Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-11
PL0TTERs AGAINST LIFE
OF PREMIER SENTENCED
Mrs. Whecldon, Her Daughter and
Lattcr's Husband Found Guilty
Of Conspiracy.
JURY OUT ONLY 20 MINUTES
Terms Of Zen, Five and Seven Years
OF Penn Servitude Given to Them.
AIRS. Pankilurst Denies Being in
Intrigue to Poison Lloyd George.
fBy Associated Press |

's . -
LONDON. March l0.-Mrs. Alice
fred Mason. and the lattcr's husband.
Alfred George Mason, were found
guilty to-day Of conspiracy to murder
Premier Lloyd George and Arthur
Miss Harriet Ann Whccldon. another
daughter Of Mrs. Whecidon. who also
was tried OH the same charge. was uc-
quilted.
Mis-. Whceldon was Sentenced to ten
years penal scrvitudc. & sentence OF
seven years WAS imposed upon Alfred
Mason, while his wife was given five
years penal scrvitude. The Jury was
out only twenty minutes.
Trial Judge Low. in summing IN.
said that if tho poison that figured IN
the case had been required for dogs.
as had been claimed, 1t was unlikely
that such particular poisons as the
ones named would have been selected
in such large quantity md with such
secrecy and mystery. There was very
slight evidence against Harriet Wheel
don. who appeared to know nothing OF
p%oiSons, he said.
toS
INSTEAD or PROSECUTION
Attorney Ria asserted in his ar2u-
incnt that the case was one OF pcrsc-
cution. Instead OF prosecution. and con-
icudcd that tho accused were free cit
liens and entitled to use any language
they liked. Even If the accused were
guilty of plotting agains, tho lives OF
the minister's. he said. the obvious
n,,,G ,,n,lI ln,c l,nc,t IN l,u, the
silly people informed.
The Judge. in his address 10 tho jury.
commented upon the singularity OF the
fact that the spy. Booth. had been
called to give evidence. while Gordon
was not requested 10 testify. II the
jury considered the absence OF Gordon
fatal to tho case OF the prosecution.
they were entitled TO shy 50: on .hc
other hand. tho judge said. " the jury
was satisfied that the cvidcnce sub
Stimulated the charges. they could on
virt the prisoners.
Mra. Whceldon was found guilty on
all counts-conspirinr and soliciting to
murder by poison. MIR. and Mrs. Mason
were found guilty OF conspiracy. but
the jury recommended mercy because
Of their youth.
Judge Low. addressing Mrs. Wheel
don after tho sentence. said he could
imarine no worse crime than the ono
with which she was charged.
Mis-. rA>i>I!tHsT DENIES
pART ~ poison PLOT
Mrs. Emmciinc l'nnkhurst. the suf-
fragc leader. by PERMISSION Of Judge
Low. testified to c~ontrovert the state
mcut alleged q" have been made by
Mrs. Whcrlden That s~unraScttcs had
spcnt 1900 IN nn attempt To poison
Premier LLOYD George by driving "a
poisoned nail int his boot. Mrs.
rankhurst declared that such a state
mcrt Was absolutely false III every
particular. adding
Tho Wornan's Social ana Political
Union regards the Prcmicr's life as Of
tic greatest value IN tho present grave
crisis, and it's mnmhcrs would, II
necessary. tnkc great risks themselves
10 protect Il from danger"
In summing mp to-day the case Of
the four prisoners on trial, charged
with conspiriug to murder Lloyd George
ami Arthur Henderson. member OF the
war council. :. II. Iiiza. the Mohammc-
dan counsel far tho defendants. suG-
pcstcd - trial by ordeal ~" referred To
thu medieval form uf Judicial trial, in
" ' u li8Nt' W
natural aid Is invoked ~ in II test by
fire. water. poison or other agencies.
Attorney Ria had been c~ndeavorinG
IL impress Tho jury with tho alleged
sinister siSnificancc Of tho failure Of
the crown 10 produce Il witness. tho
secret government agent known as
Gordon.
DEFENDANT I.uRED on
BY POLICE y Is CHARGE
The attorney declared Gordon was a
police spy, who had started the whole
plot, who had lured the defendants on.
and then. when he had got them we'll
within his not. had handed them over
Ia another agent named Booth. so hat
li:i own connection would not be 50
ilagrantly apparent.
In the absence OF Gordon. | would
suggest that the defendants should
have IL trial by ordeal" declared Ria.
I'll" judge said: II fear that would
be impossible. 1t has been abolished.