New-York tribune., 1881-12-02
on TRIAL FOR KILLING HER LOTER.
MRS. ELIZABETH COLEMANS Defence.
TESTIMONY TO PROVE THAT TUE WOMAN WAS IN

MRS ELIZABETH COLEMANS DEFENCE.
TESTIMONY TO PROVE THAT THE WOMAN WAS IN
SANE WHEN THE SHOOTING OCCURRED.
The trial of Mrs. Elizabeth Coleman, charged
with the murder Of George T. Coles in July last "a'
continued Yesterday before Justice Noah Davis III the
Court of Over and Terniner The first witness called for
the defence was prisoners mother Elizabeth McCor
mick who lives at No 81 Catharine-st She said her
daughter had in bai health for time previous
TO the shooting. She 0he daughter) had been
attacked with fits and had fallen to the floor and wrhed
abou. In agony The witness said that her daughter
lived with her She had Coles her house three
times He pretended TO come to Miss Mclean, and
had impressed her unfaxnrably from the first.
Mrs Coleman was absent from home when her hus-
band who had been away sea, returned She told her
sonnlaw that Lizzie mad gone out the day before and
had not yet returned she could not tell him where his
wife was but thought that he could find out about her
from man at Miners Theatre. This was on saturday
The next day Mrs. Coleman came home wth Mrs Dthm,
with whom she had been Mr.. Coleman, upon seeing his
wife, became very angry ana attempted 10 take lOd OF
her, exclaiming:
"You rascal that Coles has told me all"
Mrs Coleman replied 81 will tell you all myself Will
liam Forgive me- Her daughter then fell on her knees
and begged her husband not to punish her. When Mr..
Coleman came home Monday evening nc told his wife
that she must divorce, and could
the children any more. Mrs. Coleman from this time
acted with great violence.
John T.. Ward physician, was the next witness He
had known the prisoner for eight years. He had at
tended her almost constantly during the last
three years. She suffered from mslarial
fever, and was very eKctable and A" cranky"
she also suffered from uterine troubles.
The witness thought that these troubles always affected
the mind and had done in this He thought that
the prisouer was insane when she shot Coles.
Ellen Dahm OF East NewY York, testified that Mrs.
Coleman came TO her house the Saturday evening be-
fore the shooting The prisoner appeared 10 be very
much excited and said she expected her husband home
and was afraid to meet him. erefused to tell the wit
ness why she feared her husband Mrs. Coleman
then went away, but the next morning,
about O'Clock, she returned The wit
ness was surprised to see that Mrs. Coleman was
dressed exactly the same as on the previous evening
She asked her where she had been and received the
aver ." I have been walking around" Mrs. Coleman
told her she knew by the papers that Captain Coleman
had arrived and she not dare TO go home people
would have told her husband stories about her. The
witness finally consented t. to Mr. Coleman and learn
how he felt IN regard to his wife. She found him In
very angry mood. He declared that he knew all, and
that Coles had told him. He said he would get divorce
and take his children away from his wife and let
her zee them again. After some conversation 1t
greed that the witness should go back to her house
and fetch Mrs Coleman. She did so and when they re-
turned Mrs. Coleman begged her husband TO forgive
her hut he reiterated the statements which he had made
4 Witness
the prisoner and her husband which had been de-
scribed by Mrs. Mccormick.
Mrs Coleman was then called to testify IN her own be-
half She gave history OF her relations with Coles
from their first meeting at Miners Theatre until the
material particular from that which had been
made by her counsel in his opening address. She
declared that she could not remember anything
about the circumstances OF the shooting that she had
shot any all She admitted on cross-eXamnatiOD
that her relations with Coles constantly maintained
from the time they began until hs death On one occa
sion she and Miss Mclean went with Coles and his
friend TO hotel in Asor-place where they stayed all
night, she and Coles occupying a by themselves
The case will be continued to-day.