Ogden Daily Standard | 1918-12-06 | Page 3 | Convict's Story Frees Girl of Murder Charge

CONVICT'S STORY FREES GIRL OF NURDES CHARGE NEW YORK, Dec. 5. Without tat ing the stand in her own defense, Elizabeth Eliz-abeth Baksa, the 19 year old Freo-mansburg, Freo-mansburg, Pa., girl on trial for the murder of her boarding house keeper here, Avas acquitted this afternoon at tho direction of Judge Hosalsky. When James Regan, Sing Sing convict con-vict called in rebuttal by the prosecution, prosecu-tion, persisted in his story as a witness wit-ness for the defense that he had killed Mrs. Helen Hamel last February, Febru-ary, afterward threatening Miss Bak-sa's Bak-sa's life Ahen she discovered the crime, tho court ruled that the evidence evi-dence need not be presented to tne Jury- "Thank God. they kneAv I was innocent," inno-cent," the youthful prisoner cried when Informed that she AAas free. After her sobs had subsided the girl declared she would return tomorrow to her Pennsyh'anla home, adding that "a countrv glrl has no business In Noav York." Judge Rosalsky created a most unusual un-usual situation after Miss Baksa had left the court room by asking the jury for its opinion as to AA'hat should be (done with Regan, who had "confessed" jto the murder of Mrs. Hamel. After a half an hour of conference the jurors I returned a "verdict" as follows: i "We do not believe the statements of j Regan op the stand. We do not be- lieve ho was ever in the house, nor j had he any connection Avith the mur- i der. We believe he committed perjury." per-jury." The jurors individually ascribed Regan's Reg-an's actions to a desire for "cheap notoriety." no-toriety." Judge Rosalsky announced he Avould , confer Avith the district attorney concerning con-cerning Avhat action should be takeu.