The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-04
uer." Miss Duer gave bail In $500 for
MISS puER's VERSION OF THE CRIME.

trial.
MISS DUER's VERSION OF THE CRIME.
1 had some difficulty in obtaining an in.
terview with Miss Duer. She was self
possessed and did not appear to be in any
great distress either about the shooting or
the approaching trial. Occasionally when
speaking of other matters she would smile,
and once during my visit laughed quiet
merrily. She sat opposite me upon the
other side of long table, and while convers-
ing would look directly IN my eyes, scarcely
ever dropping hers while the talk continued.
Both her mother and father were present.
The latter is a quiet, easy going sort of
man, and said but little, but the mother,
who was rem arkably like her daughter in
appearance: watched the conversation
closely and would OCCASIONALLY check Miss
Lille In a halfformed sentence. by a quick
look and gesture of the hand. Miss Duer
said that she had been badly treated by
the press and had been always misrepresent-
ed. The trial would she said, show that news
paper men are apt to say more than they
than they heard. She declares that the
shooting was purely accidental. She called
to see Ella" tor the purpose of taking q
walk. She did not wish to go. begged
her. She refused. 1 then wanted to kiss
her. / had the pistol in my hand after CIV
ing up the attempt to kiss her. ana was look
ing at the cartridges, counting them, when
the pistol went off. / am not a murderess.
1 visited her twice during her illness. The
first time she heard my voice and called me.
I went into the room, and she received me by
putting her arms around my neck. She then
said, ILL, what's the matter with me?" 1
told her that she was hurt. who hurt me?"
she asked. 81. Ella" l replied, sit was 1
who did it," "Then you did not do it pur-
posely, did your Miss Duer denies the
statement which has been circulated that
she had left Pocomoke City for Baltimore in
male attire.
PROPOSED LINE OF DEFENSE.
There are two lines of defense proposed
accidental shooting and insanity. Miss Duer
it is understood, objects 10 the latter, and
says that she would rather go to prison than
be proved insane. She is very sensitive upon
this point, and it is quite likely that the plea
of insanity will not pc entered. Much of the
testimony against her, though it will be
received before the grand jury, will not be
admissible in the trial. Miss Hearn's state
ment will probably be ruled out, although it
is not improbable that if it can be proved
that her statement to her father was made
will be admitted, and If, as the defense will
find it difficult to save her, for a dying de-
claration in the knowledge or belief of ap-
preaching death is very strong legal evil
dence, and as there are no other witnesses to
the shooting and Miss Duer can not testify,
the formers statement will be hard to dis
prove, if not impossible. But it is the pre-
vailing opinion there that she will not be
convicted. George Purney, of the Snow Hill
bar, will defend her, and the prosecuting
attorney of the county. Mr.. Townsend will
appear for the State. If true bill is found,
the case will be tried at once.