New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-02
THE DEAD MAN ATTACKED.
TESTIMONY AGAINST GOoDwIN'S CHARAC
TER.
WEBSTER DEFENDING HIMSELF BY BLAMING

THE MAN HE KILLED.
The defence in the trial OF Burton c. Webster slayer
Of Charles E. Goodwin. jr continued yesterday its
attempts to show that the prisoner had long been meek
and patient under series of insults offered by Goodwin
TO his wife and had fired the fatal shot only when in
fear OF his life. Evelyn Granville, common law wife
Of the prisoner, the witness stand most Of the
afternoon, and In all her the stage she has
before played part so we'll. 1t had been ex-
peced that with her experience actress she would
make an excellent witness for the accused man. she
improved every cahce that the character offered and
acted admirably.
There naturally the greatest curiosity to hear
her. For some years she has been prominent in this
city from her connection with varous disreputable
currences and the expectation that some interesting
account Of her past life would drawn out in cross
examination PIT every spectator culver OF excite
ment when she was sworn She disappointed such
hopes by taking refuge undo principle that pro
tected her from answering quest which might tend
to degrade to ncrlmina'e her. When she refused
on this ground to tell the Assistant DiSrict-Attorney
what he wished TO know, several family skeletons
turned IN their closets and settled down another
nap
Mrs. Webster ard her servant Fannie Romane
cOntradcted testimony given directly after the shoot
Ing in important particulars. Now they say that they
merely saw Goodwin have the cuspdor appraised, and
did not him hur ii. In August they declared that
they bad n leave his hand break against the
door, Much Of the testimony yesterday related TO
Geodwins alleged msdeeds. lie said to have
assaulted Mrs. weteer in her room. and to have
insulted iher many times in the hall The husband
know Of the assault, but, it is said, conented him
self with demonstrating with Goodwin The question
arises, does this not prove too much Does it not
make Webster, who always went armed, rather too
mid and gentle and forbearlngi
Instead Of continuing his examination OF Fannie
Rouaine, CHlJustice Peter Mitchell for the defence,
called Peter Snyder TO aid IN backeing GcOdwin's
character. The witness is cashier of the Hudson
River Bank and lives at No. lao Wet Seventethst.
The unfinished letter found Goodw1n's desk an or
the shooting was addressed TO Snyder's wife, who
Is In Sioux Falls South Oak, getting divorce from
her husband. Her intention to marry Goodwin
when she obtained her decree, 1t is said. The defence
Is seeking 10 show that the dead man was father
Of the woman's three children Judge Cowing
reserved his decision On the admlssilihty OF the
evidence until to-day, snyder excused for
twenty four hours.
Fannie Romalne was then recalled Mr.. Mitchell
read no her parts OF ahe testimony in the police court
and asked her about them. Was she sure that when
Webster came back TO his after the shooting he
said to his wife that Goodwin had thrown cuspidor
q. him Yes, the witness sure Of that Then
Mr.. Mitchell announced that he had finished with
the woman.
In reply to questions by Mr. stapler the witness said
thar besides being chambermad two floor Of the
perysl she also attended Webster. She was in her
room frequently. on August she spent the entire after
noon with Mrs. Webster. The prisoner came III
te+reen 3 and O'Clock When Webster followed
Goodwin through the hall she and her mistress went
after them together They were side by SIDE wheh
the witness saw Goodwin with the cuspidor raised.
Fannie Romaine repeated her statement that she heard
a noise which sounded Ike crash. but did NJ
distinguish the sound Of pistol Mr. ntapier
asked her If she had not said in the police cour t'
she saw Goodwin take the cuspidor ana ulr'"
at Webster. No, the witness had nor said INIT
Did Won no. testify continued Mr.. stapler' read
ing from the police court records, that You 50" '
cps,Sdor thrown thar you thought 1t grazed WEBSTER
cbean and that Won were certain that 1t struck Tie
door and broker ,.. ,orht
fully al cannot remember =, ~,
Th,s was important to the prosecution. In 'he
..rt +ria, Fannie Romano has declared thst sie Only
saw Goodwin standing there. and dld not SEE INN -
Tho cnspdor Ii is the present theory OF the aeeoe
,h., Goodwin struck Webster In the lace VIVA o
ors ndor II seemed odd that Fannie Romano shou"
have walked some distance down the han"ay' o's
a, the two men, ano should have seen uooo"iu ia ~. o"
one position, and that one WHOM no oou'u na NV
occuped for more than fraction OF a secohu' n
Mr. Mitchell came to his witnesses rescue oy s
casting that an ofncer might have written INC s.A
ment down without reading IL 10 her' % ,,
,ssd hsr for more explicit information on inc p',n.
Fannie Romano said that she olah 'n''A ~
do az
Mr. Mitchell wanted to know what MIS- "eps'e'
~ - I'LL she was in tie hall. The prosecution
Objected 10 this. but was oveTruieo' 49,, x nc
- Get Nd Fannie" said Mr.. Mitchell. anu '"o" 40
ina, how Mrs Webster uttered the wous' ,
The witness arose. threw out her arms anu "S'
shrieked: "Look out Burt, he'll XIII YOU ,...,..
I,-or So 1a. Mr. Knaupf, wanted TO know WHETHER
~ -. roh,ed when she saw Goodwin in a huue
as1,.,o, IN the hall Mr. Mitchell started 10 put !"
an ohtcctIon. but Mr.. Howe pulled him ny inc eVaV
,aue and whispered: For gracious SAKE uon' M
s,T,, a ,nror.n Mr. Mitchell desisted. Inc "i'''''
I'D that the gas was lighted at the une' ,.,.
Captain Charles f. Lydecher. the fuoiio ,a' hnan
traitor, was called next lie Sao 'na' II" y,s aconts
puhlc Administrator since May, 1881 IFS "eo"U
,oo Coodwins effects from the Percival ana pious'
.hor, dcwntovn The witness had 'buhdle VI "''0'
belonging to the dead man. They were an iioi
hers Of his family. Captain Lydecker sdiu Una. 0 "
son+ most Of Goodwin's belongings TO his FANNY
Have YOU seen the letters written 70 MN pS N''
e.d. -, dakota - asked Mr.. Mitchell
0,,.ction was made and the question was ruled OUT
-. InHoe Cowine Il want 10 show" said MI Nit
cSel that although Goodwin was unmafiieu, 10
A.. SNYDER his dear wife. lie was playing Dr. 'eS'i
and Mr.. HYDE"
When stephen Macfarlanes name was cd".u -,
came forward from the rear oil the courUioon'' " ~
the witnesses had been excluded from inc iVoi' -"
-, district Attorney Mcintyre complained at Mac
- think It pure stupidity" said Mr.. Mitchell
oouslv The witness said he lived ut 10. %oo
proadway Brooklyn and in August last "a' ene'''e'
and night elevator man at the PercNai' ne 'u .''''
an about July Mrs. Webster came to him ier Pro'ec-
zion from Goodwin. He took Goodwin, VINO "aS
sL and a friend OF his, named Rcoid up IN the
a,.vator He saw Goodwin open the door 10 ME-
webster's room and enter Rcord tried 10 pu, MS
t.end hack. but Goodwin pushed ahead, seized the
woman about the waist and spoke endearng terms 10
her. Finally she escaped from him. ian on. OIL ,iie
room and the elevator car ~hch was s" a, '"a
49,. Cha told Macfarlane TO take her downstairs TO
NJ Wade the housekeeper. Rcod finally managed
10 drag his companion into bis room, where he locked
him In. lido,
Tho witness several times saw Goodwin walking
,,Inht where he cOIlld ANY