El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-06-28
mrs. JURGENS0N
IS ACQUIT TED

Within 40 minutes after the case Of
Nadine JurgensOn, charged with the
murder OF Harry Jurgenson- her hus-
band, on May q, had been presented
70 the jury in the 34th district court
saturday verdict Of not guilty was
returned The case was finally pre-
scented 70 the jurymen at 5 o'clock
and the verdict was returned at 5-4U
o'clock, after three bollots.
The case began Wednesday and
from then until the verdict was re-
turned, interest remained at a high
pitch. During the entire trial the
courtroom was thronged. with the eZ-
ception Of Thursday afternoon when
judge W. D. Howe ordered the room
cleared Of spectators because Of dis
order.
Representing the state were
Charles Vowel and Charles Ward,
assistant district attorneys. and VIII
H Pelphrey. county attorney, who
assisted the. prosecution by request.
Tom Lea and j. A. Dial represented
hrs. Jurgenson. Mr.. Dial formerly
was an attorney Of AuskoEee. Okla.
Claims SELF Defense.
The states attorneys began their
case with the presentation by testi-
mcay Of facts relating to the actual
killing, proving that Jurgenson was
shot by his wife in his room at sos
North Kansas street at II o'clock at
night Clyde Hines, roommate Of Jur-
censor. was the chief witness for the
prosecution Following this proof
the state introduced a number Of wit
nesse5 in an effort to prove that the
killing was premeditated and not &C
cidental or in self defence
The defence took the stand that the
killing was in self defence an that
Jurgenson was attacking his wife
when she fired the fatal shot. Mrs.
Jurgenson took the stand in her own
defence and declared that she had OBJ
tanned the pistol with a view TO tax
ing her own life at the high school
stadium She said when she entered
the roon Of her husband, TO make a
last plea for the support she claimed
he denied her, she had forgotten the
pistol and that IL was only when the
man started toward her with appraised
hands that she remembered the gun
and drew if in an effort to stop his
advance. She maintained that the ac-
dental and was due 70 her lack Of
knowledge Of firearms. To substan-
tate her plea Of self defence she
cited numerous other attacks made
on her by Jurgenson, two OF which
uecessitated the calling Of a physi-
clan This was corroborated by her
II year old daughter, Buena Jordan,
her sister. Mrs. Grace de Ia Barra, Of
san Diego, Calf, and Marie Jones, a
friend or Mrs. Jurgenson. and with
whom she lived at the time Of the
killing.
May Live With Sisters.
The state introduced rebuttal testi-
mony attempting 10 show that on
April "A Mrs JurEenson was intoxi- !
Gated in Juarez and was creating a I
disturbance with her husband This
testimony was refuted by patrolman |
Grover Han. who testified to arrest
ing Jurgenson as the party returned /
from Juarez and who stated emphat- l
cally that Mrs. Jurgenson did not ap-
pear TO have been drinking.
During the time she spent in the /
county jail AIRS. Jurgenson was visit I
ed by a number Of women friends /
who had interested themselves in her 1
case In the court room she was I
greeted each day by these women. !
who remained throughout the trial /.
and gave the case their closest at I
tentiou-
An attorney for Mrs Jurgenson /
stated Sunday that her plans for the /
future are unsettled. but that she I
might leave FL Paso for san Diego 10 4
live with her sisters.