Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-21
JURY HOLDS FATE
OF MAI. SHEPARD
Army officer Accused of Muir
dering His Wife, Hears Clos
ing Trial Arguments.
ny the Associated Press.

Dy the Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY, Kans., December 20
The jury in the case of Maj. Charles
A. Shepard, accused of the poison muir
der of his wife, retired for the night
at 1908 pm.
The Jurors retired to deliberate al
3:58 pm. after being charged by Judge
Richard j. Hopkins.
They were instructed that three ver-
diets could be returned-acquittal, con-
viction of first degree murder without
Recommendation, which means DEATH
and conviction without capital pun
ishment."
"Other Woman on Hand.
District Attorney Sardius M. Brew
ster In making the prosecutions final
plea declared that Shepard had put
away" his wife because she stood In
the way of his love for Miss Grace
Brandon, blonde stenographer of San
Antonio, who was a Government wit
ness in the trial.
Harry S, Glass of Denver chief OF
defense counsel, told the jury that
Shepard had been "crucified' by the
Government in what he termed a
trumped-up case of circumstantial eW-
dence.
Onhcers and officers wives. many OF
them intimate acquaintance of the
Shepards, we're among the 100 Wit
nesses to testify concerning circum-
stances surrounding the death OF Mrs.
Shepard at Fort Riley, Kans, June
is, 1929.
It was the Governments contention
that Mai. Shepard and Miss Brandon
were engaged secretly in the Fail OF
1928 that they werN openly engaged
O month after Mrs. Shepard's death.
Love Affairs Barred
The defense replied that Shepard did
not become engaged until October,
1929, and that the majors gifts to
Miss Brandon prior to his wife's death,
including jewelry, flowers, murder mys-
terry novels and a canary, were prompt
ed only by his friendly admiration"
for the recipient.
Miss Brandon, tall and blonde, was
q striking figure as the "other woman"
She characterized the major as per
feet gentleman" and related she still
had a motor car jewelry and clothing
he had given her.
Mrs. Shepard was portrayed by de-
tense witnesses as e woman of many
moois. The witnesses testified she
drank to excess, suffered from poor
teeth and was subject to periods of de-
a mental ailment to which her mother
fell victim
The major, a tuberculosis specialist,
who entered the service in the World
war, apparently viewed the proceed
ings calmly.
His habitual calm was broken twice
on the witness stand. He wept as he
related how his wife, a divorce and
nurse, whom he married in Los Angeles
in 1915. drank on their honeymoon. He
sobbed as he told the court Mrs. Shep-
ard was a narcotic addict. He was
calm again as he asserted he and Mrs.
Shepard had not lived together as man
and wife for six years preceding her
death.
Evidence Often Disputed.
Circumstant!al evidence, often identi-
cal, supported the contentious Of both
sides.
DR. Winslow A. Rose. Army dentist,
prescribed a mouthwash containing
poison for Mrs Shepard. The Govern
ment asserted she could not have alb
sorbed sufficient poison to kill the de-
Tense asserted she could Rave.
Witnesses ranged in rank from Mai.
Gen. M. w. Ireland, surgeon general of
the United States Army, to Pvt. Robert
w. Crawford, colored striker" The
general told of Maj. Shepard's appeal
for q transfer to San Antonio while in
Los Angeles with the body Of his wife.
Crawford difhdently denied he knew
the Fort Riley bootlegger from whom he
said he bought liquor for his mistress.
The trial, Federal court attaches es-
timated. cost the Government more
than S15o,00 Defense costs, exclusive
of attorneys fees. were estimated by
Shepard's counsel at about $1,000.