The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-25
A WILD WOMAN.
Something More About Mrs, Rawson
And Her Experience With Her
Different Husbands.
A Little Autobiography That Is
Thrilling and Sensational.
A Most Precocious Young Girl She
Must Have Been.
She Says in open Court That She Was
Glad Her Son Had Killed Her
Last Husband-She Loses
Her Temper.

CuIcAGo, ILL.,, Jan. 2i-Thc trial OF Mrs.
Mcckie l.. Rawson for the shooting Of
Lawyer Whitney few months ago, was
continued today. Mrs. Rawson was cross
examined by Mr.. Elliott, attorney for the
State. She controlled herself as a rule,
but, occasionally, when she thought UNI
necessary questions were being insisted ON,
she gave tho attorney "a piece OF her
mind in a short, incisve way, with the
result, rs a rule, that that particular line
Of inquiry was abandoned. The lady gave,
IN response TO questions, a running ac-
count oi her life, telling how, at the age Of
thirteen years, she became teacher in
New Orleans Of which city her father was
an old resident. At fifteen years she was
married TO John Slaymakor, Red River
pilot, TO whom she had been engaged since
she WIS eleven years old. Slaymakcr, who
was engaged In the cotton trade, was paid
$3.50 per month. The witness described
him ~ "a generous, good hearted, worth
less man" who spent most OF his money
for drink. She lived with him six years
At this point tho court interrupted
this line Of questioning, and Mr.. Elliott
took up Mrs. Rawson's experience with
Charles G.. Lee, her second husband. She
said he was wealthy young man Of good
family. She married him at the age Of
twcnty-thrco years She said she lived
with him happily part OF the time, as he
was the only man she ever loved; but lac
was dissipaud, and once had dclirum
trcmens. lie was very high tempered,
and once, on railroad train, lac fired
revolver bullet through the door Of the
sleeper because II did not open readily
when lac wanted 10 get into IL, lac having
left her there, going forward TO the smoker
after row with the conductor growing
out OF the fact that that official had COM
piled with her request for glass OF water.
This incident was magnilicd into great
shooting affair, invoicing the question OF
the Witness chastity After living with
Ice year ana hall she secured divorce
from him. Her next matrimonial venture
was with Banker Rawson, Of Chicago. She
said she was not desperately In love with
him, but tried 10 make him happy.
The examination continued: "Do You
think Mr. RaWson loved you?'
81 don't think ~. II he had hc never
would have preferred a servant 10 his
wife. lie never would have told me 10 go
while the servant staid. one trouble be-
tween us was the question OF religion. |
am sorry ! am not q Christian but | am
no hypocrlic. Mr.. RnWson wanted mo to
teach Sunlay-schuol aud lead the Sewing
Circle, aud ! would not 10 II. lie used
to ply his son Fred 10 cents q hymn ior
recalling 10 him.
You said yesterday, MIS- Rawson. that
You would attend 10 Matt Hogan later.
What dad you mean hy that2'
"l'll tell YOU what | meant Mr. Elliott.
] intended 10 have Matt Hogan, Mrs
Hamilton and l.. ~. liisbcc arrested Tor
Ia going before the Grand Jury
and swearing as they did, for il was con-
scouting them, Mr.. Elliott"
These are the persons who testified
against Mrs Rawson aud whose evidence
before that body was read IN court on the
day before yesterday.
Mu. BaWsun declared that, at one time
while married 10 Mr. Rawson, she became
~ desperate that she had determined 10
Nil herself aud her little daughter Dot"
Tho witness showed her Southern blood
when the Cruss-cNnmncr reached the
shooting Ut Banker Rnwson hy her son.
She said she knew lac had pistol before
the shooting, and felt that hc would shoot
kaNsun -lhni no boy could avoid do
ing so.
II love :hc boy for what he did. and
honor him lor 10. / am proud Of that
boy"
Now, Mrs. Rawson," broke In Mr.
Grows, 'youarc getting excited and losing
your head, Bc quiet"
Don't get excited" said Judge Tut
Hill.
II can't help Il, Judge said the wit.
noes, wringing her hands. II am nll un.
strung. For three ycan have had no
rest
AZ this point rgfgss yyns tnlpn