The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-11-20
Jury LIBERATES
ACCUSED WOMAN
Annabelle Edwards Freed
on Charge of Kill
ING Her Husband
CHARACTERS ATTACKED
Testimony Offered Through
out Trial Impunged Both
Husband and His Wife

"a, Associated Press state wire.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. io.--
Annabella Edwards. 23-year-old
widow. was acquitted today OF the
murder OF her husband. billy" Ed
wardA After being out since 3.30
oclocx yesterday afternoon the
nry announced it's verdict OF not
guilty at II o'clock this morning
Announcement OF the verdict end
"a eight days OF sensational trial,
4 AZ outstanding feature OF which
4 vas accusations from the witness
sand that city and county officials
had accepted bribes to protect the
slain man in alleged extensive
gambllng operations. These alleEa-
lions however. were not substan-
thted and were denied in formal
statements by the officials in
yolyed
Lived IN Icnr OF Husband
Edwards was shot by his wNe in
their apartment here on February
81. last Mrs. Edwards pleaded
self-dcfpnse and her attorneys intro
show that many physical encoun-
iers had occurred between her and
her husband with the result that she
iycd IN fear Of him.
The testimony introduced was in
large part a tale OF alleged law vio-
lations both on the part OF the de-
iendant and the dead man. Mrs.
Edwards testified that he had oper-
1A,ted gambling houses here and in
4 Ranger Texas. other testimony
linked her name with that OF an al
egd bootlegger here and accused
her Of being associated with him In
his business on a $3.50 basis.
Charges OF immortality and inf
deity Of both husband and wife
we're made In testimony introduced.
Dying Statement Introducck
An alleged dying statement which
the state declared was made by Ed
wards was introduced. II accused
Mrs. Edwards OF shouting him while
he was bending over a grip which
he was packing in their apart ment
and Of making an effort to force
him to drink poison after being
shot
The accusations against local Of
ficials were made by Mrs. Edwards
on direct examination. she refused
TO repeat them, when cross exam
med.
The scene in the courtroom was
tense when the jury returned its
! findings. The large crowd, which
lad been growing restless while
waiting for the verdict and wan
dsred into tho corridors and offices
near the courtroomr rapidly reas-
snbled when IL was noised about
that the jury was ready to report.
The defendant and her chief coun-
SEX Moman Prueitt. were not in the
courtroom when the jury sent In
word they had reached n verdict.
Judge Edward y. Oldtield instruct
Cd balliff to summon them at once
ana there was a strained delay while
the court awaited their arrival.
Mrs. Edwards entered the room
WIN her mother and an aunt and
took her place at the counsN table.
-tshe was visibly nervous and ap-
peared very fatigued. She carried a
punch Of red and white roses in her
hand.
Smiles Then Eaints.
As the verdict was announced she
Il smiled talntly and then tainted.
several minutes elapsed before
she was revived.
Il another sensation followed lmmc-
Itely after the announcement of
"a Averdict when J. u. Johnson. one
II Clhe most important witnesses for
Ae state, was arrested in the CORR