San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-04
Verdict Of Manslaughter and
Suspended Sentence Re-
suit Of Trial.
SON FACES CHARGES
What Result Jury's AsSon
Will Have on Boys Case
Is Problematical.

Alter deilberating four hours ana
forty minutes, a jury in the Forty-fifth
District Court Saturday afternoon re-
turned verdict of guilty of man
slaughter in the case of Mrs. Pearl
Stowe, charged by indictment with the
murder of her husband, George Stowe,
on the morning of May II, last year.
The jury assessed the punishment of
Mrs. Stowe at five years in the state
penitentiary, with the recommendation
that she be granted Q suspended SEN
tence. Following the verdict, Mrs.
Stowe was released on her own rec
ognizance, with the stipulation that she
would remain free during good be-
hayior.
The case was given TO the jury at
IL 20 Saturday morning. Failing TO
reach an agreement by noon, the jury
was taken TO lunch and resumed its de-
liberations shortly after / o'clock. 1t
was not until a few minutes before 4
O'Clock, however, that an agreement was
rpachel and The court potified. Attof-
summoned and the jury brought into
the courtroom and the verdict read.
Verdict Was q Compromise.
The verdict Of guilty Of lnanslaugh-
ter was distinct surprise TO those who
bad followed the case. The fact that
the state had failed TO prove posi-
lively that Mrs. Stowe was on the scene
at the time Of the killing, when her son,
Hugh, according to his own admis-
sion at the examining trial, shot his
father, was believed by many to fore.
cast an acquittal. Hugh had stated
at the examining trial that he fired
the fatal shots in defense Of his mother,
who he believed to be in danger.
Reports at the courthouse were TO the
effect that the jury on its first ballot
stood seven for acquittal and five for
conviction on the charge Of murder. A
second ballot is reported TO have
changed the vote to eight TO four. The
five-year suspended sentence agreement
is reported to have been reached as a
compromise.
Court Prevents Demonstration.
Judge Tayloe, before the jury had
been brought in, warned the closely
packed courtroom that no demonstra-
ton would be permitted, no matter
what the verdict might be. As result
there was not a sound when the clerk
of the court, after considerable fumb-
ling among the papers handed in by
Foreman Shelton V. HOslip, read the
verdict. Mrs. Stowe and her son,
Hugh. who is to be tried this week on
n similar charge, showed absolutely no
emotion when the verdict was read. The
son, however, held a whispered CONVEX
sation with William Schlessinger, at
torney for his mother, after the clerk
had finished reading the verdict.
Assistant District Attorney w. 5.
Anthony rewrote the verdict, which did
not conform strictly to the legal re-
quirements in regard to the reasons
given for the suspended sentence recon-
The rewritten document was
then handed to the foreman of the jury
for his signature and the twelve men
held up their hands in token that it met |
with their approval.
Following the reading OF the verdict, |
Mrs. Stowe was required TO stand and
take an oath to conform TO the require !
ments Of the suspended sentence law, |
in order that she might go free.
"You are discharged" Judge s. G.
Tayloe pronounced, when the woman |
had taken the oath.
Mrs. Stowe Thanks Jurors.
Ao Nut jury liitu puN lhAos oNvNN /
yrasped each mans hand, evidently
grateful for the verdict which meant
her freedom, although it did not en-
tirely clear her of the charge of be-
ng instrumental in her husbands death.
She was given a reception by friends as
the passed out of the courtroom and
seemed happy over the outcome of her
rial. ....
What bearing the verdict returned by
he jsry Saturday will have on the
outcome of the trial Of Hugh, her son,
S question which is uppermost in the
minds of those who have followed the
rial of Mrs. Stowe. 1t had been con-
identity expected that she would be ac-
quilted and that her testimony would
&c instrumental in securing acquittal for
Ter son. 1t was for this reason, it is
that Mrs. Stowe was tried
irst. Hugh. as well as the many
women friends of the defendant, pre-
'ented solemn faces when the YER
let was read. II
History Of the Case. II
Mrs. Stowe went TO trial last Mon
ay on an indictment charging her with
nurder. Testimony was introduced by
he state in an effort to show that she
nd her sons had entered into a plot to
ill the husband and father 1t was
rought OUT that Stowe had been shot