The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-28
MISS MITCHELL TESTIFIES.
MADE A WITNESS BIZ TIE STATE
AGAINST her CASE

Murdercss OF Freda Ward to the Stand
she Gives the ruu Details OF the Murder
In . Matter. eEfaot Way. but Breaks
Down when Questioned rs to Her Love-
MEMPHIS. July 27.-Alice Mitchell was put on
tho stand to-day. and she told every detail OF
the murder OF Freda Ward with a. little show
OF remorse as butcher might betray in tell
Ing Of killing sheep. Judge. counsel. jury.
and audience leaned forward listening In
tenty Only when her affection for Freda
was touched on did she betray any emotion
Then tho tears flowed. but tho moment the
subject was changed she resumed her former
calmness. The defence closed yesterday and
tho first witness to-day for the State wns Mrs.
W. II. Volkman. the sister OF Freda Her testl-
mony elected nothing new. and was repo-
tition OF what her husband md slster had
testified to when put on the stand by the de-
fence.
The next witness was Ashley Roselle. whose
nnme has figured SO extensively In the case.
Jealousy Of him caused Alice to threaten his
life. and once to attempt her own. Ashley pre-
sented the appearance OF n country boy dressed
in store clothes. He told OF meeting Alice
Mitchell Mt Gold Dust last July. In August
she wrote to him. and they kept up n regular
correspondence. exchanging letters once a
week right UP to tho time OF the MUIR
OeT ne Ttce!Neu tle laSt letN'A OHly a
few days before that event. He also cor
responded with Freda Ward. Though close to
Gold Dust. he mailed his letters to Memphis,
either at the general delivery or In care OF
Alice Mitchell Alice would enclose the letter
to Freda in ono Of her own. Freda wrote him
by the same channel this roundabout way be-
ing adopted to keep Brother-n-law Volkmar
from finding 1t out. The witness admitted
that he was "smitten" with both girls and
his letters were somewhat ardent in char
acter. Finally Freda wrote him that she must
cease corresponding with him; that Alice
Mitchell and Lille Johnson were going to
Chicago. and that Mr.. Vokmar objected to her
receiving letters from young men. She wrote
no more. but Alice continued to write.
Gen. Peters asked tho witness II he was not
in love with Alice Mitchell. In an embarrassed
way he said he did not know about that He
admitted that his letters to Alice might be
called love letters. He was not engaged to
her. He did not remember to havo proposed
marriage to her. but admitted that he had
talked all around the subject. Ho did not ex-
pect her to marry him. Her letters to him re-
ferred frequently to Frcda. and he thought she
was trying to find out how much he thought
OF Freda.
Then Attorney General Peters ask ed for the
letters. The witness said he had destroyed
come. and the others he gave to Attorney
darlington OF the defence. Gen. Peters asked
him il he could not get them from Mr.. Edring-
ton. He replied that he didn't have to-" ut
which pert reply everybody who knew Judge
Dubose's ways expected tho rash youth to
land in the sweat box" but instead he Just
ordered Mr.. Darlington to ths stand. Mr.. Ed
rington said the letters were in tho safe o!
one OF tho counsel for the defence. but he re-
fCped to give them W before consulting tho
other attorneys In the case.
Col. Grant undertook to convince the Court
that he had OF the power to force the defence
to produce the letters. and lively argument
followed. Finally counsel for the defence
yielded the point and sent for the letters but
curiosity us to their contents was not graft
led for before they were produced the case
was ended. both sides announcing that they
had nothing moro to offer in evidence.
Ashley Rosclle being excused. there was n
whispered consultation between counsel for the
State. and then Gen Peters arose nnd asked
the Court II the State hal right TO put tho
defendant ON the stand Tho defence rOmpt-
ly and strenuously objected. and long ar
gument ensued. The code provides that in
lunacy proceedings the subject shall be pro-
scented to the Jury for inspection and eXamina-
ton. and 1t is in tho province of the jury to
ask questions to convince themselves OF the
subjects mental condition but this applies to
proceedings before II Sherifrs jury and
the Probate and Chancery courts No rule
of practice Is laid down for criminal
courts. Judge Duboso announced his purpose
to establish precedent. and he ordered Miss
Mitchell to take the stapd. She walked to the
witness stand with quite jaunty air. Judge
DuDose ordered Gen. Peters to examine her
She was not alashe. by the situation. and
answered the questions put 70 her In O clear
voice and lou,i tone and ntelliGently.
How long have you known Freda Ward?"
II hnvo known her ever since ] can remem-
one ss ne IfYb her Tf Win II 70 bnnss
to God Dust; told Of mcrtinG Will Borum and
Ashley i.oselle there: oi her correspondence
WITH AshIeY; OF th!nfing. from what she saw.
purpose not touching uion the tragedy. Every
question she answered without hesitation.
%tn snrG naSry for eda"y"F sh rather
pressed every ON" with her sanity. and evsn
n@r Guns, looked rs though tne result WAS ,
cause. But suddenly thcie was IL change
Did you not want Ashley to marry herr"
man and her ~ began to qpIyer.
why not" pursued Gen. Peters.
because wanted hcr for myself" was tho
ssnswer. gwen in pitIul topo., Then the tears
N@ 1 to tho tho DAY Of the tragedy she sad
Fred9 winkod ut her with her right eye at tho
tSn nS nm St before The mIraGE That
lett the buggy in charge Of Lille Johnson and
started down the hill. he tears flowing afresh
as she said she wanted to see Freda once
more.
why did you follow herr" asked Gen. Pc
tors.
ITO cut her throat" was the prompt reply.
given as though she was surprised at the
question.
Why did you want to cut her throat?"
asSrl Gen. Peters
"Hccause knew ! could not have her and
ddat want any ono else to have her.' and
again tho tears fell. She was then asked TO
toll what followed. She recovered her COM
posUre quickly and. as though she was relat
ing t." most commonplace incident. told tho
story OF tho murder, corrooorating every eye
witness Of it: and not omittinG single detail
M: When oyertook Fr9da at once cut her
And XIII her there. and then eat my own throat
thought # would be better to DO it on tho
and less public than on the street, but when
cnmo W with her thought would do 1t then.
froda tried to say On or SON sthng like that
when Lieut., her, Just then some one screamed.
either Joe Ward or Miss Purnrll.
Knocked my hat of. She. said You dirty