Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-05
HER HYSTERIC SOBS.
Miss Biechler Again Gives Way to
Violent Emotion.
CARRIED FROM THE COURT ROOM
Soon Recovers and Once More
Faces the Throng.
JOHNSON ON MR.. GOWNS RACK
The Witness Loses Convenient
Pieces of His Memory.
UNWiTTiNGLY HELPS DEFENDANT
Scenes ss the Trial Which Held a
Morbid Crowd Agape From
Soon Recovers and Once More
Faces the Throng.
JOHNSON ON MR.. GOWNS RACK
The Witness Loses Convenient
Pieces Of His Memory.
UNWiTTlNoLY HELPS DEFENDANT
Scenes sS the Trial Which Held a
Morbid Crowd Agape From
Morning Until Ad-
journment.


was
One very strange feature of the King muir
der trial is to be seen in the interest man
ifested by a certain class or type of old peo-
pie. Every day since the opening of the
case IN Judge Groff's court room. about two
dozen or more, withered, wrinkled, toothless
old women and broken down bald headed
men have sat patiently early and late, bend
ing forward with hands behind their ears
eager to catch every word in the interesting
dialogue.
Yesterdays crowd was immense the attend
ance of ladies being very largely increased.
When Deputy Sheriff Grebe returned from
his breakfast, about o'clock, he found ten
women waiting at the door, and the stream
had already commenced to climb the steps
which lead from taTnam street. Several
lawyers were accompanied by their wives.
They were given seats in the space
set apart for the clerks desks
and file cases. The display of new spring
millinery in the shape of hats nd bonnets
gave the scene rather gay and animated
appearance.
Miss Biechler begins to show that the
great strain upon her nerves has begun to
have an effect upon her. After Sheriff
Coburn had brought her in, Judge Baldwin
emerged from the consultation room and was
greeted by the lady with a smile.
The judge says that when he first came
into the case and was introduced to Miss
Bi Jhler she thought him gruff, cross
man, and INDUCED in hearty cry.
The first proceedings after the opening of
court were disturbed by crying baby. Wit
ness Scott was again called to the stand. The
question, of General Gown, regarding
THE PRIsoNER's SANITY,
to which County Attorney Mahoney objected
last evening" was argued briefly and bur-
dened with citations from supreme court re-
ports and other authorities.
Mr.. Mahoney's chief objection was based
on the ground that no reference had been
made to the subject in the direct examna-
ton; that the question was leading, and
further that Scott was not the proper person
to answer such question. Only medical ex-
perts could be called to testify on the ques-
tion of insanity.
General Gown was nearly half an hour
argument.
Judge Croft ruled that the question, "Is
there any doubt in the world that when you
saw this woman coming down the stairs she
was insane!" could be asked and answered
by the witness
General Gown read from one or two au-
thorities to show the kind of testimony that
may be accepted to prove insanity. This
argument perceptibly
AFFECTED THE PRISONER.
Two or three times she buried her face in
the ever-cpnvenient white handkerchief and
wept.
Mr. Gown SAID he was willing to change
the question and state it,
"From your personal knowledge of in
terviews and associations with the prisoner
that morning you may state what your i'm
pressions were as to the defendants sanity
or insanity"
Mahoney again objected, but the court
overruled it,
II thought she was totally out of her
mind" replied the witness.
Mr.. Scotts reply to General GOWNS in
terrogaton had such an effect on the specta
tors that they rustled in their seats and acted
uneasy when the prosecution tried to upset
him.
This ended the cross examination, but tn,
state started on redirect catechism.
"When, MIR. Scott, dld you come to the
conclusion that the defendant was
OUT OF HER MINDP
"When I met her in the rotunda, the hote
Office and going to the police station. Sh'
was crying, talking irrationally, acting hys
terically and constantly implorlng me t,
let her go to the body"
The redirect examination failed to divulg
anthing new.
THE REVOLVER.
Attorney Mahoney at this juncture offered
the revolver used by Miss Biechler in evl
dence. 1t is Il Smith & Wesson, second hand
improved pattern, selfacting fve-shooter
thirty-two-calibre, No. 35,9T7.
Thamas Ormsby, city detective, testified
81 r.et the defendant in the Paxton hetel OF
the morning of the shooting A reyolve
o'clock that morning. There were five empt
shells in il. 1t contained no loaded shells
While the revolver was being examined
Miss Biechler sat with downcast eyes, neve
raising them until the weapon had bee
taken out of sight The mention of the gu
has already had visible effect upon heI
and not once during the progress Of tn
trial has she looked upon the weapon.
A CHICAGO LAWYER.
w. S. Johnson, the Chicago lawyer VIII
has been spoken of as having interested hin
self in behalf of Henry w. King, jr., TO seps
rate the deceased and Miss Biechler, is
short man, slight in build and almost bal
headed.
His upper lip is adorned with stubby re
moustache. He has large blue eyes and
red face.
~ reside in Chicago" said he, 'and wa
acquainted with King two years and u hal
met the defendant in March, 1885, i mi
her at Quincy, H. She was living under III
name Of Mrs. LeGarde. Mr.. Henry. Y
King, jr., was living with her. She said 81
had been living with him under this nam
Kings father requested me to go there.
gave her $400 on her signing paper to-
her Mr. King had said TO me that MIR Adam
had said to him that he had had a convers
tion with her and that she would take tn
money ana release Mr.. King, ir., from @
promises of marriage which the paper I
= cited. The paper also set forth that Mi
Biecher claimed TO be in the fmnliy wa
and this paper also released tho King esta
from any liability II she was in tnat conc
tion."
The paper was here offered to Mr.. Joh
sop, which he identified and said that Mi
Biechler had signed il in his presence Febr
AIRY 3, 1858.
The defense made no objection to the a.
mission of this document.
1--WE talked the matter over" contiaut
the witness, ''and Mrs. lie Garde signed u
paper 100
GAVE HEN S4uO
ana i think there were bills paid also, ru
aing the sum up TO $500 or thcreabout.
.'She stated that they mad been hVing the
As man and wife; that he had
PROMISED TO NANNY HER
mt had not done so; that they had TAX
he name Of lie Garde 10 keep the affs