The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-12
Ry w. c. RowIcK

Denying that she Is in any way implicated In the murder of Festus Hughes. Tuscaloosa merchant, who was slain at his late residence on the night of February IT, last, Mrs. He's ter Hughes stood behind prison bars yesterday and again related in de- tail how she says her husband was slain for his money by a burglar who
 escaped from a window after the family was aroused by report of the firing.
 Mourning the loss of her husband and clad in pretty black silk street dress, Mrs. Hughes casually gripped the prison bars at the city prison as she told of the crime for which she is charged, which charges were brought by parents of the slain man, who Saturday effected her arrest after she had left Tuscaloosa last week.
 The pretty young mother and widow, woman of apparent refine ment, talked freely of what she pro- fessed to know of the case, evidenc- ing no outward signs of nervousness, but with eyes which she says have not closed since she was taken into custody 24 hours before. and going through the telling ordeal of rigid examinations by investigators. she bore well for her physical condition. She Is a woman of 25, being 10 years her dead husbands junior, a bru- nette with features changed perhaps none the less for the sorrow which has doubtless been her lot since she lost the companionship for the man whom she declares she loved.
 Life Burden Since Tragedy
 'I never knew I could live with out him." she said. land life has been a burden since, but they have taken him from me through cold-blooded murder-and that is just exactly what it was. l didn't know he had any enemies in the world but one, still the man who escaped from the back window as I screamed could not have been the man.
 And why they should charge me with the dastardly deed, I have but one reason to advance and that is so the grandparents of Paul could take him from me by first getting me out of the way by this terrible charge. did not kill him and I don't believe that they think 1 did it." she reiter- ated.
 Were the grandparents of your son, Paul, attached to him?' the young mother was asked.
 "Yes, they were. and are devoted to him and now want to take him from me. They were apparently de- voted to all of us until I saw they were attempting to undermine me be- fore my only child and my friends. never dreamed that they would
 have turned from me so cruelty un- til a lady friend repeated to me some
 things that my mother-in -law circu- lated about me. Then l decided l would leave such queer people and
 come to my sister. whom I knew was true to me-"
 On the night of the killing. Mrs. Hughes declared, her husband re- turned home from the store and plae- ing his money box with the days receipts, together with his revolver.
 on the dresser, paused before retir- ing to smoke cigarette. He usually placed the weapon under his pillow, she explained, and the money box under the bed until the following
 morning. The revolver with which
 Festus Hughes was slain was identi- fled as his own.
 Slain While Asleep "The burglar shot my husband after he had probably turned from "a rest less position as he slept" said Mrs. Hughes, He didn't sleep very sound1y and when he changed his position, the burglar doubtless thought he was be- ing observed and grasping the re- volyer. slew him.
 .'The report startled me and when
 I awakened screamed before I knew