New Britain herald., 1916-01-10
Providence Woman and Two Negroes on Trial for Murder
 Of Formers Husband
THREE PLEAD NOT GUILTY
 TO TWO INDICTMENTS
Work of Empanelling Jury Begun Af- ter Judge Also Denies Motion by Counsel for Negroes That They He Treated As Individuals in Challeng- ing JurOrs-Defense to Have No More Challenges Than State.

Providence, R l., Jan. 1o-Mrs. Elizabeth +. Mohr, accused of having melted three negroes to murder her husband, pr. c. Franklin Mohr, physician, whose practice made him we'll known in this city and Newport, was placed on trial before Justice Charles F. Stearns in the superior court today. Mrs. Mohr is being tried jointly with Cecil Victor Brown and Henry H. Spellman, who are charged with the actual commission of the murder while the doctor and his secretary, Miss Emily c. Burger, were motoring along the Nayatt road iii Harrington, on their way to New port on the night of August 31 last. Mrs. Mohr was indicted as an access sory before the fact.
 The three defendants pleaded not guilty when arraigned. ....
 Only Few Spectators.
 The limited space in the court room, besides the seventy-five veniremen, counsel. newspapermen and court attaches, permitted accommodations for only few spectators.
 On the ground that he is a non- resident the court declined to per- init w. H. Lewis of Boston, former assistant United States Attorney gen. eral to represent Brown, but admitt- ed John B. Edwards to act for Spell man.
 Mrs. Mohr Pale. .,..
 Mrs. Mohr, who had been at liberty under ball. entered the room dressed in mourning. She wore a veil She was pale but appeared in good spirits
 Attorney Cushing asked for a sep arate trial for Mrs. Mohr. claiming that as alleged confessions by the negroes were to be introduced by the prosecution. The court denied the motion but noted an exception The court also denied a motion by coun- sel for the negroes that they be treat ed as individuals in challenging jur- ors. The effect of this ruling will be that the defense will have no more challenges than the state. These mo- tions disposed of. the work of en- panelling a jury was begun.
 At the noon recess eleven jurors were in the box. There had been twelve but Hugh Carney was excused by the court after the state had de- clared that he made a statement fa- vorable to Mrs. Mohr, Saturday.
 Murder Indictment Quashed.
 A murder indictment against pr. Mohr's negro chauffeur, George W. Healis, was quashed last week, when Hea1is was brought into court and did not contest a charge of man slaughter.
 Each of the defendants faces two indictments-one in connection with the killing of pr. Mohr and the oth- CT relating to charge of assault with intent to kill Miss Emily G. Burger. who was in the automobile on the night of the murder.
 Dr. Mohr and Miss Burger were on their way to Newport when the chauffeur stopped the car on the pretext that some thing was wrong with the engine. The next instant shots rang out. The physician was mortally wounded and it was several weeks before the woman recovered
 Negroes Retract Statements.
 The police claim to have obtained statements from the three negroes that Mrs. Mohr hired them to kill her husband for s5,OOO, Brown and Healis to get s2,000 each and Spell man $1,OO0 Mrs. Mohr denied the charge and the negroes later retract- ed their alleged statements
 Owing to the reluctance of many Veniremen to sit in the murder case. 1t was expected that the work of i1n- panelling jury would be slow and tedious,