Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1922-11-28 | Page 7 | Widow Denies Part in Killing

WIDOW DENIES PART IN KILLING Contradicts Farm Hand Who Confessed to Murder Plot BURLINGTON. Ia.. Nov. 2S Taking Tak-ing the stand In her own defense. Mrs. Katharine Shurtz. charged Jointly with; ' George Leroy Spees. self-confessed Imurderer of Mrs. Shurtz' husband, J.j V Shurtz. the womun Monday flatly 'denied entering Into any plan or conspiracy con-spiracy with Spees to kill Shurtz. Her testimony was largely denial of that previously given by young Specs, the state's star wltni ms, Mrs. Shurtz denied that she had everj been In love with or shown any affection affec-tion for the youth, but admitted that at one time he hud taken her In his arm3 and kissed her She did not tell her husband, the .ns because Spees had threatened to kill her if she told, i and this. She testified, was the reason, nho did not show her husband the letter let-ter sho had received from Spees. threatening her husband's life Alsoi her fear of him made her refrnln from a-ilnK the officers any aid when, the morning following the murder they1 sought a clue as to the murderer and a motive for the deed. She maintains that, although she was In an ordinal sized bedroom when a shotgun was; used to blow off th. top of her hus-l band's head, she did not hear the shot nor did she know that Spees was In tho house that night Rebuttal testimony testi-mony IS expected to occupy th greater great-er part of today's session of the court and the case will probably be given to the jury Wednesday. III! - -