The Washington times., 1920-05-24

To save his wife from the gallows
Clarence Cothron on trial today in
the circuit court of MONTGOMERY
county at Rockville told Judges Peter
Urner and Worthington. that he en-
tered the plea Of guilty to the murder
Of Homer Jones.
Cothron later told the court that
he was not guilty of firing the fatal
shot, although he testified that his
wife, Grace Clark Cothron. and Eu-
gene Landers had proposed he do the
killing.
81 confessed guilt to save my wife,
said Cothron. "She is everything TO
me. Landers did the shooting to get
possession OF Jones money and auto
mobile. My wife had nothing what
ever to do with it. bave made con-
iicting statements in an ehort TO save
the life of my wife"
In one part OF his testimony Goth
ron told of the conspiracy to Kill
Jones, declaring that his wife re-
marked when he hestitated to fire the
shot
go ahead and do it; do 1t quick;
get it over with; I want to get away
from here"
Then why. IL you want to clear
your wife. did you make that state
ment that she told you to shoot
Homer Jones?" asked the court.
Suggested RobbinR Bank.
81 thought ii would clear her to
say that she told me to kill him. said
Cothron.
Cothron then testified that he said:
Lets don't kill him. but let's go rob
the bank in Highland" asserting that
that would be easier.
"Landers lost his nerve about ROD
bing the bank, declaring that ne
would rather kill Jones, as he wanted
the chauffeur's car. as he had license
for a Chandler car in Baltimore.
Mrs. Grace Clark Cothron. pretty
nineteen-year-old wife OF Clarence
Cothron, today was placed on triai
before Judges Hammond c. Urner'
Edward G. Peter, and Glenn II.
'Worthington in the circuit court OF
Montgomery county, at Rockville, Tor
alleged conspiracy with her husband
in the staying. June IL, 1919, OF
Homer Jones, colorcd Baltimore
chauffeur, and the theft OF his auto
mobile and $50 in cash.
Trial of her husband will follow
that of Mrs. Cothron. The couple also
are charged with conspiracy in plan
ming TO rob the National Bank OF
Highland, Howard county, on the
day that Jones was shot to death in
the woodland between Burtonsville
and Sandy Bottom, Montgomery
county.
Cothron and his wife were taken
from the Maryland penitentiary today
on writs OF habeas corpus issued on
John +. Leonard, warden OF the pris'
on. Cotbron is serving a life sentence
in Maryland prison for killing and
robbing John G. Weldon. a Philsdel.
phia waiter and chauffeur. who was
shot to death after having been lured
to Elkton. Cecil county, Nd, on July
II. 1919.
Sentenced For KidnspinG.
The woman also is serving four
year term in the Baltimore prison for
kidnapping Mamie, cleven-yesr-old
daughter OF John T. Groscup. a sta
tionary engineer for the Canton Box
Manufacturing Company OF Baltimore.
Mrs. Cothron, through her counsel,
state Senator Omar u. Crothers, Of
Elkton. Md. and John T. Garrett, en-
tered a plea OF not guilty. IL IL eT-
pectcd she will testify that while she
was near by when Homer Jones was
slain, she was under the influence 81
her husband and not in any way re-
sponsible for any completely in the
crime.
II is expected she will take the
stand IN defense Of her life, pleading
that she was driven to a life of shame