The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-15
KILLING OF WITKOVSKL.
THE DEFENSE NOW CLAIMS THAT
HE HAD A PISTOL

Thrasher Testifies That He Gave ths
Dead Mans Weapon to q Friend
After the shootinR-Mrs. Brown Tes-
titles at Considerable Length Con-
corning Her Relations With the
Deceased.
GAINESVILLE. FLA, Dec. 1.-The hear
ing in the commitment trial Of B. A.
Thrasber for killing Louis Witkovski was
continued at 10 o'clock this morning. The
cross-examination Of Mrs Annie J. Brown
was resumed. She testified that she kept
her own account. She was to receive s75 .
month, but for the past three years had
not been able TO get monthly settlemsnts.
She said she had kept q faithful and ao-,
curate account Of all the goods and money
drawn by her, aud that she had not over
drawn her salary. She further said that
Witkovski interfered with her private
business, but otherwi he was polite.
wIrKovsKI's CLAIM.
Admitting Witkovsk's ci lim chat her
salary was to be only $50 month, sbe had
overdrawn about s200. She said she bor-I
rowed sl25 from Mrs. Albert Thrashcr. wife
OF the prisoner, aud paid 500 on her an-
count, promising o pay the balancs as soon
as she could. She SAID that when she left
Witkovski she did not draw one cent
From Starke she went to Fernandina, and
themes to Hendersonvile, N. G. A few
days before leaving there she wrote postal
card to Witkovski saying what day shs'
would be in New York
AN ALLEGED IMPROPER PROPOSAL
She furt or testified that about two
weeks before she left Witkovslxi's employ
ment just before going to supper. Wit
kovski said TO her, 81 am coming to your
room at 10 o'clock tonight She replied
"If you do / will kill you.n He replied: ssI
mean just what l say" The witness con-
tlnued: II went to my room without sup
per and locked the door, Later servant
knocked at my door aud handed me q note
from Witkovski written on brown wrap
ping paper. The note was: Let the mat
ter rest tonight ! went to tho store
the next day but did not speak to him or
he TO me.
NO OTHER IMPROPER PROPOSAL.
"He never made any improper proposal !.
from him while In Fernandina, Henderson,
vile and New York. The letters received
while In Hendersonville came through
others. and were not mailed by him direct
to me- l paid no attention to his letters
and destroyed all received in Fernandina
and Hendersonville. came to Gainesyille
from New York on Dec. 8. I received one,
letter from him after coming here. In that
letter he said he would be III Gal lesville the
following Friday week. He came sooner. =
THE CHARGE OF DISHONESTY.
Some Of the letters we're leng by, and all
but one contained vague cnarges. One ac--
cused her of using money and goods belong
ing to his store. He also sent her duplicates
OF letters he had written 70 9 me Of her
friends. Ia these he said she mad been
guilty Of conduct that made her amenabls
10 the laws Of the state, and that he would
prosecute her, regardless OF consequences,
unless she agreed 30 al amic he settlements.
The witness bore the searching examina-
tion without finching.
THE MEETING IN NEW YORK.
The state produced card bearing her
name and address in New York, No 1855
West Forty.fi fifth street. She identified the
card, and said she left it at Bach's clotning
house for Witkovski. she met hi in New
York, and asked him II business demanded
her presence In the store. "Why did you
treat me so?' he replied Business can go
to the devil; all have Is mortgaQed.
want you back" She testified that she
wrote him from New York as follow, after
their meeting: "Mr. Witkovski: I most
positively will not return to you, nor win
influence Miss Sophia Mccormick to give
up her position. Annie j. Brown
AN ALLEGED FORGERY.
Here the state showed Mrs Brown q let
tor and asked IL she wrote it. She said "No.
that is good imi tation." This letter was
like a thunderbolt, but was not put In as
evidence. At the afternoon session the state
produced letter written by Witkovski to
her stor, Rev. MATHS, IA which he
formulates the charges against Mrs.
Brown. Mrs. Bro yn Identified tina
handwriting as Witkovski's During
voice pronounced one Of the atemenss a
lie. Mr.. Schroeder was the next witness
He proved the first meeting bet weeu
Thrasher ard Witkovski to have been
friendly. they shaking hands, Schroeder
went with Thrasher after the shooting back
to Thrasher's Office to SEQ IL WitkoVsh was
dead.
THBAsHER on TIE STAND.
Thrasher was then put on the stand to
make his statement. He described graph
cally his movements during the morni lg.
the conversation with Witkovski, Leading
up 10 the killing. He illustrated the psodmR
operdndi OF the killing, and said be slapped
Witkovski in the face with his hat. An
he shot him, be saw Witkovski m IKE a mo-
tion TO rise and draw pistol Witkovski
dropped back In the chair moionles4
Thrasher then walked to the street door.
He saw no one and walked back into ths
room aud took his own pistol ID Witkovs-
ki's, and went out to find Sheriff Wnges.
He gave both pistols to his friend Hughes.
Hughes was put on the stand and the pist,l
produced. This was the first that any one
had heard OF Witkovski having pistol.
The court adjourned till Monday.
Mrs Brown Is highly respected and has
borne an unblemished character from early
childhood.