Evening star., 1934-03-04
DR.. DEAN IS FREED
ON BOND OF $4,000
New Trial Is Asked After
Woman Gets Life
Sentence.
~ the Associated Press.

Dy the Associated Press.
GREENWOOD, Miss. March s.
Convicted Of murder and sentenced to
life Imprisonment earlier today, DR..
Sarah Ruth Dean this afternoon won
her fight to remain free on $4,000
bond pending court action on a mo-
ton for new trial.
The court granted 80 days for
preparation of arguments on the mo-
ton for a new trial.
A jury today returned q guilty ver-
dict against DR.. Dean for the murder
OF her admirer, DR.. John Preston
Kennedy.
The verdict, representing q rejec-
ton Of the woman physicians sworn
testimony that she did not poison
Kennedy with a whisky highball,
came after Is hours and 81 minutes
Of deliberation.
The trial lasted five weeks.
New Trial Asked.
As the defendant strove to keep the
stole calm she had maintained almost
throughout the trial and CROPPED her
way to a waiting room to sob out of
earshot of the crowded court room,
her attorneys quickly entered mo-
ton for a new trial
The motion was argued during the
afternoon.
In sharp contrast to the quick in
take of breath which marked the re-
ception by DR.. Dean, her relatives
and attorneys of the verdict, men,
bers OF the Kennedy family, which
had employed special prosecutors to
aid the district attorney in pressing
the poison charge against the So
year-old baby specialist, expressed
pleasure at the jury's finding.
Three Ballots Taken.
The jury took three ballots, the
first last night being nine three
for conviction, the next this morning
standing II to l and the last unani-
nous for conviction without capital
punishment. Having agreed on guilt
and rejected death verdict, the jury
had no choice but to prescribe life
imprisonment.
DR.. Dean on the stand hatly denied
that she had poisoned Kennedy or
had even been with him on the night
OF July 81, 1888, when he was stricken
with a strange illness which claimed
his life 10 days later. Her testimony
was that she had loved both Kennedy
and Capt. Franklin c. Maull, ship
pilot of Lewes, Del. She said she had
no motive for harming Kennedy be-
cause she had broken her engagement
to him in order to marry Maull at
the time Kennedy was stricken.
Maull, during the trial, was quoted
in Philadelphia as denying he and
Ruth were engaged. He never ap-
peared at the trial.
The State attempted to show that
DR. Dean had been spurped by Ken
nedy when Kennedy planned to re-
wed his divorced wife.
If Capt. Maull had appeared to
testify for DR.. Dean, I undoubtedly
would have changed my verdict said
Juror w. L. Stephens this Afternoon.
"As it was, felt her story of her
engagement was not sincere"
Judge Asks Proof.
Judge s. F. Davis readily granted
the defense plea for go days to pre-
pare new trial arguments, but asked
for proof that Ruth Dean should not
be held In Greenwood Jail in the
meantime"
DR.. Dean, the attorneys, the judge
and several physicians then retired to
the judges chambers. Court attaches
said the physicians testified there
that DR.. Deans health was such that
an extended period in Jail might prove
serious.
Prior to the executive session. De-
fense Attorney ]. J. Breland pleaded
for DR.. Deans release.
Fred Witty, special prosecutor as
sisting the State. argued against the
defense move. He declared the court
could observe she Is good health"
Thanks Press, Lawyers.
When Judge Davis had overruled
the State and continued the $4,000
bond, DR.. Dean started out of the
court room with her relatives and then
turned back to the press table, hand
ing out a prepared statement.
Il had 1t written last night but
had to change it up a little after this
morning" she said, smiling weakly.
The statement read:
Il want to say a word of apprecia-
Gon for my lawyers. an appreciation
Of their keen and brilliant minds and
Of their untiring efforts in my behalf
and Of their unquestioned integrity
throughout this persecution I want
to say that I am grateful for the love
and loyalty of my family and friends
consider that the press representa-
tives have been as kind as possible
under the circumstances and I appre-
ciate their consideration