The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-12-15
elsie SALISBURY IS
ACQUITTEDBYJURY
Montevideo Girl Cleared of
Murder Charge
TOOK FIVEBALLOTS
Freed Woman Going To Califor,
MIA To Recuperate From
Trial Strain.
TAssoclated Press Dispatch.l

ASSOCIATED treSS DISPATCH
Monteyideo, Mimi, December IL
Miss Elsie Salisbury was cree wo-
man today and enroute 10 Minneap-
oils with her mother and sister fol-
lowing her acquittal of a murder
charge by a jury here last night.
Miss Salisbury plans TO spend a
few days in Minneapolis before go
ing to California to recuperate from
the strain OF the trial and events
following the shooting of Oscar Err
ickson here last April 81 with which
she was charged.
Five Ballots Were Taken.
The jury obtained the case at 4:55
p. m. yesterday and returned YER
dict four hours later after taking five
ballots. Arguments of the state and
defense took up most of yesterdays
session. The state commended that
the shooting was premediated to
ayenge an alleged wrong while the
defense took the stand that it was
accidental through the sudden dis
charge of a pistol in Miss Salisbury's
hands.
Fell Into Mothers Arms
The verdict was returned at S:45
p. NJ. by the jury which heard the
charge against her OF shooting Os-
car Erickson, fellow employe in
the local offices OF the St Paul
read, April 81.
When the clerk Of court said
mot" not guilty-the girl defendant
cried ''0h, my God" and fell into
her mothers arms.
Thus ended the most sensational
murder trial in the history of Chip
pewa county and one OF the most
outstanding cases ever brought in
a Minnesota court.
Miss Salisbury's attorneys were
instructed to bring the defendant
TO the court room when it was an
nounced at SIS p. NJ. that a verdict
had been reached after three and
one half hours elaboration.
Members of the jury did not take
their usual places in the box. but
lined along the wall of the room.
Gentlemen. have you reached a
verdict?" Judge Qvale asked.
Eyes, sir, we have, &C. r. c. Blum
of Milan, foreman Of the jury an
swered-
Eyes Filled With Tears
Miss Salisbury, her eyes filled
with tears and her hands clasped in
those of her mother and sister, who
had been with her constantly through
the trial leaned forward in her
chair as the clerk took the slip of
paper from Foreman Blum and read
he verdict which meant her free
dom.
asked that the girl be delivered to
The farms OF her old, gray mother
and she was.
Only a small crowd was present
when the verdict was given. Most of
those present seemed pleased. They
congratulated members of the jury
whom they knew Miss Salisbury
and her mother thanked each juror.
The jurors declared that the first
ballot was eleven for acquittal and
one for conviction of second de-
gree murder. Five. ballots were TAX
en- and on the fifth all were for ac
q1ittal. ....-
Miss Salisbury Immediately left
the courtroom for her hotel where
friends called to congratulate her.
;, She left for Minneapolis for few
days at IL P. NJ. She will leave
Minneapolis soon, going to Califor-
MIA with her mother.
-tOh, ] knew it was So she de,
elared after reaching her hotel. 81
just knew it would be so--it could =
MT be anything else. | am so happy
/ don't know what to do. Oh, what
a wonderful feeling"
The defense was prepared to move
fer arrest OF judgment and new
trial in case of a conviction. They
would have appealed TO the SUI
preme court in case the motions
were denied.
Miss Salisbury is former resident
of Amboy, ythis county, she having
been born there.