The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-20
OR I'M T..

fenced to One Years imprisonment,
ETC., Etc.
Some months ago the country was shocked by
the shooting of George Trussell, man OF much
wealth, large faro dealer in Chicago, nall
owner of the trotter Dexter" by his Mistress
Mary CosgrlfI, an Irish woman OF remarkable
beauty, who had been the lelt-hand wife OF the
deceased for several months, and whom he had
raised from the position of a chambermaid in a
Cleveland hotel to the height of wealth. For
some cause Trussel cast Mollie off. She is said
10 have loved him to iufatuation, and went
nearly crazy over her abandonment Following
him to Chicago, she importuned him to return
to her, and on the Ath OF November, meeting
him at saloon, passionately renewed her
demand. He refused.
Trussell pushed her away and ordered her to
10 home. The woman persisted, and the gam
bier becoming enTaged, showed her out OF the
saloon into the street. Three times thls was
repeated. The third time Trussell had her by
the hair OF the head, and Seneca Wright was
assisting in separating the parties. 1t was at
this moment, after her clothing had been torn
from her shoulders, aud she mad been thrown
violently out OF the saloon, that she fred the
fatal shot. After the shot Trussell walked in.
side, and she fired again, and still again. Three
shots took effect IN different parts of Trus-
sells body, and a fourth one missed its mark.
Trussell died almost instantly and the defend
ant was at once arr ested. She was held on a
Coroner's warrant for murder, and the grand
jury found an Indictment against her for the
crime OF manslaughter
The trial began on Friday and the Chicago
papers give the following interesting particulars:
On taking her seat IN the dock, by her counsel,
Messrs. Assay, Wilson, and Jones, the following
is SAID to have been
HER APPEARANCE.
Mary Cosgriff, as she sat in this seat, had the
appearance OF being subdued. Somewhat OF
passion had LETT ana the flush OF former days
had flown from her cheeks. There was, perhaps,
the indication OF grief, and her demeanor was as
OF one who had been buoyed up by confidence
in her acquittal of criminal intent by the petit
jury, as she had been OF malice prepense by the
grand jurors. There was marked emotion, too.
The bosom heaved, and, at times, there was a
nervous twitching OF the fingers, a playlng with
nothing, and a smile that betokened not want of
interest nor of concern, but of partial indlffer-
ence mtrenched IN confidence. There were
moments of strongly marked physical signs.
The first recital or the deed came upon her, pre-
pared as she was to hear 1t, with force, and then
she looked TO her companion in sorrow, sitting
within her view, an appealing glance. After the
hrst statement was made, there was as il were,
shade removed from her countenance, and
sort OF getting used to il" expression took its
place. She was dressed in fashion, too.
1t was the fashion of deep mourning but
after the latest style. The hair was arranged
with scrupulOus care; its bandeauX and water
fall were!adjusted to nicely, and the hat almost
Jaunty IN its mourning aspect, was seated upon
the head with an exact eye to the regularity of
line and position. From its right side fell
flowing veil OF Grape, adjustable over the face,
or to be loose as streamer, at pleasure. The
dress, or so much of it as could be seen, fitted
to a nicely; its material was rich and its trim
ming sparkling, for the multitude of little
bugles, as they caught the light, glistened aud
waved The cloak, too. of the newest shape,
became the figure, and fitted it, too. 1t was
also deeply craped and heavily trimmed. Alto
gether the costume would have delegated the
eye Of many rich widow, who sought in her
youth again to captivate ana shine in the circle
OF rich acquaintance, from whom, in the days
Of early sorrow, she had separated herself.
THE TRIAL.
After the jury had been selected, and all the
preliminary proceedings had taken place, States
Attorney Reed opened the case for the people by
stating what he expected to prove, reading the
law by which such cases are governed, and that
the penalty which is attached to the crime. He
introduced his remarks by expressing regret
necessity compelled him to perform the unplea-
SAINT duty which was assigned to him as public
prosecutor. He was desirOus that justice should
be done to the accused. If she was guilty she
should be punished; If innocent, acquitted.
Should the jury find that the accused committed
the act for which she is to be tried in self-de.
Tense, and that she was in great personal dan
ger, then she should be acquitted; otherwise it
would be the duty of the jury to bring in a
verdict OF guilty, and fix the term of imprison-
nent.
The substance of the testimony will be found
IN the extracts below
Mr.. Seneca Wright testifed-I live in this city;
/ knew George Trussell he died the 4th OF Sep
tember in Brice's barn, in this city; knew him
ten or twelve years; I cannot say that was pre-
sent when he died, but was in the vicinity; all
c9n say about it is, on the 4th of September l
had been away; | came home and was in the
saloon, and Trussell and some other gentleman
were there; | had been there perhaps twenty
minutes when the prisoner came in after him;
she saId George, want you" think this was
after 10 O'Clock; he was standing against the ice
box talking; she took hold of his collar with her
left hand when she spoke; he put his hand up,
and kept pushing her away towards the door on
to the sidewalk; stepped from behind the coun-
ter and took hold OF him; as they got to the
door, George grabbed hold of Molle with his
hand on her breast, and stepped up and
showed him back; l showed her out of the door,
shall come there;" she said she would if would
send him; l supposed it was all right, and
went back to my business; then heard pistol
shot before got behind the bar; he was going
out OF the door, and he put his hand to his side
and said, II am shot" and then she put the
pistol to his back and shot him again, and then
/ heard another shot; when she fired tine shot
at his back he was going out OF the door into
the barn; she came in at the street door; did
not see him when he fell, but / saw him lylnp
where he did fall; Trussel was walking from
her when | saw her shoot; he was walking
towards the door that led into the barn on the
west side OF the saloon; the door at which she
entered is on the south side; did not see the
deceased when he fell, but saw him lying on the
drive way from the street into the stable, fifteen
or eighteen feet west OF the saloon door, and,
perhaps four TO six feet from the sidewalk.
When the prisoner took hold of Trussell's
collar, he said:-"Go home, or go away"
CrOss-eXamined-I have known GeorIe Trus-
sell pretty well ten or twelve years; he boarded
with me in the neigh borhOod of five years.
O.. What was TrussellS business?