The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-02
Temporary Unaccountability
Plea of Defense Con.
vinces Jurymen.
CUSTODY OF SON
STILL UNDETERMINED
WOman's Counsel Will Re-
sort to Habeas Corpus to
Get Possession.

Mineola, y. Y. Dec. lit required
hut one hour and AZ minutes for a
jury i'm supreme court here tonight to
reach verdict Of not guilty in the
trial of Mrs. Blanca de Saulles for
the murder of her divorced husband.
John l.. de Saulles. former Yale foot
ball star and clubman. at his home
near Westbury l.. L.. the night Of Au-
gust s.
Mrs. de Saulles. who had maintai ined
an air of extreme self possession
throughout the two weeks of the trial.
received the verdict smilingiy. She
shook hands with each of the Jurors as
they left the box and to each gave a
nod OF appreciation.
As Mrs. de Saulles left the courtroom.
a photographer touched off flash
light. The shock of the explosion.
coupled with the young woman's
heightened nervous tension, caused her
to stagger, hut she was prevented from
falling by pr. j. Sherman Wight, her
physician. She was taken into n
nearby room where she soon recovered.
Expresses Happiness.
In the verdict no reference whatever
was made to insanity, 1t was Plea
of temporary loss Of accountability
which formed the basis OF the defend
ants case.
I'm so happy" was Mrs. de Saulles'
only comment, according to Mrs. de
sanlles' attorney, Henry A. Uterhart.
Mrs. de .Sanlles acqnittal automat-
laa1lx aSta ha.
custodian of her SON. John l.. ae
Saulles. .Ir according to her attor-
neys.
It was to get her son that she went to
her former husbands home, THE
Box the night of the tragedy She
has stated that as soon as she had
cleared up all right to the possession
of the child she will take him back 10
Chile. her native land
Returns to Chile.
At Nina del Mar, "The Vineyard by
the Sea- as her mothers estate near
Santiago, Chile. Is called. Mrs. de
Sanlles intends making her home for
the present II was this palatnl home
which Mrs. de Saulles left In 1911 to
become the wife Of John l.. de Saulles
She was then "a girl of l6 years.
Mrs, Blanca Erraznriz. mother of
Mrs. de Saulles, was not In the court
room, She had been on the verge of
a complete nervous breakdown, for
several days, according to DIR. Wight.
due to her anxiety regarding the out -
come of the trial
Miss Amalia Errazuriz. a sister. was
the only member OF the defendants
family present when the jury's find
ing was made known. Her brother.
William Errazuriz, was said to be at
his mothers bedside.
When tonight messenger was sent
TO bring Mrs. de Saulles into the trial
chamber from the jail. where she was
awaiting the iury's decision. she
stepped hriskly into the room. smile
overspreading her features and con-
fident air characterizing her manner.
Her lawyer smiled reassnrtngly in
turn as she took her seat
4 moment later the Jurors filed into
their box. There was evidently some
thing significant In their manner To
Attorney Uterhart. He leaned over to
an associate and was heard to say:
'Everything's all right"
mot Guilty"
The clerk OF the court then asked:
Gentlemen, have you reached n
verdict"
Each of the II jurors answered In
the affirmative. Mrs. de Saulles was
instructed to stand,
Jurors, look upon the defendant.
Defendant. look upon the Jurors. Cen
tlemen. what is Your verdict" aues-
toned the clerk.
Not guilty" came the chorus from
the jury box
Returns to Her Home.
Ms de Saulles warmly grasped the
hand OF the first Juror to leave the
box. Each gave a word Of greeting
as he filed past the Chilean woman
and shook the hand she offered.
! 4 short time later Mrs. de Saulles
, motored to her home, which she had
not visited since the night of the trag-
! edy and which had been prepared In
F, anticipation of her coming.
! Attorney Cterhart announced that
In case members of the de Saulles
family refused to yield custody to Mrs.
de Saulles' son. he will apply on Mon.
day for a writ of haheas corpus to
compel them to give him into his
mothers custody.