The Washington times., 1920-04-08
Loue For Child Frees
"Ten Minute Bride"
Who Killed Husband

HAMPTON, Va. April s.-Freed on
a charge OF murder for staying her
husband. g.. Gordon cummipE. lawyer
and former Virginia assemblyman,
Mrs. Mittie Jester Cumming, ten
minute BRIDE" today Is In the care
OF ftiends, won to her when her
desperate act last February brought
her pitisble story to a shocked So
ciety's attention.
Under their kindly tutelage she
will make a fresh start on her task
OF rearing her eight-year-old son.
Kenneth, In the way denied him by
his father whose life paid forfeit 70
an outraged. spurned and destitute
wife and mother
Three things are credited by spec
tators at the trial with being the
main Influences In causing the jury
to agree on a verdict of mot guilty
within three minutes after the case
was given to them at 1O:4o ocioch
last night.
One was the intense maternal love
exhibited by the frsii defendant Ior
her little son, who remained at her
side throughout the trial: another
the statement by DR.. l.. >. roster,
specialist In nervous diseases, that
under the circumstances stated In her
defense she would have been I'M
pulsiyely insane" and not respopsipie
for her act, and the third. q mastery
statement of her cause and impas-
stoned plea TO the chivalry OF the jury
by Richard Il. Byrd. the attorney
who took her case without pay pe-
cause he considered she had been
"hounded by the man who had sworn
to love and protect her." ...
"God Bless YOU She Cried.
"God bless you," the acquitted wom-
an cried to Mr.. Byrd. as she clasped
her boy in her arms" you saved my
life. My boy and will never forget
YOU"
when the verdict of mot guilty"
was read there was no demonstration.
This was due to orders given by Judge
r. Carter Scott that the courtroom
was to be cleared II any demonstra-
tion greeted the reading of the ver-
dict. -
During the short period that the
jury retired Mrs. Cumming sat In the
prisoners chair, showing for. the hrst
time during the trial the strain under;
which she has been laboring. Her
son, Kenneth, would run on to play
with one of his uncles. but as he
turned HIS face toward his mother
and saw her grief he would run back
to her arms. win neT Aibo wore wv
OF her brothers, two of her sisters,
her aunt and the Rev. Joseph Rout-.
ten. a Methodist minister.
Mrs. Cumming swayed slightly
when she was commanded to stand
and face the jury. When the verdict
of not guilty was read she stood
speechless for a moment and then.
half falling into her chair, was sur
rounded by hundreds OF men and
women, who rushed toward her. to
congratulate her. Tears were flow
ing down her cheeks and she could
scarcely speak. She did manage. how
ever, to direct her. son to thank the
members of the jury
Weeps on Fathers Shoulder.
When, a moment or two later. the
aged father made his way to where
she stood she laid her head on his
shoulder and renewed her weeping,
while he patted her head.
The acquital of Mrs. Cumming had
been looked for after the days de-
velopments failed to disclose any
points in the defense. When court
opened yesterday morning Mrs. Cum
ming Immediately took the stand and
was cross-exanined by acting Com
monwealth's Attorney r. d. Cook.
When the prosecution attempted to
show that Cumming had been willing