Omaha daily bee., 1921-11-05
Jury Finds Woman
Guilty Of Second
Degree Murder
Mrs. LYDIA NJ. Southard Held
To Have Caused Death of
Idaho Man by Admin.
istering Poison.

Twin Falls, Idaho, Nov. 4.-Mrs
LYDIA Meyer Southard was declared
guilty of second degree murder Of
Edward F. Meyer, her fourth hus-
band, by jury in district court here
this afternoon.
The verdict was returned at 3:55
o'clock, after % hours deliberatio1.
A good-sized crowd filled the
court room when the verdict was
read.
The defendant showed no sign OF
feeling and did not raise her eyes
from the floor when the verdict was
announced. e.+~. =. a.
The verdict carries a penalty of
not less than 10 years imprison-
ment.
Sentence will be passed at $50
a. m., November z.
Trial of Mrs. LYDIA Meyer South
ard on charge Of causing the death
of her fourth husband, Edward F.
Meyer, foreman of the Blue Lakes
ranch, Twin Falls, by administra-
ton of poison, said to have been
derived from poisonous insect ex-
terminator, was opened in the dis
trict court, Judge w. A. Babcock
presiding, on September 26. Coun-
sci for the prosecution consisted
of Frank L. Stephan, Twin Falls
county attorney; Roy L. Black, state
attorney general, and E. A. Wal
ters, former district court Judge.
For the defense: w. P. Guthrie,
Homer C. Mills and A. R. Hicks
appeared.
Week Spent on Jury.
Because Of the extended notorie-
ty given the case, difficulty was en-
countered in impaneling a jury, this
function consuming a weeks. time.
In that period three special venires
were drawn, each of 40 names. The
first of these was dismissed because
of ineligibility Of Sheriff E. R. Sher-
man to act as summoning officer.
w. G. Thompson. was selected by
the court as elisor, the two special
venires being brought into court by
that officer. In addition to these 80
veniremen. the original panel con-
sisted of IS men. Practically the en-
tire total of l55 names was exhaust
ed before the completion OF the
jury.
Witnesses were called from Mis-
souri,, Montana, Tennessee and Cali
fornia. In all, 1872 witnesses were
named to appear on both sides, but
not all were called to the stand.
The state listed 142 witnesses on
the indictment. while the defense
named about 40. Hypothetical ques-
tions, together with clinical discus
sions consumed the greater portion
of the five weeks devoted to the
murder trial. Many physicians,
chemists and similar professionals
were called upon to give testimony
as expert witnesses.
Big Legal Battle.
The trial proved a legal battle
from the start, with counsel lock-
ing horns on scores of important
questions arising during the progress
Of taking evidence. Probably the
bitterest battle was waged over the
states request for permission to in
troduce evidence relating to deaths
of husbands of the accused other
than the one named in the informa-
ton. The court ruled this testimony
admissible.
Physicians in some instances con-
tradicted testimony of other expert
witnesses, especially on the question
of death cause. The defense through
out maintained that in all instances
involved. death resulted from nat
ural causes.
Analysis made by Herman Harms,
Utah state chemist; E. F. Roden-
baugh. state chemist of Idaho. and
E. R. Dooley. Twin Falls city chem
ist, all agreed as to presence of poi
son in all bodies examined.
On the stand the accused woman
maintained an unperturbed attitude
throughout long grilling by the
prosecution, which failed to derive
any important admissions from her.
Every session of the trial found
the court auditorium filled to capa-