Evening star., 1916-02-06
MRS. M0HR FREED
AND TWO MEN ARE
GIVEN LIFE TERMS
But Wife of Slain Providence
Physician Still Faces As
sauIt Charge.
ATTORNEY FOR BROWN
WILL TAKE AN APPEAL
Rhode Island Woman Swoons on
Hearing Verdict, But Soon Re-
covers and Goes Home.

covers and Goes Home.
PROVIDENCE. R. l., Febru-
ary 5.-Mrs. Elizabeth F. Mohr
was acquitted tonight by jury
in the superior court OF charge
OF having instigated the murder
of her husband, DR.. c. Franklin
Mohr. {. Victor Brown and
Henry H. Spellman, negroes, who
were accused of the actual kill
ing, were found guilty. The jury
reported at 6:07 o'clock, after
having been out since 1850
o'clock this morning.
Mrs. Mohr swooned while the
foreman was announcing the YER
diets. Her head dropped for
ward and she was slipping from
her chair, when her attorneys
grasped and supported her, while
a court officer rushed for glass
of water.
SIS there any other charge
against these defendants? in
quired Justice Stearns.
|
There is, your honor" replied
Attorney General Rice, "but Mrs.
Mohr is on bail on the other
charge"
"The defendants Brown and
Spellman are committed without
ball." said the court, "and Mrs.
Mohr is discharged from custody
on this complaint"
To Devote Life to Children.
| Mrs. Mohr made a brief statemep.
| after returning to her home tonight.
| She said she had been confident from
the beginning that no jury would ever
convict her. adding that the charge of
bringing about the death of the man
who was the father of her children and
! to whom she had always hoped to be-
come reconciled was the elimination Of
series of misfortunes which had
clouded her life.
! She expressed her appreciation of the
consideration shown her by the judge,
| the fairness of the jury, the kindness
of her friends and the general svm-
pathy of the public at large"
Il am nome again. she said with
| my children and | hope TO be allowed
| in peace TO devote the rest Of nv Iifa
| to their welfare.
| Faces Another Charge.
| The other charge against Mrs Mobr
| and the two negroes is that tbev COM
mitted an assault on Miss Emily Rur-
ger, with intent to kill. Miss Rur..r
| was shot while riding with DIR. Mohr
on the night he was attacked. Brown
and Spellman are accused of actually
firing the snots at Miss Burger. while
Mrs. Mohr is charged with being an
accessory before the fact of the crime
The hrst word received from the iury
after 1t took the case came at 5.os
when 1t was announced that further
| instructions were desired. Half an
hour later the prisoners had been
| brought to the courtroom, but a depu,v
| sher1H informed the judge that the
| jury had decided that the instructions y
/, asked for were not needed.
Two colored Men Convicted.
| Less than ten minutes ELAPSED when
word came that the jury was ready to
| report. The jurymen looked tired and
worn as they passed into the court
| room. After each man had taken his
| place in the jury box the clerk asked
| the foreman:
| "Do you find the defendant. Cecil Vic.
| tor Brown. guilty or not guilty?''
AS the foreman replied Guilty" Mrs.
Mohr cola psed: While her counsel were
assisting her the clerk continues:
DO you find the defendant Henry
spellman guilty or not guilty."
| AcquittaI Powerful Restorative.
do you find the defendant. Elizabeth
F. Mohr. guilty or not guilty?"
| Not guilty
Mrs Mohr apparently was In a stupor
when the foreman pronounced the
| words mot guilty" She recovered
quickly. however. Newspaper men be-
gan to surround her, but were told by
her counsel. John J. Fitzgerald. that
she was not in any condition to talk,
| The fight has only begun" was the
comment of William H. Lewis. counsel
| for Brown. MIR. Lewis has taken nu-
merous exceptions during the trial and
said that he might carry the case to
the supreme court.