"Razor Girl" Acquitted After Psychiatrist Says She Was Mentally Abnormal, July 21, 1926

“Razor Girl” Gets Freedom; Jury in Case Debated Long. . . Verdict Was Returned at 10:21 This Morning Following Deliberation of 41 Hours. . . Small Crowd Heard Verdict. . . Defendant Was Charged with Slaying Her Husband Several Weeks Ago at Charlotte

Charlotte, June 21 (AP)—Mrs. Nellie Freeman, admitted slayer of her youthful taxi driver husband, was found not guilty by a jury in Mecklenburg Superior Court today.

The verdict was heard at 10_21 a.m. today, 41 hours and 6 minutes after the case was given to the jury

. There was no demonstration by the small crowd in the court room when the announcement of the jury finding was made.

The trial of Mrs. Freeman followed the death of her husband, Alton, who died on the night of May 22nd. Mrs. Freeman told police at the time that she cut her husband’s throat with a razor when he threatened to desert her.

Freeman died shortly after she had slashed his throat.

The defense introduced testimony to the effect that the girl was mentally abnormal.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, July 21, 1926

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Nellie Freeman, Acquitted After Murdering Husband with Razor, Says She's "Through with Men Forever," July 21, 1926

Through With Men Forever

Charlotte, July 21 (AP)—With a fixed gaze and no sign of emotion, Nellie Freeman today walked from the Mecklenburg County courtroom, acquitted of a charge of murder in connection with the slaying of her husband.

The crowd that heard the verdict “not guilty” in the hushed silence of the court room made no demonstration. Yet as she walked down from the aisle with a set face that appeared wearied by the several days of trial, many of the spectators put forward their hand in sympathy.

Thirty minutes after she had been freed, the 20-year-old admitted razor slayer was in her mother’s embrace.

“I am through with men forever,” she said.

Talking to reporters, she added she had no plans for the future but that she would “care for no other” as long as she lives.

Mrs. Freman, who admitted that she killed her husband on the night of May 22, maintained that her action came when he threatened to desert her. Alienists testified that the girl was “mentally unsound.”

Crowds jammed the street as the girl came form the court room. With her attorneys she went to the offices of Jake F. Newell, chief counsel. Scores forced their way to them as they slowly made their way to the lawyer’s office, many shaking hands.

When they came to Mr. Newell’s office the crowd surged in. A number of men took crumpled currency from their pockets and forced it into the girl’s hand. For two hours the telephone in the lawyer’s office jangled news of congratulations from every section of the city.

Before she left the court room, however, Mrs. Freeman went over to the bench and clasped Judge Michael Schenck’s hand. She then hastily turned and left the room. She was clad in a simple white dress which matched her pale skin.

He added that the agreement came when one of the jurors arose during the morning and quoted: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

The three jurors who had held out on manslaughter then gave in, Mr. Smith said.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, July 21, 1926

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Testimony in Trial of Chain Gang Boss Accused of Killing two Negroes Continues, July 21, 1926

Cranford Defense Seeks to Off-Set Teeter Testimony. . . Mr. and Mrs. Dave Teeter Said Carl Meadows Was Treated Cruell by the Prison Boss. . . Former Guard Denies All. . . For First Time During the Trial There Were Few Vacant Seats in the Court Room Today

Albemarle, July 21 (AP)—Testimony was offered today in the trial of Nevin C. Cranford, former Stanly County convict boss, to show that Carl Meadows, negro, was ill for some time before he died, and was not required to perform strenuous labor.

This refutes testimony of the State in which Mr. and Mrs. Dave Teeter told the jury that meadows came to their home, broken in body and spirit, and died a few hours after they took him into their home.

J.L. Stoker of Thomasville, automobile mechanic, and former guard under Cranford, was the witness to testify of Meadows’ extended illness today.

He said that Cranford had made arrangement to send Meadows to his “people” in Wadesboro, and gave a guard money to buy the prisoner his railroad ticket.

For the first time since the trial began, there were few vacant seats when the trial got underway at 9:30 p.m.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, July 21, 1926

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Church Court Acquits Rev. Chappell after Visit to Brothel, July 21, 1926

Dr. Chappell Now in Asheville for His Regular Work. . . Having Been Acquitted of Charges of Immorality, Minister Returns Home to Resume Duties. . . Church Members Awaited Verdict. . . More Than 70 Were in Statesville for Trial and They Returned to Asheville with Him

Statesville, July 21 (AP)—Acquitted last night of charges of immorality, untruthfulness, and attempted bribery, Rev. Ashley Chappell, D.D., returned to Asheville to assume his duties as pastor of the fashionable Central Methodist Church.

Accompanying him were 70 members of his congregation who had come here for the trial before a church court of the western North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The came to Statesville to demonstrate their loyalty to Dr. Chappell, while the court decided he was guilty and should be dismissed from the pastorate, or innocent and returned as their minister.

When Dr. F.J. Prettyman of Gastonia, who presided at the trial, pronounced that the accused minister had not been found guilty, the members of his church who were present burst into cheers and gathered around their pastor and congratulated him upon his acquittal.

Then they sang “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.”

Editor's Note: Rev. Chappell was attending a meeting in Tennessee. He stopped by an brothel to adjust his truss and the police raided the house and caught him with his pants down--quite literally. But he claimed he didn't know it was a brothel and he only got a room there to adjust his truss. Then he lied about his name. Even though the police had paperwork that proved he lied about his name and he admitted that he did so, the church court found him innocent on all charges. For the good of the church and Christianity. The court trial was closed to the public, of course.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, July 21, 1926

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M.A. Widenhouse Passes State Medical Exam, July 21, 1926

Martin Audrey Widenhouse, of this city, was one of the successful applicants before the State Medical Board at its recent examination. As a result of his work there, Mr. Widenhouse will soon receive his license to practice medicine in North Carolina.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, July 21, 1926

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G.C. Heglar Farm Being Subdivided and Sold Off, July 21, 1926

Heglar Farm to be Sold

W.H. Kirk of the Carolina Land Co. of Hickory has recently entered into a contract with Mrs. G. C. Heglar to sell at auction the splendid 600-acre farm located five miles southeast of Concord.

The farm is now being subdivided into tracts of various sizes and in a way that will meet with the approval of anyone wishing to buy a small farm.

The Carolina Land Co. has had several splendid sales in Cabarrus County in recent months.

From page 2 of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, July 21, 1926

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Jury Still Out in Nellie Freeman's Trial, July 20, 1926

Freeman Jury Not Able to Agree on Verdict by Noon. . . Sent Word to Judge Schenck at 10 a.m. that They Were Deadlocked as the Night Before. . . Rumors About Verdict Heard. . . One Such Report Is That 10 Jurors want Acquittal While Two Want Manslaughter Verdict

Charlotte, July 20 (AP)—The jury in the case of Mrs. Nellie Freeman, “razor girl,” who slew her husband Alton Freeman on the night of May 22, was deadlocked today after a night of deliberation.

Judge Michael Schenck who delivered a charge of an hour and 30 minutes to the jury, has not indicated this morning what time he expected a report from that body as to their progress.

The jury sent word to Judge Schenck at 10 o’clock this morning that there was no prospect of an early agreement and requested permission to continue their deliberations at the hotel. The Judge instructed Sheriff Cochran to permit the jurors to remain there until after lunch, if no verdict had been reached.

A report gained wide currency at the hotel and court house that 10 jurors stood for acquittal and two for manslaughter verdicts.

Early today the crowd had already assembled in the court room to wait the decision.

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No sign of agreement was apparent this afternoon in the case of Nellie Freeman, charged with the murder of her husband.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Tuesday, July 20, 1926

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