The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-05-11

Judge Rules Accused Wom-
an Need Not Prove In
n0cence to Be Free


Sawyer the Jury need not find that
she has proved her innocence It
may give her her freedom u tt
finds that the state has not proved
her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
This was the giss Of the instyuo
tons given by Judge Edward c.
women and four men who are to
decide the fate Of the beautiful ~
year-old defendant accused Of murs
der In the second degree for shoot
ing her husband. Howard l. Sawyors
last May.
The court was not In sesa5o0
Wednesday morning until IL q q.
The Judge consumed the entire foro-
noon up TO that time preparing hi
instructions to the jury. After ho
had given them. court adjourned
until .. m. when closing address-
- TO the Jury win be made BY courr
sci on both sides-
The fate Of Mrs. Sawyer u a
pected TO rest with the jury ~
night
Against this charge q murdog
IN the second degree ve are ~
tempting to prove only one thfn9--
thas Arp. Sawyer aSfco n o
defenss when she shot hee -
banA Howard I. 0aWyr,s AttoenGY
walter 8 Fulton informed ~
the court Tuesday afternoon
RI AN NOT INSANE
SAYS PRETTY DEFENDANT
Deputy Prosecutor T. H. Psttsg>
son recalled that the insanity plea
was still In the case aitho NO Wit
ncsscs had touched upon II
Judge Edward c. Mills, Of Wal1a
Walla. presiding at the trial. ruled
the plea might be withdrawn II Ma
Sawyer requested 1t herself
The pretty defendant. sombex1y
but richly clad. stepped forward
Il am not insane and I have ne4
been insane at any time" she satA
Il wish to withdraw the plea"
Tho action followed an afternoca
Of testimony in which is witnesses
for the defense participated
Mrs. Sawyer herself left the VI
ness stand at ls5o p. m. her exnmt
nation having consumed exactly tn
hours and IS minutes
"Whcre did you meet Sawyerfs
Deputy Prosecutor Patterson asked
at the opening Of the afternoon -
sion
In the writing room Of the Savoy
Hotel" she replied He gave -
GONE paper"
You told him you were alone -
the world?"
Here the attorneys passed wup0o
over the legitimacy Of the question
and the court asked counsel to r.
frain from remarks.
Mrs Sawyer then answered: 'sYogs
She repeated that she had not
aimed at q vital spot when she firod
but meant only TO his his arm q
leg.
Attorney Fulton took up the quss-
tioning.
DECIDED WE WE'RE
MARRIED BEFORE GOD
You have told the prosecutor y6a
decided to lie as Sawyer's wife two
weeks before the marriage ceremony
was performed. Explain IT.
Sawyer told me the legal require
ment Of six months had not elapsed
after his divorce. don't know why
! let him persuade me. but we de-
cided we were married before God"
What did you mean" asked Pat
terson, when you told Sawyer you
were alone in the world?"
II only had a mother. q sister ana
a stepfather. l couldn't depend %
him."
You only had a mother?.
"She was not with me and coul0
not take care OF me-"
The mother. Mrs. Earl Wrighter q
Vancouver, b. c.. who had wept with
her daughter during her ordeal on
the stand. was later called as a wit
ness.
She testified she had stayed two
nights with the Sawyers on their
houseboat on Lake Union. where
the quarrel which precipitated the
tragedy began.
Ibid you notice that her hus-
band beat herr" asked Fulton.
"I saw bruises on Madge's body
and across the chest and hip"
ibid you think your daughter
was In delicate condition."
II was quite convinced. ] tried
to get her to come home with me
but she said her husband bad
promised to reform
Deputy Prosecutor Patterson let
the witness go without cross az
animation. -
Fulton called DH'Don TT Palmer
and DIR. G. Sherman Peterkin. who
testified concerning the mania
whkh Mrs. Sawyer had said af.
Pruss. In I All Pare Cnlumn n