The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-05
JURORS IN M0HR CASE
 STILL OUT
Deliberations on Fate of Physicians Wife and Two Negroes Begun After Brief Charge By Judge.
Court Instructs Jury That Sympathy For Woman Defendant Must Not Esn- ter Their Deliberations.

Providence, R. L., Feb. g. After three hours deliberation the jury in the case of Mrs. Elizabeth F. Mohr, c. Victor Brown and Henry H. 'Spellman charged with the murder of Dr. C.. Franklin Mohr, the Woman's husband, was still out when the court recessed for luncheon.
 The case went to the jury al 10:45 o'clock after being charg ed by Judge Stearns. Ne word had come from the jury room uplto the recess.
 Judge stearns in his charge to the jury declared that it was their duty if they concluded the state had proven its case to say guilty whatever the consequences, in each case or in any case.
 'tThe law recognizes no color, no creed,'' the court said. Pay no re- gard to the fact sthat one defendant Is a woman and two are colored men. They are three citizens on trial and charge you not to allow any prejudice or feeling, excepting an honest desire to do impartial justice, to enter your minds"
 ~sMrs. Mohr has been indicted as an accessory before the fact If you find she hired, aided, procured, or assisted one or both of the other defendants '' he continued, sshe is guilty
 Referring to the claim by counsel that it worked a hardship and unfair ness to the defendants to~be tried to- gether, the court said, t'I hope not It does not always work a hardship. But this iska responsibility assumed by the Judge stearns then explained the degree of proof necessary to convict, saying:
 @All three defendants are indicted together, but you will bring in three verdicts You will be- asked if Brown Is guilty; if SpelIman is guilty; and if Mrs Mohr is guilty. The verdfctS will be individual as though there had been three separate trials
 The court asserted that under inc law an accessory cannot be convicted unless one or both of the principals are found guilty and therefore that it was logical that the jury first deter mine if Brown and Spellman were gui1ty.1
 Taking up a discussion of the evil dence, the court first directed atten-
 
 Hea1is, pr. Mohr,s chauffeur, who turned states evidence.
 How much reliance is to be placed on the testimony of an accomplice? ?" asked the court That rests with you Healis is a puzzling figure in much of his statement is true and how much is fa1se.''
 It's been argued the court said, that Brown and Spellman were 5ok- ing when they were told how they threw the guns away. All have to say is this. that if a man sees fit to joke about something after he's charged with murder he has got no one but himself to blame if he is talk en seriously
 The court said no confession was made by Mrs. Mohr but that, accord ing to the state, she had made threats against her husband number or times. It was up to the jury to de- termine, the value of these alleged threats, the court said.
 Judge Stearns declared that confes- sions were only to be taken as against the persons making them. Therefore, he said, the alleged confessions of considered as against Mrs. Mohr.
 The court advised the jurors not to talk to newspapermen after verdict had been rendered.
 upon request or counsel Tor the de- fense the court charged the jury that there was no evidence that the estate of Dr. Mohr was paying for the de- fense of Brown and Spellnan.
 When theTjury retired Mrs. Mohr left the courtroom with her attorneys and the two negro defendants were taken to their cells.
 The jury was still delfberating at 1 o'clock. Mrs. Mohr left the court room shortly after the judges charge was concluded, although large crowd remained, evidently with the expectation that an early verdict would be brought in. Judge Stearns left the courthouse at 12:45 o'clock, for the jury.
 Ianas A,,s+in Shields