Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-18
THE LEE WIFE MURDER.
Testimony i'm the Criminal Court TS

This morning in the Criminal Court Judge
Macarthur, the selection of n jury to try the
case of Richard ]. Lee, indicted for the murder
| OF Mary Lee, his wife, by shooting her on the
10Th OF November was proceeded with, Dis
trlct Attorney Worthington prosecuting, and
Messrs. j. ". Walker and T. c. Taylor for the
defense.
the Jurymen were sworn as follows: Ohio Bran
son, Johm Bury, samuel Z; Palmer John A.
Lynch, Thos. w. Chase, Chas: j. Columbus,
Frank Renshaw; Ly,sander Cooper, George
The District Attorney briefly opened the case
rec1tlng the facts the government expected to
Mr.. Walker followed for the prisoner, and
said that it would be shown that, notwithstand-
ing the deceased was recreant In her duties
ana had left him, that he loved her: that the
rupture was produced by the sster-in-iaw, and
that on the night in question Lee went to the
house in good humor and was turned away by
the sister-in-law, and returned in thirty min
utes a mad MANTLE very circumstances OF
the killing showing that he was maniac at
the time. They would also show that he was,
ing of his own life.
THE SISTER OF THE MURDERED WIFE TEsTI-
FIES.
Lucy Williams Sister of the deceased) was the
first witness, and she testified that she lived at
No. 400 X street; that Lee came to the house,
and she found him there when she came from a
nefghbors, about O'Clock. He was sitting with
the baby in his lap. talking to the deceased: He
said that she (deceased) had told him that she
was going to pray He said if you don't pray
You will be sorry for it, Then some words
passed and she told him that he must treat her
with respect. He then said to his wife; "I on
are here tonight, but the Lord knows where
you will be Tomorrow" and left. He came back
witness looked out and ordered him away. He
broke in, and the deceased and Susan, her Sis
ter. ran upstairs: He then fired at witness and
ran upstairs, and witness ran out in the alley,
Wfcn she saw deceased running 4tl street
and Lee after her, shooting. The next she saw
OF deceased was when she was laid out.
On crOss-eXamination witness said that de-
ceased came to her house with her children
about three weeks BEFORE that she said she had
run away again, and had her eye blackened
and had bruise on her Leg had not advised
her to come, Lee was not drunk when he first
came to the house. They were talking about
praying, and he said she was II liar; then wit
ness ordered him out OF the house. He got up
and begged her pardon.
Redirect: This was the third time her sister
had left her husband. They had been married
about five years. The deceased had had her
eye blackened by her husband several times.
first time, that there was going 10 be another
Minor case (meaning the wife murder). He was
always qnarreling with her.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE SHOOTING.
Maggie Campbell testified that she lived at
Mrs. Williams house. Lee came to the house
about O'Clock and asked to see his wife, and
was admitted. They talked of praying, and
Lucy Williams came in, and when he called de-
ceased a liar she ordered him out. He said
that deceased had better pray, Tor she was here
tonight, but did not know where she would be
tomorrow. He then went away, but returned
about % minutes to 10 and said he wanted to
see NJ airy He then broke i'm and commenced
shooting. twice at witness. He had the pistol
in his hand when he entered, and when she got
out she ran away, and when she returned Mary
had been brought in, and was dead.
George Powell brother OF deceased, gave tes-
timony corrObOrating the preceding witnesses.
DR.. J. F. Hartigan testified to the wounds
and John NJ. Coyle exhibited Il plot OF the house
and surroundings.
FOR GODS SAKE DON'T SHOOT AT ME.
Susan Powell, sister OF deceased, testified as
to Lees first visit; that when he returned he
broke in the door, exclaimi ns. "I'll fix you,
You OF - and witness up
stairs, when he followed her, and pre-
scented the pistol at her, and she exclaimed,
4" Dick, for Gods sake. don't shoot me; I'm not
Mary" He shot at witness, and she crawled
under the bed, where Size remained until she
heard him leave. When he left the room she
heard other shots, but did not see the firing.
The next she of Mary was when she was
brought in dead.
On crOss-examination witness said Lee was
pleasant when he first came in, she being at the
organ at the time.