Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-19
Mrs. Rarer on Trial for Shooting
MIR. Buckley.


This mornil 6, in the Criminal Court, Judge
Hagrer, the trial OF Mrs. Martha Raper, charged
with having On the 26th OF May shot John NJ
buckley with intent to kill, was commenced
MessTs Wrce and A. B. Williams for the defence
There was quite a large attendance Of specta
tors. The first witness was Mr.. Buckley, who
teSt1hec that about nine O'Clock OF the night In
question he was sitting behind the counter OF
his store, goth and streets with his Wife,
when the accused came In, and, aging "Take
that" fired, the ball striking him In the right
forehead. He Immediately arose and ran to.
wards the end OF the counter. and Sne nred the
second shot and then he seized her.
ON cross examination Mr.. Buckley said he had
known Mrs. Raper for five or six years; was Ger
tain that she fired second time. Knew her
voice because ne had been well acquainted with
If for some years. The last time he saw her
before the shooting was the he THURSDAY pre-
place; he took her to the store door and let her
90 and she left.
Re-dTect:-The pistol was taken by boy;
don't know whether he or Mrs. Raper handed 1t
to him.
Mrs. Kate Buckley testified that she was set
ting behind the counter with her husband:
heard the shot and the words 'take that; Mrs
Raper was only three or four feet away: witness
ran to the back part OF the house and out on the
street: saw Mrs. Raper raising the pistol to COCK
il as witness started, and heard the shot after
she left the store.
cross exa.nined:-Iiad known Mrs. Raper
since the Sth OF August last, and for two or three
Dr. W. g. H. Newman testified to the wound
being in the temple; probed for it, and found
the ball had entered downWardS and glanced
upwards; did not regard it as dangerous.
Sargent Pearson testified that he heard Of
the shooting and went In search Of Mrs. Roper;
found her at her house on Virginia avenue be-
tween sd and oath streets, about % or %,
o'clock, and took her in custody: first seen the
pistol at the station after making the arrest;
there were five loads in it then and two had
been fired.
This closed the testimony for the Govern
ment with the exception OF that OF Lieutenant
NOOnan. as to how the pistol was procured
Mr.. Williams, for the defendant, addressed
the jury stating that they expected to show
that Line years ago the defendant had shown
symptoms OF mental arrangements; that the
prosecuting witness had seduced her; had had
a child by her, &c.
John N. Buckley was recalled as witness for
defense, ana about the same time companion
OF Mrs. Raper brought in a Sprightly, we'll
dressed baby. In answer to Mr.. Williams Ques-
lions, Mr.. Buckley said he lived at III goth
street, where he became acquainted with Mrs.
Raper; that she rented rooms there from him In
her husbands name, and she lived there about
two years.
Question-Did her husband leave her when
she lived there?
The District Attorney objected, and Mr.. VIII
liams said he desired to show that there was
separation, and that this tended to effect her
mind.
The Court said that some women were de-
ranged because they had husbands and the fact
that husband leaving a wife was not in itself
proof that her mind was affected, but 1t might
be followed up by other testimony, and Ii not
it could be ruled out.
District Attorney Wells argued against this
offer, and claiming that If emotional Insanity is
the defence the fact should be first shown and
cause inquired afterwards.
Judge Hagner said 1t was difficult to form a
general rule on the subject, for some women
go insane on losing child and others kill their
lnIants; some go crazy when grandmother
dies end others are filed with joy in such an
event at the prospect of an inheritance He
ruled that the question could be asked as to
When her husband left her and then ask what
were her symptoms as to her sanity or insanity
about that time.
Mr.. Wroe, reading from the Mary Harris
trial, claimed that the defence should not be
restricted as to the order OF proof.
NJ. Buckley resumed. They did not sepa-
rate when living at 1119; never noticed her
while living there show any signs OF mental
excitement. Witness then moved to 1851 Goth
street, and while they were living there they
separated, both leaving the house; noticed
nothing In regard to her mental condition at
tQat time.
The case was in progress when our report
closed.