Evening journal., 1889-08-03
TnE MAVERICK TRlAL.
Opening of the Famous Case in the
Liverpool Criminal Court.


The trial Of Mrs. Florence Elizabeth
Maybrick, a lady Of American birth, who
is charged with killing her husband,
James Maybrick, one Of the most promi-
nent merchants Of Liverpool, by admin
istering arsenic to him, has begun. Mat
ters bear an exceedingly omnious aspect
for the prisoner, and her friends have
been able to derive but little comfort
from the manner in which the trial has
progressed until now. The New York
Worlds cable special says: The counsel
for the prosecution, IN opening the case,
indicated that they were in position to
prove not only all the charges on which
the indictment for murder is based, but a
good deal more besides. The court room
was crowded with people anxious to hear
the details Of the case which monopo-
Lies for the once all public interest.
Mrs Maybrick looked cool and confident
as she answered with perfectly clear
and steady voice, Not guilty" when
asked what she had to say to the charge
against her. Her demeanor was most
unconcerned, and she would frequently
allow her eyes to wander round
the court room to the faces Of
former friends and acquaintances with
whom she used to associate until last
spring as one of the most popular women
in Liverpool society. Public sentiment
is still strong against her Briefly was
in court, and the woman looked long and
steadily at him, but gave no sign of
recognition. 1t is still asserted that
Briefly will oe called as a witness for the
prosecution, but it is impossible to learn
whether this is positively the case.
Sir Charles Russell, @ c., appeared for
the defence. He gets retainer Of So. 500
and daily refresher Of $500 This
seems Il dispose of the story that Mrs
Maybricks s friends, both here and in
America, have declined to come to her
assistance with money. One of her
friends said that the defence will be pre-
pared to go to any expense for the pur-
pose Of securing the expert medical testi
mony necessary; and this branch Of the
case is likely to prove very expensive
Two witnesses from America are ON hand
to testify for the defence one is a man
who says that he knew Mr. May
brick in Virginia, and that he
was an habitual eater of arsenic;
the other is a negro servant in the EN-
| oloy of the first mentioned witness, and
who had acted as butler in houses where
Mr.. Maybrick was entertained while in
America. They both testify substantially
the same. 1t is said that the principal
evidence for the defence rests with these
two men. The facts as stated by the
Government Prosecutor are almost iden-
tical as cabled to the World two days after
Mrs. Maybriek's arrest. The most import
ant thing during the day was the produc-
tion of the long, rambling letter which
James Maybriek wrote to his brother
Michael, a composer living in London, on
the 2oth of April last, just eleven days
before he (James) died. In the letter
James gave minute account of his mys-
terious illness and told of how, when the
first acute symptoms of poisoning began
to alarm and perplex him, he expressed a
| perfect willingness to let his body be dis
sected for scientific purpose when he
was dead He says that he was
frequently seized with kind of rigidness
Of the limbs and with general feeling
of sickness which Frustrated him and
rendered him incapable Of leaving his
bed. He comments on the inability of
the doctors TO diagnose his complaint, and
he bitterly deplores their confusion and
inability to declare the cause thereof.
He likewise expresses his emphatic opin-
ion that This time DR. cannot say
that | am suffering from a violent attack
of indigestion"