Evening star., 1920-04-08
mot GUILTY." Jury
TELLS MRS. CUMMING
Mentally irresponsible When She
Shot Husband, Alienist Indi-
cates-Jury Out Four Minutes.

HAMPTON, Va, April s.-Mrs Nit
tie Jester Cumming was found mot
guilty" of the murder of her husband
after jury had considered the case
four minutes here last night. She was
on trial for the shooting of S. Gordon
Cumming. lawyer and former state
assemblyman, on the street here Feb
ruary Z.
Mrs. Cummings attorneys, in the
final arguments. based their pleas for
acquittal on the claim that their
client was temporarily insane at the
time of the Shooting.
Kenneth Cumming, eight-year-o
son Of the accused. sat by his mothers
side throughout the day. Often when
her body was shaken with smothered
sobs he slipped his arm about her
neck and kissed her.
Alienist's Testimony Important.
BY far the most important testi-
mony Of the day was introduced when
DR.. l.. S. Foster. former superintend-
ent of the Eastern State Hospital at
Williamsburg, declared as an expert
alienist that if the story of this case
as told by Mr.. Bird is true. the mental
condition of the accused was such at
the time of the shooting that she did
not know what she was doing
When DIR. Foster completed that
statement there was loud stamping of
feet in the courtroom and Judge Scott
ordered the room cleared Of all per-
sons who were standing.
Commonwealth Attorney Cook said
in his closing speech that Mrs Cum
ming had often threatened the life of
her husband and that the killing was
ipremeditated. He said cit was always
money, money, money. If she had
bothered Mr. Cumming less, she would
have been treated better by him"
Friends of both families, he asserted,
thought the best was being done
when the marriage and pre-nuptial
agreement was arranged.
Mrs. Cumming had maintained a
strained calm throughout the day. She
from its room. and was helped to her
feet by her sister. She stood trem-
bling. but very straight. her fingers
twitching and lips quivering.
C0ngratulations Follow Verdict.
mot guilty" The report of the fore
man. spoken in a low voice. seemed to
ring through the courtroom the si-
lence of which was not broken by a
breath. In moment the acquitted
woman was surrounded by scores of
friends, who showered congratula-
tions upon her. The little boy jumped
into her arms and she kissed him
many times. II am very glad" she
said. as she expressed her thanks to
the people, the jury, the judge and the
y
Mrs. Cumming. testifying in her own
defense. said her husband, from whom
she was divorced with IS a week ali
mony shortly after her marriage. had
repeatedly caused her arrest and had
threatened to take their child from
her.
Regarding the shooting she said:
"I saw Mr.. Cumming on the street
and asked him for some money. He
refused and threatened to have me
locked up again. I don't remember
anything else that happened until I
saw him lying on the pavement II
staggered to a doorway and was car
ried to Jail. Two days later they told
me all about it. He had told me he
controlled the courts and that he was
going to take the boy away from me.
But I still loved him. / loved him
too much to kill him."
Mrs. Cumming was separated from
her husband shortly after the wedding
under a prenuptial agreement