El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-29
MOTHER IS GIVEN
LIBERTY BY JURY
Charged With Theft Under
$50, She Is Acquitted
in Court.

Taking the stand in her own de-
fence Friday afternoon, Mrs. j. C.
Wood. 100 North Florence street on
trial or a charge Of theft under $50,
testified that Rev. Percy Knicker-
booker had visited her home prior TO
her arrest and told her that God has
taken your year old baby to pun
ish you for stealing for it."
Hrs. Wood was acquitted by a
jury In the county court after seven
minutes deliberauon. ending the
case which was hard fought and SEN
satiOnal throughout. During the trial
the court room was crowded with
spectators. Mrs Wood was arrested
in February, il being charged tnat
she had obtained a baby carriage from
the Popular Dry Goods company on
November :, by charging IL 10 Mrs.
7 r. Chlldresss Of ZsJ5 Bliss street
Testimony was adduced by the state
showing that g number Of articles
were Illegally obtained during that
month. some person or persons charg-
ing it 70 accounts OF various Ell
Pasoans. some feminine wearing ap-
pareI being charged to one man
After the death OF Mrs. Woods
baby, on January o. the baby car
rage was sold TO the Rio Grande
Furniture company 1t was brought
in by the prosecution as evidence in
the case Among the Witnesses who
testified that persons had obtained
things by charging them 70 the ac-
counts Of others were A S. Jacobs,
credit manager OF the Popular, and
Adolph Schwartz, president OF the
Popular company.
The KnickerbocIzer Incident.
Three days after my baby died,
Mr.. KnickerbOcker, who had officiat-
ed at the funeral. visited my home.
and said that he would like to speak
20 ne privately" stated the witness
he said 7 have found you out. You
are supposed TO be Mrs. C. OF the
Nagley apartments told him that
ny name was Wood
He said God took my baby 70 pun
tsh ms because stole for II, and II
would give him the things to return
he would Quash the matter. He said
some OF the things had been charged
70 him and some &c members OF the
church, and he was going 70 see that
the law punished me Tor il. and that
was afraid TO look the credit man Of
the Popular company in the face and
deny IL went 10 the telephone and
called Mr.. Jacobs, OF the Popular, and
asked him 70 come out 10 my home.
He arrived In few minutes with
Two carloads Of people among whom
were two women One Of the women
sad to me. 7 think that ] have met
~
employed at a small store where
had purchased some ueckties. She
said. no; she vas employed at the
Popular"
AssaiIs Dr.. Kniekerboeker.
In his address to the jury. Tom Lea,
attorney for the defence. referred to
DR.. Enickerbocker as the detective
north Of the tracks. who tracked the
woman 70 her lair"
Rev. Mr.. Kuickerbocker told Mrs.
Wood that God had taken her baby 20
punish her for stealing for it." de-
ike 70 know what kind OF a God that
IS. II isn't the God that know and
Il isn't the one that you know. II
must be Rev Percy KnickerbOcker's
To BE Tried AEaIn.
County attorney VIM H Pelphrey
stated Saturday morning that the trial
Of Mrs Wood against whom an In
dictment was returned by the grand
jury on charge OF "swindlinE under
the value Of $50" would be held dur
ing the May term OF the county court
The Indictment was returned by the
grand jury at the sane time she was
indicted on the charge OF which she
was acquitted Friday afternoon
Rev Percy Knickerbocter stated
Saturday that he did not tell Mrs
Wood that God had taken her baby
was attempting TO have her turn over
the goods alleged to have been OBJ
tanned Illegally from merchants.
kniclkerboclCer'H Statement.
Kew knickerbocker's statement fol-
lows
The testimony OF Mrs. J. c. Wood
Is 50 absurd that I hesitate 70 say
anything about IL The truth will be
brought out with plenty Of corrobor-
alive Witnesses and evidence IN the
trials which are to follow. Tbs case
does no involve simply the taking OF a
baby carriage, but IL Is alleged over
$500 worth OF goods were OBTAINED
by someone fraudulently from a num-
Der OF the leading merchants OF the
city
7 was very sorry for Mrs. Wood, :
but could do nothing else but advise Z
her 70 tel the truth and make resti-
tuition. told her II she would do this .