helenmangle

Judge William Henry Williams (b.1850) presided.over the twelve day jury trial of Mrs. Helen M. Angle in March, 1915, for manslaughter in the death of her friend Waldo R. Ballou in Stamford, (Fairfield County) Connecticut in June, 1914. The trial was held in the Superior Court at Bridgeport, Connecticut, the county seat of Fairfield County. The all male jury had an average age of fifty, the youngest was thirty five. The question before the jury was, did Waldo Ballou, Helen Angle's elderly suitor, fall down the stairs from Helen's apartment, after calling on her late one night, fracturing his skull... or was he, as the State contends, pushed -- or hit over the head with an iron? Judge Williams twice warned the lawyers and press against untimely disclosure or discussions of the evidence to be introduced. He said that under Connecticut law any one making public testimony in advance of its introduction in court would be open to a charge of contempt. Mrs Angle took the stand in her own defense, and told her version of what happened on the night of June 23, 1914. More than 500 people were turned away from the packed courtroom. After a twelve day trial the jury deliberated for one hour and forty-five minutes before returning a verdict of not guilty, after three ballots. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge William H. Williams was State's Attorney for New Haven County, and a partner in the firm of Wooster, Williams & Gager.  [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]  

Thanks Pixel Wrangler, We'll add his full name to our record.

Helen M. Angle of Stamford CT was accused of killing Waldo R. Ballou. Her studio apartment in the Rippowam Building was at the top of a flight of stairs; Waldo's body was found at the bottom of those stairs, dead from a skull fracture. The theory was that she pushed him down the stairs. The building belonged to Helen's father, Leonard Blondel, who proposed that perhaps the man fell, or a thug attacked Waldo on the stairs, and Helen's dress became bloodstained when she tried to help him. She was acquitted. In the process she became reacquainted with her ex-husband. They were divorced in 1910, but remarried in 1915, after the trial.

Judge William Henry Williams (b.1850) presided.over the twelve day jury trial of Mrs. Helen M. Angle in March, 1915, for manslaughter in the death of her friend Waldo R. Ballou in Stamford, (Fairfield County) Connecticut in June, 1914. The trial was held in the Superior Court at Bridgeport, Connecticut, the county seat of Fairfield County. The all male jury had an average age of fifty, the youngest was thirty five. The question before the jury was, did Waldo Ballou, Helen Angle's elderly suitor, fall down the stairs from Helen's apartment, after calling on her late one night, fracturing his skull... or was he, as the State contends, pushed -- or hit over the head with an iron? Judge Williams twice warned the lawyers and press against untimely disclosure or discussions of the evidence to be introduced. He said that under Connecticut law any one making public testimony in advance of its introduction in court would be open to a charge of contempt. Mrs Angle took the stand in her own defense, and told her version of what happened on the night of June 23, 1914. More than 500 people were turned away from the packed courtroom. After a twelve day trial the jury deliberated for one hour and forty-five minutes before returning a verdict of not guilty, after three ballots. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge William H. Williams was State's Attorney for New Haven County, and a partner in the firm of Wooster, Williams & Gager.  [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]  

Thanks Pixel Wrangler, we will add his full name to our record.