The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-03-24
MRS. SHAW FREED;
THANKS THE JURY
CITIZENS MAKE UP PURSE TO
SEND HER HOME
Congratulated When Verdict Comes
Calls Not Guilty "Gladdest
Words Ever Heard''-Left Sun
day Morning For Her Home in
Michigan


the murder of George Reeves, Shelby
county jailer, found her not guilty
Saturday mornin. They returned their
verdict at 9:35 o'clock.
Mrs. Shaw, who had been quiet and
reserved during her trial, arose hastily
from her seat when the verdict was
read, walked to the jury box and
shook each juror by the hand, thank
ing them.
Mrs. Shaw also thanked the Judge
then she stated:
"Memphis-ugh! l never want to
see it again"
Then she thanked J. B. Webb and
L. E. Gwinn, her attorneys, and ex-
claimed to the jurors:
"The words that you spoke in court
were the gladdest words | ever
heard"
u am going home at once" Mrs.
Shaw continued "There | will wait
the glad day when my husband has
completed his long sentence in the
penitentiary. | will grieve for him
constantly"
Mrs. Shaw's aged parents live in
Moscow, Mich, for which place Mrs
Shaw left Sunday morning, purse
having been made up by the citizens
of Coyington to defray her railroad
expenses.
Little trouble was experienced in
selecting the jury, despite the wide
publicity that had been given the
case, both at the time of the murder
and during the recent trial of Mrs.
Shaw's husband, Aida G. Shaw, and
Edward B. Kelley. At few minutes
past II o'clock Wednesday morning
the state and defense announced
ready for trial and the examination
Of veniremen was begun. At noon
only three men were in the box. The
panel was quickly completed at the
afternoon session, Attorney General
Abernathy being assisted by Gen.
Sam O. Bates, of Shelby county in
the examination. Jesse B. Webb, Of
Memphis, was attorney for Mrs.
Shaw, having been appointed by
Judge Richards, Of Shelby county.
He questioned each venireman close
ly, with reference to newspaper ac-
counts of the murder and the Shaw
Kelley trial here three weeks ago.
Witnesses for the state were sworn
as soon as the jury was selected.
Attorney Webb stated that the de-
Tense had no witnesses to be sworn
at that time, and after the reading Of
the Indictment by Gen. Bates, the
taking Of testimony began.
The courtroom was crowded with
raan. MANY of them standing in the
sles, and perhaps a dozen ladies
were present when the trial started.
JUDGE r. B. Baptist warned them
that there probably would be some
embarrassing testimony and they
left the room. Irene Shaw, the de-
PENDANT; Mrs. Reeves, widow of the
murdered jailer, and Mrs. Anna
Whitmore, of the Memphis police de-
partment, were the only women pres
ent when the first witness took the
stand.
Mrs. Shaw entered the courtroom
Saturday morning in custody of
Sheriff G. N. Volz. She was neatly
dressed in blue tailored coat suit
with beaver fur collar, black trico-
lette waist and brown velvet hat. She
appeared composed and deeply in
terested in the movement of deputies
and clerks in the room. Mrs. Reeves
was seated few feet behind Mrs.
Shaw.
The examination of the witnesses
was concluded Friday and the argu-
Tnpnt haUan iumpdiatplv
Gen. Bates. began his argument
to the jury by paying a tribute to
Shelby county's slain jailer. AS he
told Of the kindness, breadth Of Wis
ion and honest ruggedness of George
Reeves, the widow, who had been
composed up to this time, broke into
quiet sobs at the mention of her five
fatherless children.
Former State Senator L. 3. Gwinn,
for the defense, followed Bates and
conducted masterful review of the
evidence and points of law in the
case. Mr.. Gwinn rose to melodra-
matte heights at times in his oratory
and when he had finished it was
plainly evident that he had impress
ed Jury,
Mr.. Gwinn was followed by Mr. J.
. B. Webb, for the defense. Mr.. Webb
appealed to the jurors to free his
client. He contended that the evil
dence did not warrant conviction be-
cause the indictment charged that
Mrs. Shaw "hired, moved, melted,
commanded and procured Hamilton,
Kelley and Shaw to kill and murder
George T. Reeves
When Webb had finished, Judge
Baptist ordered an adjournment until
1880 o'clock.
Acknowledgement W. L. Aber-
nathy started at TAO o'clock to con-
clude the states case and spoke until
500. He fiercelv arraigned the de-
PENDANT and warned the jurors that
they were not trying women like
those Of linton county. but woman
who chose highwavmen for her conn
panions He declared that she had |
permitted KELLEY and Edna Padgett
to live togeter in the same apartment
with her and her husband. knowing
that thew were unmarried. The
sneaker then laurched into denun-
citation Of Mrs, Shaw. picturing her
as a pal in crime with her husband,