Volume 15 , Issue 36

Laura Reuter's Own Life Story

One hundred years ago, 23 September 1913, Tuesday, the widow Laura Reuter was on trial for the death of her husband. The following appeared in The Tulsa Daily World, front page headlines: "Laura Reuter's Own Life Story." Laura told her story on the eve of her trial, and was confident of acquittal.She only wanted a jury that could distinguish right from wrong and that could stand by their convictions.

(By Mrs. Laura M. Reuter) -- "Kindness is cheap, sympathy is scarce; this we find only too true in our journey through life. It was 26 years ago (1887) in Terre Haute, Ind., that Laura M. Reuter was born; but it was for only a period of about seven years that she enjoyed the blessings of a mother, for at this age she lost hers, and owing to the inability of one so young to fight the battle of two orphans, brother and sister were finally separated and never again have they been united.

"I am a self-made woman and my life was been about as hard as one would care to experience. I came from as good parentage as could be found and the red blood that coursed through my veins would not let me be content with a mere existence. I aspired to a position in life equal to that of my mother. I began at the bottom and worked up. "Married at seventeen - Picture yourself working by the day for your board and room and attending business college at night, studying by candle light until a late hour, although wearied and in need of rest -- all this to obtain an education. This is the way I acquired my knowledge of stenography. Then as a girl of 17 I married Chas. T. Reuter, and now I am accused of having murdered him, accused of taking a life that God gave. Many murders have been committed, some have gone unpunished and others have baffled solution; but now it is a woman who stands accused of the crime of taking human life, a woman alone in the world with two dear, innocent little children dependent upon her. The stain the prosecution would heap upon the mother, innocent though she is, would fall in a measure upon these defenseless little heads. Such an injustice cannot be righted this side of heaven, but it can be forgiven. I cherish no resentment against any one.

"Upon glancing in the daily papers now days, the first thing that greets the eye is a reference tot he Reuter murder case. It makes no difference if there is no foundation for the article, it is something to publish and fill up space; then it is only a womb scorned, so what matters it if untruths about this woman are allowed to creep into the papers? If all the reports current about me were true, I should be branded as a harlot. Laura M. Reuter, however, stands up under the reproaches and calumny heaped upon her with her soul clear in the sight of God and man of any sin of crime. I defy any man or woman to discredit my word or character. It is true that it was tried and every attempt to break down my character failed.

"I feel that I have been the victim to a large extent of newspaper prosecution and malicious gossip. There are two little children bearing the name of Reuter and they are blessed with the undying love of their mother, one a boy of five resembles the father, and a better father never livid; the other a girl of eight, looks like her mother. I invite the whole world to look into these little faces and see if there are any marks of degeneracy visible.

"I look upon my trouble as opportunities presented to me. Should we not make the most of life and put it to the best of use? It is not a living, but how to live. All these troubles and heartaches are opportunities, for does not even date teach us life's value -- its dark form follows us like a shadow to bid us win the prize while there yet is time.

"Opportunity is excellent, meaning much, it is an invitation to seek safely, an appeal to make escape from that which is vulgar and low. It means take refuge in high thought and worthy deeds from which flows increase of strength and joy. Lowliness is young ambition's ladder. Life is good and opportunities of becoming and doing good are always with us. The people who love us and those who hate, they who help and they who oppose, these are all opportunities. Success will make plain the things in which we fail, and failure shall spur us on to braver hope and striving. Wisdom is habited in plainest garb and she walks modestly. If one whom we have trusted proves false we should lay it to the account of our own heedlessness. If scorned by men, be thankful that we need not scorn. Since life is great, no opportunity can be small. There is place and means for all, but we must not lack will. Have an aim, a purpose, and opportunity to attain this aim and purpose will start forth like the buds at the kiss of spring. The important thing is to pursue this aim with perseverance. The aim is not letting and possessing but of becoming and being. There is never a question of what might have been, when true men think and act. From failure to failure we rise toward winning. Look back and see lost opportunities, mocking too late, too late -- heed them not, look ever toward the mark, knowing that the present moment offers the opportunity.

"Mercy is but a remedy for poverty and poverty is one of but many evils. Honesty is the best policy, for to be honest is to be genuine, and a genuine man, whether or not he get place or money, whatever his outward fate and future, failure cannot touch him. To be genuine is one of the highest we may know on earth. We, our selves, are the best part of opportunity. Indulgence and disappointments kill more than work. It is duly unto ourselves to live and to struggle and to gain our aim and to succeed. Shall we prove equal to the duties before us, shall we live and rise or fall and sink? So with it all I feel that I should grasp the opportunities that present themselves, for to lose is never to know the meaning of life or honor, and to throw away life is a crime. It is needless for me to say at this point that now is the time to weight both sides of life, not thinking of the cost individually, but stiffen the strews (sic) of my soul and gird on my armor and be ready for the fray.

"Forgetting the past and looking forward to the happiness ahead of me, I have so little to regret, as I feel I have done the best one placed in my position could do. God grant me help and strength that I may live to see my children reared. May they not have the cares and struggles that their mother has experienced and if so God grant them strength to overcome all evil.

"I feel that there is not a jury of 12 men who will convict a woman on circumstantial evidence. I am anxious to have my trial. All that I ask is a jury of 12 men capable of distinguishing right from wrong, men who will stand by their honest convictions. I am ready and will to tell the whole world my story and then leave my fate in the hands of 12 such men. In my case justice will be a vindication to my good name and the name that my children bear. I am confident that I will be acquitted of the awful charge under which I rest. Let the truth flourish and justice will prevail."   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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