Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-16
MRS. INNES SENTENCED
TO 8 YEARS BY COURT
Case Most Remarkable One,
Declares Judge Ben H,
Hill

Mrs Ida May Innes, who was found
guilty of larceny after trust by a jury in
Judge Ben II. Hills court Tuesday after
noon, was Wednesday morning sentenced
to serve three years by Judge Hill.
Mrs lines was charged with having
conspired with her husband 20 defraud
Lois helms Dennis. one of the missing
helms sisters. of her fortune.
When the solicitor had published the
verdict of the jury, and Judge Hihe.7
answered that he saw no reason why the
record of the case might not he complet-
ed. Judge Hill said.
Gentlemen, this is one of the most re-
markable cases ever tried in a court
house-certainly the most remarkable
case ever tried by this court"
THE dry facts of this case, as gath
cred by the solicitors office are not ex-
celled by the Imagination of Hugo,
a BalZac, a Poe or a Dickens"
Here is a lawyer, a man of decided
ability and mental power, who wins a
woman completely. He holds her heart
in his hand, finds out that she has mon
ey and sets out to obtain it. HIS wife,
evidently a woman of some refinement,
assists him in his nefarious work. /
haven't a doubt that he could have ae-
cornplished mis- dark crime without her
help, however"
GIRL IN HIS POWER"
THE helms girl was completely in his
power Poor girl! What happened in
that little cottage in San Antonio, no
man knows, no women knows, except the
defendant here and the prisoner in the
tower II is inconceivable that the two
helms girls would have left their mother
and their brother to follow this man to
the west. But they did go to him, and
they have been traced to the Innes cot
tage IN San Antonio. What happened
there?- Who knows? Certainly they
have not been heard of since"
able and indefatigable counsel were
appointed for them who have defended
them with ability and tirelessness. Coun-
sci for the Illnesses could not have work
ed harder if they were to have received
a 100000 fee for their services lnstad
of the thanks of the court"
what shall l do with the woman
before me? l am at loss to say. | sym
pathize with Marshall helms and Mrs
helms. but the court cannot share their
resentment. Probably the jury ignore"
the question of mercy because they
wished to Shift that burden on me.
shall in turn shift it to the governor
and the prison commission.
This woman is inflicted with thu
white plague, and is not able to go 20
the changing. Anyone who saw her
here last June and now can see that
she is wasting away with disease.
Frankly, l do not know what to do
with her She has been in Jail for three
years and l am going to allow for that
in sentencing her.
81 sentence Mrs. Ida May Innes "a
serve. three years Imprisonment for her
crime"
MRS. INNES' STATEMENT.
When | was in Atlanta several years
ago, I was here only for my health
she said 81 am sick now, and haven't
been we'll for three years. l am hardly
able to be here--but ! wish to say that
have never known anything about my
husbands business. ] feel that | have
done nothing wrong, and l don't know
what they are keeping me in jail for.
never did get any money from Mrs. Den
mis- Mr.. Fitzpatrick did not tell the
truth" (She was referring to testimony
by the cashier of the West End bank
to the effect that Mrs. Dennis had cashed
a check there shortly before the helms
sisters disa ppearance and had given
Mrs. Innes the money!
80 | just want to say that l am not
guilty of larceny after trust. and
want you to let me go home to my
baby"
Attorney G. l.. PettigTew opened foT
the defense at 4 o'clock Tuesday art
ernoon, Judge Hines ending for the dc
Tense with the closing argument at
O'Clock. Solicitor John A Boykin and
Attorney Reuben r. Arnold made
speeches for the state. Attorney Hugh
NJ. Dorsey was associate counsel for
the prosecution throughout the trial.