The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1927-01-14
WOMAN FREED.
in WASHINGTON
MURDER CASE.
Judge Instructs Jury to Return
Verdict of "Not Guilty" at
Conclusion of Evidence

Mrs. Mamie Phelps, widow
George w. Phelps, merchant
and farmer of Skinnersville,
Washington County, won her
of Geo. w. Phelps, merchant
Plymouth yesterday. At the
conclusion of the evidence,
Judge Num- directed a verdict
of "Not Guilty" Mrs. Phelps
was charged with the murder
of her husband.
Mrs. Lula Prltchard, daughter of
Mrs Phelps by a former husband
was held as a material witness, but
was freed Wednesday. on motion
of Solicitor Don Gillian. The
death of Phelps took place at his
home on the night Of Sunday, Dec.
rmber 81. The mystery Of who shot
him may never be solved. 1t is
hard Job to convict Il person of
murder before q Washington COun-
ty jury.
Rut Mrs. Phelps was indicted for
the crime because neighbors say
she had had many quarrels with
her husband because of his inti-
macy with other women. and when
IA cOlored woman who had worked
in the Phelps household. named her
baby George Phelps, more trouble
started. There was n reason III
naming the baby George Phelps, 1t
is said. Anyway. Phelps soon met
his death. Washington County Of
ficials didn't believe that the course
of the bullets bore out Mrs. Phelps
contention that her husband was
shot from outside the room. but,
il was hard to construct strong
case against her, she had strong
legal talent, and the evidence didn't
Justify her conviction, in the opin-
ion of Judge Num-.
A Sensational. Case s,eS @4.r---r
Despite the snow and ice that
gripped the section hundred of
Washington County people flocked
to Plymouth, and packed the mar
row courtroom to hear the evidence.
Here was a woman. and her daugh-
ter by former husband arrigned
for the death of the husband and
step father.
Miss Lula Pritchard. the daugh-
ter. who was acquitted on Wednes-
day: and Mrs. Mamie Phelps wife
of the dead. man, were Jointly in
dicted for the crime. Mrs. Phelps
insisted on the stand that there
had been no recent trouble between
herself and her late husband. She
said the only trouble occurred some
time ago when she had accused him
of improper relations with a negro
woman. and had started to Norfolk,
to begin divorce proceedings, but
had abandoned the intention, after
Phelps, and his son and daughter
had pleaded with her to do so.
Said He Was Drunk
The widow told on the stand
that on the night Phelps was kill
ed, he had come home drunk, and
took her coat from her, when she
had set out for the home of Graham
a neighbOr. She said he
sat down and held her coat to keep
her from going, but she got another
coat and went to join her daugh-
ter was was awaiting her OH the
porch.
1t was then, Mrs. Phelps told the
court, that she heard pistol, and
going into the house, she found
her husband with a wound in his
temple and an automatic pistol Oh
the floor at bis feet. She said he !
gaspcd twice, and died.
w. L. Alexander, who was pass
ing the house at the time, was call
ed in. lie corrOborated the evil
tlence of Mrs. Phelps. But wit
ncsscs introduced by the state, told
that Mrs. Phelps at that time, said
she was tusseling with her husband,
and someone fired thru the window
and killed him. On the stand, Mrs.
Phelps denied having made the
statement at that time.
DR.. John w. Speisht Of Roper,
was called to testify to his opinion
that Phelps had suffered from ner-
vousness and alcoholic insanity.
DR.. Speight had been called to at
tend Phelps one night about three
weeks before his death. A. B. Wal
ston of Elizabeth City, who was a
visitor in the home at that time,
was an important witness for the
defense, and told on the stand that
Phelps seemed melancholy.