The Washington herald., 1920-04-08
FIRST BALLOT
TAKEN BRINGS
AN ACQUITTAL
Talesmen Out Only Four
Minutes After Hearing
Tale of Torture.
INSANITY HER PLEA
Alienist Testifes That Cruel
Treatment Temporarily
Upset Reason.
CBy . Stan Correspondent.)

Hampton, Va. April 7.-Mittie
Jester Cumming. "the ten-minute
BRIDE" is a free woman tonight.
Four minutes after the jury be-
fore whom she stood accused OF
the murder of her husband, S. Cor
don Cumming, had begun deliber-
sting on the case, a verdict of not
guilty had been agreed upon.
A quarter of an hour later she
walked from the courtroom with
her child Kenneth. the seven-year-
old son of the man she killed. ex-
onerated of the staying which
came as the climax of six years of
mistreatment by the clubman and
lawyer.
Pleaded Temporary Insanity.
Thus passed into history another
famous case of a woman who killed
while under the stress of temporary
insanity. 1t was the testimony of
alienists as to Mrs. Cummings
mental condition at the time of the
killing. introduced by the defense
this afternoon. that proved the
most telling of the trial.
DIR. l. s. Foster, specialist In
nervous diseases. after the outlining
Of a hypothetical case by RocharG
T. Byrd. attorney for the defense,
declared that no person could have
endured conditions such as pre-
sented without losing control of
will. becoming impulsively insane
and ceasing to be responsible for
acts committed.
Nervous While Jury Is Out.
When the jury declared itself
ready to render a verdict Judge r.
Carter Scott was absent from the
chamber. having declared a recess.
While he was being sought Mrs
Cumming sat beside her father and
brother nervously caress:ng her boy
When Judge Scott had retaken his
seat and the verdict had been re-
ceived and announced Mrs. Cum
ming made her way through a
crowd of well-wishers and silently
wrung the hands of the twelve men
responsible for her freedom. Then
she left on the arms of friends.
Courtroom Packed.
A great crowd jasimed the little
courtroom throughout the final days
proceedings. Judge Scott kept strict
order, once clearing the spectators
benches when applaure broke out
at testimony favorable to the de-
fendant.
The case of Mrs. Cumming was
outlined by Attorney Byrd as fol-
lows:
In 1908 Mittie Jester. a girl of
% years. comely daughter of a fish
dealer. was working as a salesgirl
in a store in Hampton. Her face
attracted the attention of Gordon
Cumming, wealthy attorney, who
despite his high social connections,
superior education and the fact
that he already was married, pro-
cured an introduction to her. AL
most Immediately he began making
love to her. taking her out to din
ners. once enticing her into a house
kept by negro woman. Later he
apologized. protesting his love. He
continued his attentions until he
induced her to dine with him in a
hotel at Newport News. There he
drugged her lemonade so that she
became unconscious. When she re-
gained consciousness she fled.
Agreed to Marry Her.
A year after. Cumming agreed to
marry the wronged woman upon her
signing a written contract to sue
for divorce on the ground of de-
sertion and cruelty. She was eager
to give an honorable name to her
son, and consented to the contract
and authorized the attorney who
drew it to proceed with the divorce
suit.
She stopped action soon after. and
Cumming filed suit and got divorce,
which the Supreme Court later re-
voked.
Cumming agreed to pay his wife
IS week for six months only. This
he soon discontinued, so the woman
was left destitute and desperate.
The husband kept his marriage
secret.
Meeting him on the street. she .ap-
pealed for money for food for her ,
self and child. was refused and |
CONTINUED ON PAGE TwFr.yr