Arizona republican., 1921-02-06
MRS, PEETE MUST
SERVE REST Of
IN PRISON
Or MURDER Of
JACOB c. DENTON
Husband Weeps When Jury
Returns Verdict But De-
fendant Shows No Signs
Of Emotion-Out 6 Hours
[Republican A. p. Leased wIrel

IRepublican A. p. Leased Wirel
Los ANGELES Feb. 5.-Mrs- Lon
ise L. Peete late today was found
guilty on the charge of murder in con-
nection with the death of Jacob Charles
Denton. The jury fixed the penalty at
life Imprisonment
Mrs. Peete shook hands with her at
torneys. W. L. Aggeler. acting public
defender, and Robert II. Scott. assist
ant public defender then turned to the
bailiff and said:
Wen go now"
She was then taken back to the
county Jail.
There was no demonstration In the
crowded court room.
With the bailiff holding one arm and
her weeping husband the other, the
defendant walked calmly and steadily
down the aisle of the court room and
down the stairs to the street. At the
doorway the three stopped moment
while Peete rubbed the tears from his
face with a handkerchief.
Then they faced a crowd of probably
more than 1000 persons as they walked
half a block to the jail. where Mrs.
Peete is to remain until sentence is
imposed Tuesday morning at $3.50
O'Clock.
Peete accompanied his wife to her
quarters in the jail, waiting there un-'
I'll attendants compelled him to depart
He went there to try and give her
comfort, but the iaiIers said il was she
who oomforted him. He wept almost
constantly. they said, while she re-
nained dry-eyed and with an arm,
about his shoulder, endeavored to en-
courage him.
Peete went from the jail to an apart
ment where he has been living with
has been told her mother was under
arrest He declined TO speak to news
papermen. So also did Mrs. Peete.
Six Ballots Taken
The jury had been out from 11.4&
o'clock this morning until 5:25 this
ment for lunch. Six ballots were
taken.
William T. Aggeler, acting public
defender. who was counsel for Mrs
Peete, stated he had not decided
whether a new trial would be asked.
That depends on the record In the
transcript of testimony" said Aggeler.
If there is any basis for it. we win
seek to try the case again."
New Trial improbable
! THE record OF the trial Is perfect
and the verdict speaks for ITSELF" was
the only comment made by District At
/ torney Thomas Lee Woolwine and
Raymond l. Turney. deputy district
attorney, who prosecuted the c1se.
The jury voted for conviction on the
| first ballot and on every ballot there
| after. according to the statement of J.
1 B. Johnson. foreman.
"The only question was as to whether
the death penalty should BE- inflicted"
! he stated.
Mrs. Peete was the second woman
to be convicted in two days of muir
der in the first degree in Los Angeles
| county. The first, Mrs. Maybelle Roe.
was found guilty yesterday of the slay-
ing of Mccullough Graydon, a real
| estate operator Her punishment was
also fixed at life Imprisonment.
Crowds Seek View
A crowd, declared by court officers
to be the largest since the trial start
ed, was gathered about the hall of
justice all day awaiting the outcome
| of the case A sudden shower of rain.
accompanied by hail, failed to thin out
the throng to any noticeable degree.
The jury was out about six hours
and half
| Mrs. Peete listened to the verdict
with the same composure that she
maintained throughout the trial. Her
| husband, r. c. Peete, burst into tears.
In the trial of Mrs. Peete for the al
legged murder of Denton, which was be
gun here January 19, the prosecution
sought to establish that Denton was
last seen alive June 2. last, and an
nounced the theory that he was killed
by Mrs. Peete on that date. A body
found September % in the basement of
the Denton residence was declared TO
have been that of the missing man.
Circumstantiar Evidence
1t was shown that Mrs. Peete was
renting the house at that time, Denton
retaining an apartment there. Other
testimony was that after June Mrs.
Peete pawned a diamond ring which
belonged to Denton and disposed OF
wearing apparel and other of his pos
sessions, while. several witnesses as
serted she had made contradictory
statements about his disappearance.
Mrs. Peete declared Denton was alive
after June 2, but she did not know
where he had gone. She asserted she
had his permission to dispose of the
articles named. Her counsel MAIN
tained that none of the prosecutions
assertions in connection with the case
had been established beyond a reason
able doubt
Denton Last Seen June
Jacob Charles Denton. well to do
mining promoter, last was seen alive
June 2, 1920. He had been married
| twice His first wife and daughter
aged 16, live in Phoenix, Ariz., Denton'a
second wife died early in 1920. Soon
after her death he advertised his home
for rent and Mrs. Peere leased the place
She occupied the house until August =
when she subleased 1t and moved TO
Denver.
| Denton had written to his daughter
promising to come to Phoenix When
ne failed to do so Inquiry was made
Eventually this led to the discovery or
his body.
Mrs Peete returned to Los Angeles
after Deutons body was found, declar-
ing she was ready to tell the district