The evening world., 1891-12-07
HIS LIFE AT STAKE.
Darwin j. Mesero.e on Trial fol
Killing Larbig.
Story Of the Tragedy in Mrs. Doyie
ComSt0ck's Flat.
Crowds in the Court-Room Where u
Jury Is Being Obtained.

Darwin j. McserOle, the sOa OF Gen. j. "
Mcserolc, who shot and killed Theodore f.
Larbig In Mrs. Dovie Comstock's Hat, 81 s
Sackett street, brooklyn, was this morning
placed on trial for his life In the Kings Coun.
ty Court OF oyer and Tcrmlner.
A panel OF 400 citizens had been drawn
from which 1t was expected jury would De
secured.
The courtroom was crowded to the doors
when young Meserole walked into court and
sat down directly in front OF his illustrious
father.
Assistant District-Attorney Clarke ap-
peared for the prosecution and Lawyer VIII.
lam j. Gaynor for the defense.
When arraigned, young Meserole pleaded
not guilty, and the work OF obtaining Jury
was at once begun.
Mrs. Mcserole. mother OF the prisoner, came
into court shortly before the proceedings be.
gan and sat down beside her husband Mrs
Meserole was clad In black and wore II large
black VEIL which completely hid her face
from view.
MeserOle. the prisoner, is still pale and thin,
but looks better than h. did when arrested
lie wore black suit, turnover collar and
black necktir, lie kept his eyes rivcted tC
the iloUr and appeared to be IN deep medita-
tion.
The case is one of the most sensational that
has been Tried In Brooklyn courts In many
years. McserulGs family moved IN the high
est social circles, and THE woman On whose
account LurDig was killed is daughter OF
Col. John +. FOrney, Il well-knOwn citizen ol
Washington. d. c., and is the divorced wife OF
Walter Comstock, OF Providence, K. |. The
shooting occurred on the night or June %.
Meseroic had just returned from Europe
IA Hf Hoo .I Istfa
the Winter and Spring. Instead OF going u
his fathers home, he went TO Mrs. Comstock's
HAT.
At 1918 o'cloc; on the night in question
Mesero!c and Mrs. ComstOck entered the But.
Ter street police station. MeSerOle was IN his
shirt sleeves. He announced that he had just
shot man. lie was very cool In his manner
and gave the police directions how to proceed
Mrs CUmstock was hysterical.
The police went to the nat ana found Lar.
big lSinY dead. Larblg vas lying face down.
ward, with two bullets IN his heart.
When examined by the police MeserolC
claimed that he had shot Larblg In self.
defense. Larbig came to the iat in the after.
noon he Slld,and quarrelled with the woman
| After he LETT Meserolc and Mrs. ComstOcS
went to COney Island.
shortly after they returned Larbig called
| again. Meserole was lying on II sofa In the
bedroom. lie heard Larbig upbraidins The
woman, and heard him strike her. The
woman ran into the bedroom and asked Mes
| ere It. to protect her.
| :" drew my revolver" said Mcserole, 4" and
said to him (Larbig): you leave that woman
alone or ! Will shoot you.
Larbig saw the revolver and said he was
| gong for policeman to have Inc arrested Tor
threatening him.
",l don't care what you do so long as you
don't touch that wolnan,' replied.
LarciS made II pass ut Inc and knocked
me down. My head struck the bedpost."
Mcserolc then Tired twice and Larbig fell
Mescrolc said the shooting occurred at q. IL
o'clock. The case was not reported to tho
police until one hour later.
| Larbig had wife and two children.
| Alon2o II. Sanders, q printer, who has ar
| Office at lJ4 Maiden lane, New York, and
| lives at 1877 Filth avenue, Brooklyn, was the
| frst talesmaa called, and was accepted by
| both sides and took seat In the Jury-box.
| Frank Vanderbilt, OF 23 Rockwell place
was accepted as juror No. ..