The Washington times., 1918-08-15

my husband on the bureau. Before I
knew what she was doing. I heard q
report and saw q flash. A moment
later my husband fell to the floor.
Helen fell also close beside him.
could not realize what had occurred.
Cora, my oldest daughter, and Fran
els had come running upstairA Cora
screamed when we saw that my hus-
band had been struck by the bullet
The blood was coming from his fore
head. We then called for help, and
soon afterward the doctor arrived.
Ny husband was dead. We then put
Helen to bed. She was weak and
hystericaL Her mind seemed dazed.
1t Is terrible; IL Is all my fault
should never have gone UPSTAIRS"
Following her mother on the wit
ness stand, Cora, twenty-three, the
Oldest daughter. told virtually the
same story. as did the youngest
daughter, Francis, fourteen years old.
Tells Her Story.
The next and last witness was
Helen herself. the faVorite child of
Sidney Farmhouse, who. in turn, IDOL
lied her father. regardless Of the III
treatment his wife and children had
received at his hands
As she entered the reception parlor
OF the undertaking establishment
from where her fathers funeral had
taken place two days ago, and where
the inquest was held last night, her
head was bowed and she walked
slowly to the witness chair which
faced the six Jurors.
As she seated herself and smoothed
the folds OF her plain white dress
around which was q plain black belt,
her thick brown hair settled around
her shoulders and set of the pale
features OF her saddened countenance
complexion Of the strong faces which
confronted her.
Silent q Minute.
For fully q minute she remained |
in silence and gradually raised her
eyes to the men who held In their |
decision the power to charge her
with murder.
Finally she opened her lips when |
the foreman of the jury. In a kind |
voice. requested her to tell the story |
OF the tragedy from beginning to end. |
She made an effort to speak, but |
the words would not come. She made |
another effort and swallowed hard. |
and then began:
II don't remember much OF what |
Speak a little louder, please" one
of the Jurors requested.
81 can't speak much louder" she re- |
piled slowly. gazing straight ahead OF |
her as In a daze. 81 remember that |
was in the bathroom. heard mother |
cry. remember seeing someone
beating her. / then got the gun"
hnn
'ather struck your" one of the Jurors |
asked.
mo, don't know who II was" she |
replied, after some little hesitation.
Il remember that I got the gun
got the gun-and fired 1 don't know |
when. i did not aim. / just fired.
The trigger did not seem hard to |
pull. 1t seemed to go so easy. |
iont know any more. My fathers |
lead. don't know any more. Ny |
ather's dead"
Witness soba.
She buried her face in her hands |
Ind sobbed. The six Jurors were all |
Gaming forward in their chairs as
he daughter who shot and killed her
ather in defense OF her mother nm |
sed her testimony. without any |
Iuestioning the foreman motioned /
ielplessly to the other jurors and said |
something that sounded like THAT |
will be all, Helen"
few minutes later they returned |
he following verdict:
sidney Farmhouse met his death
BY bullet wound from a revolver
ired by his daughter, Helen Barn
rouse, in defense OF her mother.
Helen Is exonerated from all respon-
'ibility in connection with the death
" her father"
The six Jurors who acted on Coro-
Ter Marshall T. Jones' jury were: J.
= Foster. T. ". Dunbar. E. ]. F1em-
ng' M. r. Wilkins, James McFadden,
md Thomas johnson. all of Alex