The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-01-21
From Saturdays Daily.


murder of his third wife, Mary Frid-
ley Price. This verdict was returned
by the jury at 12:45 this afternoon.
The jury was out just eighteen hours
and forty minutes, imprisoned on the
second floor of the court house.
Price tried to continue the stolid,
Indifferent demeanor that has char
acterized his manner during the en-
tire trial, but he failed. He broke
down and shook violently. In his hand
he held cigar, the light. of which
had gone out. 1t seemed an omen
that the light of Prices own life had
been extinguished forever. He clutched
the cigar conyulsively, and crushed
it into shreds.
81 believe" he remarked to cor
RESPONDENT of The United Press,
THAT some indiscreet remarks on my
part turned the jury against me. The
verdict is very unjust. 1t was a great
surprise to me-"
Have YOU notified your present
wife. Carrie Olson Price. about it,"
"She knows all about it now. / do
not care to say how she got the
news"
Are yOu SOlhS w LiuAS oPP'ANo
ton for new trial?'
81 do not know. ] have not yet
consulted my attorneys in the mat
ter"
do you think the testimony of
Etchison had any effect on the jury
in producing this verdict"
al cannot say. I am at loss to
understand the Etchison story at all"
Minneapolis, Mimi, January 10
Tears streamed down the face OF
Frederick T. Price in the court room
today as he heard the verdict of the
Jury, condemning him to spend the
rest of his mortal days in confine-
ment For the first time since his
trial opened, his nerve gave way, and
he seemed on the verge of collapse.
His counsel, Mr. Brady, attempted to
cheer him up with a few timely words
and he made feeble effort to re-
spond. Mr.. Brady quietly asked the
court for a stay of proceedings until
next Wednesday morning at 10
O'Clock, at which time the defense
will present a motion for new trial.
The stay was granted.
AS Price was led past the window,
on his way to the elevator, he gazed
wistfully out upon the world, which
looked so beautiful to him now, as he
was about to leave it for the cold,
gray world that is found behind stone
walls and prison bars He bowed his
head and shuffled, rather than walked
as he was led back to the county jail.
1t was at 1925. that Deputy Sheriff
Quinn first announced in the court
room that the jury had reached an
agreement. Instantly there was a
wave of excitement among those who
were in the. col4ft room, and the fiut-
ter of nervous agitation quickly
spread through the court house and
out upon the street. That there should
be an agreement was something en-
tirely unlooked-for. The court room
lobby quickly began to fill. There
was one strange feature about it ALL
women.
Word was quickly sent over to the
county Jail, and the prisoner was led
into the court room to hear his judg-
ment. He seemed to be confident that
he had been acquitted. He stood erect
and smiling. The moment the word
guilty fell from the lips of the clerk
Price changed color. He seemed to
gasp for breath. II appeared as if the
whole world had suddenly grown
black to him. He trembled.
Only one of the jurors, Mr.. Bick-
ford, consented to talk to the press
about the verdict 81 voted to con-
Wet Price," he said 81 could not
conscientiously vote to do otherwise
after what ! had heard from the wit
ness stand. The first ballot that we
took was before supper. That stood
nine for the conviction and three for
acquittal. Another ballot was taken in
the evening and that stood ten for
conviction, against two for acquittal
Then followed night of argument
and ballots. We are all tired out, but
we feel that We have done our duty. -
Etchson Talks of Case.
Charles D. Etchison, the one wit
ness without whom the state could
never have convicted Price, also gave
the press an interview 81 feel that JUS
tice has been done" he said 81 think
the prisoner has had fair trial,
suppose that shall next be before the
bar of justice. l shall take my medi-
cine. But feel that have done right
in getting that great load off my con-
science Etchison appeared even
more agitated than the defendant
Price, himself. When asked by. q
United Press reporter, whether he
would repeat his same story, in case
Price was granted a second trial
Etchison said he would 1t would be
the only right thing for him to do.
Chief Points in Judges Charge.
Jurors must vote to convict Price
of murder in the first degree or tt
acquit him.
The jurors, if they think Etchisor
an accomplice in the alleged murder
must not convict Price on Etchison'.
unsupported testimony They mus
reach their conclusions also on cor.
roboratiye evidence.
Whether they think Etchison al
accomplice is TO be deduced from thu
fact whether they would convict hin
on the evidence as principal or { ac.
cessory.