The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-11-21
WOMAN FACES
MURDER TRIAL
IN FEUD TOWN
Spokane Reporter Finds Self
Center of Clan Fight
i'm Montana
SHE KILLED POLITICIAN
~ L. o. ANoEVlNE

THOMPSON FALLS, Mont.
Nov 2i.--"l am willing to take
what's coming 10 me, legally.
But I'm not ready TO be made
tool In kangaroo political
fight didn't think OF killing
man. didn't even mean TO
hit hint"
There was a snap 70 the
wide, lustrous eyes OF Miss
Edith Colby, the Spokane WON
an OF ~, who tomorrow 10
scheduled TO 90 on trial for her
life here for the murder OF a.
c. Thomas. republican pollti-
clan. Sept 20.
She shot him down on tho main
street OF the town because she
said he had made slurring remarks
40 TO her moral character
Renews roud Bitterness
His death unloosed the furies
OF fcud IS bitter RE Kentucky
ruction II had been brewing here
for years II has ragged hot and
dangerously since tho day Of the
shooting. and the woman in the
center OF g.
You feel Il when you step on
the train You are eyed sugpi'
ciously N you ask questions con.
corning the case. YOU get a shrug
OF the shoulder and lifted eye.
brow You cannot conveniently
stay half "A day In the town with.
out taking sides.
Into II all came Edith Colby.
seeking a Job. In Spokane she had
worked on newspapers. had been
assistant city labor agent. and had
been candidate for city commits.
aioner.
She found work on the Enter.
prise. the paper started by one OF
the factions lta chief owner was
A. s. Alnswofth. an attorney It's
editor was a black-eyed young Ken
tuckian. John l.. Manirc.
Opposed 20 the Enterprise was
the old Sanders County Ledger.
The woman says Ainsworth and
Manire melted her 20 shoot
Thomas Anyway. Thomas IA dead,
now. and the three OF them are
charged directly or indirectly with
his murder Manire II In Jail /.
A!nsworth IL out on bond. The
three or them probably will be
tried before tho week IL over. Their
trials promise 10 air the entire pc.
liticAl phantasm.
Miss Colby has tho freedom of
the jail Sheriff Joe Hartman aud
wife have the lower floor. Up.
stairs Is tho shorifrs office. and
just or 1t 10 Miss Colhy's cell.
fixed up like a ships siateroom.
Finds Jail Comfortable
1t IL really quite comfortable. "
she said She has been leading an
uneyentful. monotonous life IN Jail
For diversion. she darns the socks
OF motherl-ss youths about town
Also. she Hews necessarily.
~ night. she plays 'rummy" or
checkers with the others. She
washes and mends and Kids" Joe
Hartman's "two.finger' exercise
on the Typewriter
4 am feeling well for being shut
in" she said. I've been used 10
an active life. and get restless
here. but I'm holding up"
She has been afflicted intermit.
tently with neuralgia.
tia an easy life. ~ you don't
mind the bars She Is up at Q or
10. and breakfasts at H.. She re.
tires late. She tries 10 keep %
busy she won't think.
Her mother probably will be AT
the trial Her father planned o.
come But last week he died. II
would have been the first time In
% years he'd have seen his wife.
from whom he was long ago di.
yorced. His wife has remarked.
Curiously enough. the faction 10
which Thomas belonged seems now
to be the most friendly to Miss
Colby. while the Ainsworth. Manire
clans seem to be aligned against
her.