The Washington herald., 1918-08-16
mrs. BURGESS
Is ACQUITTED
OF NUMBERING
Stolidly Hears Verdict that
Saves Her from Elec-
trio Chair.
JUDGE GIVES ADVICE
MRS. Werres, Widow of
JUDGE GIVES ADVICE
MRS. Werres, Widow of
Man Who Was Killed,
Lends Dramatic Touch.

Stolidly. Mrs. Kathleen Burgess
accepted her freedom from the
hands of the twelve men last night
in the Alexandria County court
house before whom she was tried
for murder.
Scarcely stirring in her geat Mrs.
Burgess sat steadily through her
trial for the murder OF John p.
Werres. Washington jitney driver.
Not once was she seen to exam
inc the faces of the Jurors anxi-
ously. She turned her head neither
to the right or left
There was not perceptible
change in her demeanor, when the
verdict was read. Her attorney was
the first to reach out and grasp her
hand. She rose and turned to leave
the courtroom, when Judge Cool
ric called toy her in a fatherl
voice:
Judges Counsel
Don't go out into the world
again to live the old life. Go back
to your aged father and mother.
Ask their forgiveness for the shame
you have brought upon them. and
be q good daughter. leading q good
and virtuous life. Don't think that.
because you have been under the
shadow OF red crime, you cannot
live the past down. You are young.
just II. You are a healthy young
woman. Your future is not
make it."
The young, freed prisoner had no
words TO uttef. The 1len. Of the jury
rushed np to her and shook her hand
The foreman of the jury, Franklin
stearn, earnestly besought her to turn
to a new life.
in the your home environment. leave
it," he said. He pleaded with her for
quite an interval, but whether his
fatherly interest in her struck a re-
sponsive chord. II was hard to deter
mine. She smiled, and that was all.
Spent Night In Jail.
Kathleen Burgess spent last night
in Jail, voluntarily. There was no
other place for her to go.
Her mother and her two sisters at
tended the trial yesterday afternoon.
But when the court adjourned for an
hour at & o'clock they left, apparently
for their dinner. and did not return.
Mrs. Burgess relatives and ac-
quaintances from her home town in
Laurel. Nd. were not there when the
verdict was read.
Mrs. werres There.
Mrs. John P. Werres was there.
Her appearance in the courtroom
was startling. She wore heavy wells
of black. Her color was actually
livid. She stared searchingly over
the courtroom, and, discovering
Mrs. Burgess. pointed at her and
asked: is that the woman?" She
shook violently as she took the
oath. 1t was with the greatest
difficulty that she answered Ques-
tions and when she was asked to
identify the hat her husband wore.
she screamed, and, crushing it to
her. kissed it. Other articles were
identified by her and she was led,
quivering. from the courtroom
The State rested its case after
offering but few witnesses. The
defense offered none at all. Mrs.
Burgess herself did not go on the
witness stand and neither did her
mother.
Only One Verdict Possible.
The jury after receiving instruc-
tions from Judge Goolrick asked
that the arguments of both sides
be dispensed with.
In his instructions, the Judge said
that If the jury believed that the
I'd ,fendant did not strike the de-
ceased, as alleged in the Indictment,
and did not aid and abet in the
killing of the deceased. then they
must find the defendant not guilty
and they must acquit her."
Under such instructions the jury
had no other alternative but to set
the woman free.