become reconciled. whom .
] never gave up. and whose untimely
end was the most terrible shock I ever
received was only the elimination Of .
series OF prosecutions and misstate- .
ments which have clouded my life.
IL wish 10 express the appreciation /
which { feel for tine cons Iteration which 7
the Judge showed me and the kindness .
of my friends VINO so Loyalty stood by
me az The time OF the trouble. and the
general sympathy and words of cheer
so freely given 90 me by the public az
large.
81 arm home again. she added. "wi'n
uy deprcs' Charlie and "; beloved /.
iigm.. and hope 30 Doe allowed in
.eace % devote the rest Of my life 20
heir welfare