ACQUITTED.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18420, 29 June 1925, Page 10

ACQUITTED.

AMERICAN MURDER , CHARGE. (BY CABLE—BBBSSASSOCJATIOS—COPTBIGHT.) ]. (AUSTBALIAN AKD. K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) • (Received June 28th, 5.5 p.m.) j NEW YORK, June 27.. ; Shepherd ,"was acquitted at-Chicago, on a charge of murdering "William McClihtock, and a. charge murdering McCliniock's. mother wea withdrawn and Shepherd set free. All the evidence during the trial, which lasted six weekß, was only circumstantial, and the prosecution admitted that the testimony of its chief witness; Faiman, was unreliable. During deliberations, lasting five and a-half hours, only one juror favoured the niinjmuin murder punishment.' - The others advojcated acquittal. ' Nino cousins of JlcOlintook will [contest the bestowal of the million dollars estate on .Shepherd, alleging that hj& used undue influence in the preparation of the will, which was'drawn up by Shepherd. At the. trial Miss Isabelle Pope, McClintiock'B fiancee, tfestifitod that Shepherd delayed the marriage ceremony for fear of losing the settlement. She admitted that McClintock's cousins agreed to split the benefits if the will were broken. When the (verdict was announced the Court became a bedlam of congratulations to Shepherd and flashlights boomed over the gesticulating, shouting crowd. [William Shepherd was charged with the murder of Wiuiam McUiintook, an orphan millionaire, aged 21 years, by inoculation with-typhoid germs. Tho prosecution alleged that the plot to obtain the fortune wbb hatched I*s years ago, when fiftiepherd administered mercury to' Emma McClintoclf, MoClintocK's mother, causing her death.J