Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-02

The third dav of the LIE CONT assault case
began at 10 o'clock this morning in the Crimi-
nal Court. Judge Bradley on the bench. The
day was given over for the most part in hear
ing OF testimony for the defense, the govern
ment having closed its case yesterday after
noon A prominent figure in the court room
this morning was Judge Goode of Virginia. who
was one of Thornton Hams counsel in the
| famous murder trial at Hampton last Septem-
per, when Hams was acquitted Of the charge of
killing his friend Ned Hannegan. Judge Goode
| occupied seat at the lawyers table for n while
TINS morning and was an interested spectator
OF the events in the court room.
THE CoLoRED CHAMBERLAIN.
After The STARS report of the LIE CONT trial
closed yesterday afternoon Mr.. Thomas made
brief opening address for the defense, and the
first witness on that side was placed on the
| stand. 1t was Maggie Patterson the colored
| chambermaid at Mrs. Rogers boarding house
az the time of the shooting. She described
t the rooms IN the house and in answer to ques-
lions as to whether she had seen any assaults
made by Mrs. lie CONT on her husband said
that she did remember n fuss. 1t was some
two weeks before the shooting, and on this &C.
count the answer was ruled ont.
Witness said she saw Mr. LIE CONT the night
before the shooting about 9 clock, and he was
drinking and somewhat tipsy She saw Mr..
LIE CONT and Mr.. Frost drinking together in
Mr-Le Coints room. Mrs. lie Cont, Mish
a sa.on a, ana a little boy were present 1t was
When the case opened at 10 o'clock this
morning MIR. Cole began the cross-examina-
ton OF Maggie Paterson as to the condition of
Mr. lie CONT on Friday night, but no new facts
were brought to light further than that cards
and chips were on the table.
MISS GRACE EATON FOR THE DEFENSE.
The defense then recalled Miss Eaton and
made her thor witness. She was asked whether
she was in Mr.. lie CENTS room on May 80.
when he asked his wife 10 make visit to the
cemetery.
She said that she was. and that lie CONT
asked her and Mrs. lie CONT to go to Balti-
more, and that he then asked his wife to drive
to Oak Hill, but she declined.
WAS anything said about taking her there TO
plant her?' asked Mr.. Thomas
Il object" said Mr.. Cole, but he was too late,
ior, notwithstanding his caution TO the witness
Delore the question. she had already answered
In the negative.
Miss Eaton was asked as to her having con-
versed with some one out in the hall on the
evening of the shooting. and whether it was
With Mr.. lie CONT that she had talked
II object. said Mr.. Cole bat he was once
more TOO late, for this very willing witness got
IN her negative just the same. Judge Bradley
.ooh VIC pietty DiCuuc art student severely to
TASK 1or hcr cverzealousness and told her that
she had already been cautioned often enough.
A lew minutes later, however, she transgressed
again over question Of trivial importance.
THE BLONDE LECTURED BY THE JUDGE.
II don't want to be severe with a woman,
Miss Eaton" said Judge Bradley, but unless
you are moro careful shall have to impose
some penalty you" The witness excused
herself and her face got almost as red as the
SILK scarf that pecped ont above her stylish
drab covert coat.
DO You recognize this latch key?'' said AIR.
Thomas The witness did.
'Dld you give il to Frost that night"
uiu, SAID the pretty witness. and again
Mr. Cole was on his feet to protest against her
answering too quickly and saying too much.
At this point there quite a sharp passage
alarms between Mr.. Thomas and Mr. Cole,
while Miss Eaton wiped away her tears with a
little pocket handkerchief.
LIZ CONT rEsrIrIEs IN HIS OWN BEHALF
The defendant, George lie CONT was then
placed upon the stand. He said he was about
twenty-eight years of age and had been mar
rled for Six years. About week prior to the
3Oth OF May he had made arrangements with
Mr. Fuller Of the Richmond and Dan Vile road
70 80 to Richmond on that day. Mr. Fuller
was to furnish the passes and at Mrs. lie Coints
suggestion she was to go along
witness destined as to the ride he took on the
night of the 29th when Loveless drove him.
He went to his brother-in-laws and tried to
borrow pistol to take on the excursion to
richmond He had been playing the races and
drinking all day, 50 that in the evening he was
Keeling pretty lively. lie CONT account of the
purchase OF the pistol given on the stand today
tailed very well with that already given by the
CAP driver, and he also identified the pistol as
the one he bought
DENIES HAVING ASSAULTED HIS WIFE
Witness osGa 4 \
made any assault on his wife on the Wednesday
evening preceding the shooting and denied
that he made any trouble 1t was his wife who
raised the fuss. His wife became enraeed be-
cause when u Miss Fiddler had called when she
was ont he had invited her to come again. Mrs
LIE CONT pulled off her boot and threw it at
him. As for himself he had never raised his
hand against his wife in his life, save only to
grasp her by the wrist to prevent her from do
ing INN bodily injury. Miss Eaton was in the
room Mt the time of the trouble.
lie CONT said that he had known Frost for
about three months, and up to the night Of
the shooting regarded him as one of his best
friends.
HID you up to that time had any reason to
suspect that your wife and Frost were ON terms
OF undue intimacy was question asked by
Mr.. Thomas.
The government objected on the ground that
the question presumed a state of things that
had not been proved and even if it had was OF
no material importance to the case Mt ISSUE
Judge Bradley sustained the objection, and the
defense added another to their long list of ex-
ceptions.
HIS ACTIONS ON DECORATION DAY.
lie CONT then went on to describe his actions
on Decoration day. He asked his wife to 60 to
Baltimore and then to go driving. She de-
clined both invitations. He lay down on a
lounge and in a few minutes Frost came in
after knocking, and seemed very much embar-
rassed at finding witness in the ROOM Witness
said that he asked his wife to go to Oak Hill to
visit their babies graves. This was the remark
that Frost had twisted around into a statement
that he would take his wife to the cemetery
and plant her there
Witness described his going to the station
with Frost with the intention of going to Bulti-
more. When he got on the train and found all
the other men with their swecthearts or wives
he got Disguised with the idea Of going to Balti-
more alone, and decided to 60 over to Jackson
City and play the races. He came back about
4:30 and met Miss Eaton by accident, as she
had described. He dined alone between 6 and
o'clock and then walked up and down Penn
sylvania avenue. Later in the evening be went
up and watched the people come out of Al
baughs and afterward stayed at Russelrs until
that placed close u
He then went home and found his wife in a
state Of dishabille. He kissed her and then
noticed that she had been smoking and drink
ing. She denied the cigarettes, but owned up
to the wine. This ana all the events Of the day
conspired to worry him great deal and he
wanted to go ont and seek excitement az a re-
lief to his mind and so took the poker china a nd