Evening journal., 1892-07-28
ALICE TELLS HER STORY
Miss Mitchell Coolly Describes
the Murder of Freda Ward.
SHE DECLARES SHE WANTS TO DIE


Chatted with Her Friends-rhe Case
Closed aud Judge Dnbose WIN Deliver
His Charge 60 the Jury ON Friday.
MEMPHIS July 2s.-The last act Of the
Nice Mitchell case has been reached There
Eas a thrilling scene Ia the criminal cour:
room when the fair and frail looking mur-
deress Of Freda Ward st IN the witness
stand and told the story Of her love, her
hate, jealousy and her awful crime. Before
Miss Mitchell was placed ON the witness
stand there was scene which, owing to
the excitable temperament of all the parties
concerned, caused some uneasiness.
Mrs Volkman, Freda Wards sister, had
testified and ASHER Roselle had told how
he made love TO both Freda aud Alice, when
General Peters announced that he desired
to have Miss Mitchell placed on the stand
He said he did not know whether the state
had a right or not, but he was going to ask
that Alice Mitchell be put on the witness
stand and presented TO the jury for inspec-
tion and examination
General Wright objected to her being
cross examined as witness and insisted
that this was not a chancery inquest Of
lunacy, but a case where the attorneys
made the plea, and that for no other reason
than that Alice Mitchell was not capable Of
conducting her own defense, and conse-
qucntly could not testify.
The state insisted, and Mr.. Fitzgerald
made some remarks which brought General
Wright TO his feet with an eloquent plea
for his client that almost conquered the
curious desire of the men TO see ler make a
curious spectacle Of herself. He pleaded
for the sake of her sex and for the sake Of
her family that she be not placed on the
stand. The dispute waXed hotter until
Judge Debose ordered William Fitzgerald
TO take his seat. He then stated that there
was no precedent that covered this case and
he proposed TO establish a rule.
lie ordered Alice Mitchell to be placed on
the stand, but said she was there for inspec-
ton and examination only, and not as a
witness For this reason, he held, there
was no necessity for swearing her.
Miss Mitchell took the stand, and there
was n surge forward by the eager audience
TO get within carshot OF her. The deputies,
however, quickly drove them back. There
was q slight pause as Alice Mitchell looked
directly at the jury, every man Of which
attorney, having gained his point, appeared
embarrassed, and for an instant murmur
of pity was heard in the room. Il was in
terrupted, however, by the court sharply
ordering General Peters TO proceed to ex-
anime her.
Miss Mitcheli's story.
To the questions propouuded by General
Peters she made the following replies:
"Ever since ! can remember" a3
Were you iriendssN we We're always
friends
How many times did you visit Gold Dust,
Tenn. z" Twice; once by myself and on the
last visit Lillio johnson accompanied mcn
"Dd you know Of any one who was in love.
with Freda Wardy 81 thought wiz Borum
and Henry Ro.elle loved herr
did you not want Ashley Rosello 20 marry
herf' Il did net want her 10 marry any young
man"
"whyf" Because l wanted her for myself"
Here the witness began to sob The at
torney general paused; her father and her
brother bent down their heads and wept,
but the court looked more stern and ruth
lessly continued the examination.
did any words pass between you and Freda
Ward just before the killingsn "She only
winkod her right eye at me.N
"Did that mean anythingln "Freda always
told mo that winAing tho right eye meant i
love you,
"How far did you follow Fredai" Il do not
know much about distances, but think it was
half way down the custom house pavement
"Why did you follow Freda down the pave
MONTY IL wanted 20 see Freda once more"
Hero Alice again became convulsed with
emotion and tearsl
"Why did yol persist i'm following herY'
Because did not want anybody else to have
her. ] wanted to follow Frcda TO the boat and
XIII her there, for the street was too public"
"But why did you want TO kill her at all II
you loved herio II knew Harry Bilger loved
Froda and ! was afraid ahley Roselle did, and
I killed her to keep her from marrying either
Of them"
How sho Did the Deed.
''Tell the story from the time you saw Freda
on the pavement Il took the razor out while
going down the hill. when I reached Freda
cut ber with the razor. ! cut her throat first;
that was tho first cut gave her As I cut her
throat she tried TO say, Oh, or something like
that Then ! heard a scream. don't know
who screamed il was DO Ward or Miss Par.
nell. Then 10 hit mo with the umbrella and
said, You dirty dog. saw She was going 10
bit me with the umbrella again and / struck at
her with the razor In my hand. ] cut her l
thought. on the chin. ! didn't mean 70 cut her,
but whom she said, You dirty dog, IL made me
mad, aud I didn't know what ! was doing /
intended TO cut Frodas throat and then cut
mino but 10 made mo mad and ran after
Froda and cut her again. / didn't mean TO cut
her up that way; had cut her throat and all |
wanted TO do was 90 cut her so as to kill her. /
fully intended TO kin myself By the side of
Flcda, but when Jo hit me with the umbrella
got excited and did not know just exactly
what ! was doing.N
where did you usually carry that razorg'
I'm the pocket OF my dress"
Whom did you love best In an the worldf"
Il loved freda Ward better than any one
else"
"But did you not love your father and moth.
er.' YES; but not like / loved her" Here
witness again woprl
edo You know She Is deadf" "Dcadf Oh
/ yes. 7 know Freda was dead they told me my
/ Frcda was dead.N Here witness again broke
] down ana eobbed bittcrlyl
''Nou.d you like 10 see Freda nowsn "Yes
/ on. if ] could only see hcri"
III you had her now would you want 20 kin
hor agalns' u don't know what would do g
$50 you wanted 90 marry Fredaf" eyes. sir. 9
did YOU not know it was wrong for tw,
rouug ladies to marrygn "Nes; butI hought i
dressed Ike a man no one would know Ia,
difference
where diG you intend togos" "We intcndet
90 go 90 ST.. Louis and there 4 intended 20 work
for hcr'
why did you wfito % young mon~ 'Mere
y ior the purpose oi passing away time
ttN.U Won love ..fIfn .TUnmaunsn ffIe,.1 ] II