The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-01-31
MRS. RAWSON ON TRIAL.

MHos nHHOVN YIN InlhLs
Por Shooting Lawyer whitney in Chicago Court
CHICAGO, Jan. 24:-The trial of Mrs.
Mackie l.. Rawson for the shooting Of
Lawey Whitney few months ago was
continued to-day. Mrs. Rawson was
cross-examinedb by Mr.. Elliott, attorney
for the state. She controlled herself
as a rule but occasionally when she
thought unnecessary questions were be-
ing insisted on, gave the attorney "a
piece of her mind" in short incisive
way with the result as a rule that the
particular line OF inquiry was abandon
co. The lady gave in response to ques-
tions an account of her life
telling that at the age of thirteen
years she became teacher in New
Orleans, of which city her father was
an old resident. At fifteen years of
age she was married to John Stay
maker, Red river pilot to whom she
had been engaged since she WAS eleven
years old. Slaymaker, who was en-
gagged in the cotton trade, was paid
$50 per month. The witness described
him as "a generous, good hearted,
worthless man" who spent most OF his
money for drink: she lived with
him six years. At this point the attor-
ney interrupted this line of question
ing and Elliott took up her experience
with Charles G. Lee her second hus-
band. She said he was wealthy
young man, of good family whom she
married at the age of twenty-three
years. She said she lived with him
very happily part Of the time as he was
the only man she ever loved, but he
was dissipated and once had delirum
tremens. He was high tempered and
once on a railroad train he fired a
revolver bullet through the door Of
the sleeper because it did not open
readily when he wanted to get
into it. He having left
After a row with the conductor, grow
ing out of the fact, the official had
CT implied with her request for a glass
of water. After living with Lee year
and half 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 to make him
happy. The examination continued:
you?'
II don't think so. If he had he new
er would have preferred servant to
his wife. He never would have told
me to go while the servant staid. One
trouble between us was the question of
religion. am sorry 1 am not a Christ
ian, but l am no hypocrit. MIR. Raw
SOD wanted me to teach Sunday school
and lead the Sewing Society Circle and
Wouldn't do it. He used to pay his
son Fred 10 cents hymn for reading
to him"
"You said yesterday, Mrs. Rawson,
/ YOU would attend to Matt Hogan
later. What did you mean by that?''
| "I'll tell you what. Mr.. Elliott, l in
tended to- have Matt Hogan, Mrs.
Hamilton and L. II. Bisbee arreste
for conspiracy in going before the
grand jury and swearing as they did
for it was conspiracy. You will have
the pleasure of prosecuting them MIR.
Elliott"
They are the persons who testified
against Mrs. Rawson and whose evil
dence before that body was read in
court on the day before yesterday.
Mrs. Rawson declares that at one
time while married to Rawson she be-
came so desperate that she had deter
mined to to kill herself and her little
daughter.
The witness showed her southern
blood when the cross-examinatioI
reached the shooting of Banker RawsoI
by her son.
She said:.she knew her son had pis
tol before the shooting and felt h
would shoot RawsOn, and that no boz
could avoid doing so. 81 love the DO!
for what he did and honor him for it.
am proud of that boy"
Now Mrs. Rawson," broke in Mr.
Cows, ''you are getting excited ant
losing your head. Be quiet"
Don't get excited said Judge Tut
hill.
81 can't help it judge said the wit
ness, wringing her hands. II am al
uns:rung. For three years I have hat
no rest" At this point recess wa
taken.