Salt Lake Telegram | 1916-02-05 | Page 1 | Mrs. Mohr's Fate is in Hands of Jury

I MRS MOHR'S FATE I IS IN HANDS OF JURY Court Orders Separate Verdicts Verdicts Verdicts Ver Ver- for Woman and Two Negroes HEALIS IS A PUZZLE Judge Says It Is Fair Fai to c cAsk Ask How Much Truth I He Told PROVIDENCE R. R I. I Feb 5 The The case of Mrs Elizabeth F. F Mohr Cecil Brown and Henry H. H Spellman charged with the murder mur mur- der of Dr C. C Franklin Mohr the the womans woman's husband was given to the Jury at 10 45 today Judge Stearns In his charge to the jury declared that It was their duty if if they concluded the state had proved Its its its' case to say guilty whatever the consequences consequences con con- sequences in each case or In any case Warns Against Prejudice The law Jaw recognizes no color no creed the court said Pay no regard to the fact that one defendant Is a 2 woman and two are colored d men They are three citizens on trial and I charge you not to allow any prejudice or feeling feeling feeling feel feel- I ing excepting an honest desire to do doI I impartial Justice to enter your minds The law in regard to principals In Ina ina a crime the court explained Is this Where any persons are present aiding and abetting in the actual commission I of ot a crime crime in in this case it Is murder murder- they are equally guilty with those wh who actually commit the crime Mrs Mohr 1 has been indicted as an accessory be before before be- be fore the fact tact It If you find she hired aided procured or assisted one or both bothof bothof bothof of the other defendants she is guilty c Judge Stearns then explained the degree of proof necessary to convict saying Orders' Orders Three Verdicts All AIl three defendants are indicted together but you will bring In three verdicts The verdicts will be indi indi- vidual as s though there had e s 's f T f The court asserted that under the law an accessory cannot annot be convicted fed unless one or both of the principals Is found and therefore that It was logical that the Jury first determine whether Brown and Spellman were guilty Discussing the testimony of George Healis Dr Mohr's lohrs chauffeur who turned states state's evidence the court said the reliance to be placed on his bis story rested with the Jurors Healis Is a 3 puzzling figure in this case said the Judge It Is a fair fall question how mu much h hof of his statement is true and how much Is Is false The court said no confession w was s made by Mrs 1 Mohr 1 but that according accordIng according accord accord- ing to the state she he had made threats against her husband It was for tor the Jury to determine the value of these alleged threats Inasmuch as confessions are only to tobe tobe be 3 taken as against the persons making makIng makIng mak mak- ing them it was also pointed out the alleged confessions of Brown and Spellman were not to be considered d das as against Mrs Mohr