Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The prosecution brought in several “alienists” – what we today would call psychologists – to testify that Della Olds was sane when she shot and killed her physician husband.

The prosecution was trying to establish that the young wife knew exactly what she was doing when she pumped a bullet into the elderly Dr. Olds’ skull. The defense attorneys alleged that she was “mentally irresponsible” at the time of the shooting and thus not legally liable.

One of the state’s expert alienists stated flatly, “She intended to avenge herself and did so.”

This brought a flurry of defense objections. The statement was subsequently disallowed.

Most of the day’s testimony centered around “the physical health of females” and “lectures on physiology.” The reporter noted that these subjects proved “highly interesting” to the packed courtroom audience, which consisted of an unusually high number of “good-looking women.”

The young and pretty Mrs. Olds apparently was in higher spirits than usual, laughing heartily at one point.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1890: Wyoming became the 44th state.

1919: President Woodrow Wilson personally delivered the Treaty of Versailles to the Senate and urged its ratification. However, the Senate ended up rejecting it.

1929: American paper currency was reduced in size as the government began issuing bills that were about 25 percent smaller.

1951: Armistice talks aimed at ending the Korean War began at Kaesong.

1991: Boris N. Yeltsin took the oath of office as the first elected president of the Russian republic.