Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-03-09
Mrs. Elizabeth Cordes
H Was Charged With
/ Shooting Man
ON STAND AN HOUR
Story of Woman is Un-
shaken-Holds up I'm
der Severe Strain Re-
markably Well.

Mrs. Elizabeth Cordes, charged
with the fatal shooting of Bern
ard A. Ehrmantraut of Washing
ton, which took place the after
noon of December 81 at the home
of Mrs. Cordes, 8l5 Oronoco
street, and from the effects OF
which Ehrmantrout died IN q
Washington hospital January 10
was acquitted by jury in the
corporation court yesterday after
noon. The jury was out but ten
minutes when they returned with
their verdict. Immediately after
the verdict Mrs. Cordes after be-
ing congratulated by her counsel
and number of relatives
the courtroom a free woman
companied by her husband.
1t was exactly 5:35 o'cl'cs
when the jury walked into fe
Jury room after they had lis n-
ed to the final arguments in he
case. In ten minutes a kr G.
came on the door of the iI1
room and Sergeant, X. II.
responded and he announced
Judge Howard ". Smith that
Jury was ready to report.
In the meantime Mrs. Cor G
who occupied a seat in the laat
of the inclosure of the c, FL
room, walked forward and
beside her counsel. Her face 's
drawn and she appeared a t FL,
nervous. She bit her lips '
listened closely as David n. ] f'-
fish, foreman, read the yer, .
that they found her not guilty.
A big broad smile illuminated
her .eountenance and congratula-
tions followed.
The woman appeared greatly
pleased. for throughout the af-
ternoon it was thought that she
would swoon, especially after she
had testified, she having been or
the stand exactly one hour and
was subjected to a severe cross
examination by Commonwealth's
attorney William p. WOolls.
Never once, however, did Mrs.
Cordes falter in her testimony
and at times she appeared extre-
mely nervous, toying with her
handkerchief and a string of
oearIs around her neck. Her story
IN the main could not be shaken
and she repeated the circum-
stances over and over again,
never once varying as to the hap
oenings on the afternoon of the
shooting.
According to the testimony of
Mrs. Cordes she had known Ehr-
mantraut for the past three
years and he was extremely
Jealous of her. On one occasion
Ehrmantraut after she moved
from Washington TO Alexandria
went into a bathroom Of house
IN North Alfred street and turned
On the gas and appeared to be
unconscious when she discovered
him. Witness said she threw
water on his face and he came
too.
On another occasion she testl-
fed Ehrmartraut accused her of
being out with her own hus-
band. The woman further testi-
fed that when she showed Ehr-
mantraut a letter written her ny
her husband Ehrmantraut said
You must nave been mighty
nice or else he would not have
written it. The woman denied
that she had arranged to obtain
a divorce.
On New Years eve the after
noon the shooting occurred, she
said Ehrmantraut upon entering
her house said "Your husband IS
over on the corner" Before khr-
mantraut came up stairs, where
she was i'll with grippe. witness
aid she heard hammering, and
Ehrmantraut told her he was
mailing the windows. When she
told him she expected her hus-
band at 6 o'clock Ehrmantraut
she said remarked "We both Will
be dead According to Mrs.
Continued on page fiye)