Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1921-11-10
MRS. SOUTHARD.
GUILTY MURDER.
SECOND DEGREE
Jury Convicts Woman of Poi
soning Fourth of Five
Husbands

Guilty of murder An the second degree
was the verdict returned by jury
in district court at Twin Falls last
Friday against Mrs. LYDIA Southland,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. w. j. True
blood, who formerly resided on a
ranch near Ferdinand. Mrs. Southland
was convicted of poisoning her fourth
husband, Edward F. Meyer.
Mrs. Southland was on Monday SEN
fenced by Judge Babcock, of the dis
trict court at Twin Falls, to from ten
years to life Imprisonment in the state
penitentiary at Boise.
With her eyes shifting from the
jurors to the clerk of the district court,
Mrs. Southland, the woman who lost
in her battle for freedom, listened
without emotion to the verdict.
The jury was out twenty three hours
and sevnteen minutes. 1t is said on the
first ballot after retiring for delibera-
ton Thursday afternoon the jurors
stood IL to l for a verdict of guilty
Of murder in the first degree as charged
in the information. The decision f.
nally arrived at was compromise
verdict between the eleven jurors and
the one who had from the start OPP
posed the maximum penalty.
HER FEATURES ARE ASHEN
The features of the woman who now
faces punishment for the crimes laid
at her door grew ashen as the Judge
in slow tones called the court to or
der.
Beside her was the fifth and sur
viving husband, Paul V. Southland,
with features tense and eyes glaring
uneasily. He who had heralded her
innocence with confidence from the
day he arrived in Twin Falls sat
there chilled and numbed with fear
his wife end companion of but a few
months would be meted the dreaded
punishment.
The cheering of carefree youths at
the high school football game, float
ing into the court room, was in
sharp contrast to the stirring drama
being enacted within.
The humble parents of the convict
ed girl were not at their daughter IS
side in the court room as the
prison verdict was read. 1t was they
who, with tear stained and saddened
features, bad mustered courage to ap-
pear before their townsfolks in the
court room Thursday to lend moral
support TO their child IS last effort to
free herself from the murder charge.
Nor were her sisters or brothers with
her during her hours of need.
The court room hushed to silence as
Judge Babcock asked the jury:
"Gentlemen, have you reached al
verdict"
WITCH OF MUSCLES
A nervous twitch gripped the facial
of the defendant as the
words were spoken. Her
attitude conveyed that same bearing
Of forced confidence and self-posses-
sion which she had maintained
throughout the grilling days of the
trial.
Yes, your honor" answered the
foreman of the jury. The small slip
of paper as handed to the judge, |
who carefully read it and passed it on,
its contents unannounced, to the clerk
Of the court for recording.
Then came the verdict.
"We find the defendant guilty of
murder in the second degree, as charged
IN the information.
"Oh,'' gasped the women in the
.hambers as the clerk reached the
vord guilty" in the verdict, as they
.ealized the fight of the state had
leen won.
Mrs Southland, apparently uncon-
erned about the fate she faces, chat
ed for brief time with her husband
md then retired, to her cell in the
Twin Falls "roof garden'' Jail.