Evening star., 1895-04-16
IN HIS OWN BEHALF
Taylor Describes the Killing of His
Wifa
Shooting Claimed to BE Accidental
Insanity and Accident the Double
Defense of the Prisoner.


resumed this morning before Judge Cole
in Criminal Court, No. 2, in the presence
of q greatly crowded court room. AS on
yesterday, the defendants sister sat beside
him, and his pretty little three-year-old
daughter sat in her aunt's lap. just across
the corridor from where her unfortunate
father was on trial for his life.
AS stated in The Star, the testimony Tor
the government closed yesterday afternoon.
and after Mr.. 0. D. Barrett had explained
to the jury that the defense would be first
that the shooting was accidental. and that
it was the result of the defendants insani-
ty, witnesses were called by the de1ense
who testified to the fact that Taylor suffer-
ed from epilepsy, was severely kicked wnen
child by a horse, and was at times very
peculiar. Mrs. B. Wagner, Dr. Jenn ).
Slattery Annie Kemp and ]. p. B. Barber
testified this morning, their testimony be-
ing to that effect. -.-
About IL o'clock today the defendant was
placed on the witness stand. and proceeded
to testify in a clear. collected manner. al
though evidently iaboring under quite
mental strain.
Prisoners Statement.
Taylor stated that he lived with his
cousin, Lucy A. Carter, until he was SIX
teen years of age, When twelve years old
he was kicked in the head by horse ana
severely injured. Since then, he stated. he
had suffered from fits at frequent inter-
walls. He had been engaged in dinerent
occupations, and at the time of the shoot
ing was driving q bakers wagon. .Iaylor
also said that he was an habitual sleep
walker and suffered greatly from night
mare and sometimes, upon waking, would
find his pillow covered with blood.
He related a dream he had while at the
Jail, in which he saw a beautiful woman
standing near him. A little child sat at
the foot of the bed and held his feet as he
attempted to go to the woman.
Coming down to the time of the shooting
TayIor stated that he started out on his
wagon at 2:3O in the morning. He returned
to his home the first time about o'clock.
and was proceeding to state What ne tnen
saw and heard there. when Mr Birney
objected, contending that the uefanSe being
insanity no alleged provocation could be
shown.
His Disease.
Mr. Barrett claitaed that the evidence
was admissible, as it would tend to show
that what the defendant then saw and
heard at his home aroused such excitement
in the man as to cause insanity, or ire
sponsibility for the crime. Mr.. Barrett
claimed that they had shown that the de-
fendant suffered from epilepsy. which was
at least medical insanity.
Judge Cole held. however, that epilepsy
was not in itself, legal insanity. ana the
alleged excitable things seen and heard oy
the defendant at his home at O'CLOCK
been shown that his disease was likely to
be so affected by such matters as to cause
insanity
The defense noted an exception. and then
Taylor stated that when he left the mouse
at 4 o'clock he endeavored to finish his de-
livery route, but could not. He went nome
again about 8 o'clock the same morning.
and, after making the kitchen fre. called
he wished to talk with her about what he
had seen and heard at o'clock. but Mr..
Birney objected to any statement OF tnat
kind.on the ground that the alleged wrong
doing of the wife or any quarrel was no
justification for the crime.
Ruled Out.
your honor" exclaimed Mr.. E. q. Niles.
'is the district attorney going to send this
nan to the gallows without chance to
say a word in defense or explanation?'
IT object" retorted Mr.. Birney, "for per-
scnal and other reasons to such remarks
of counsel"
yes" remarked Judge Cole, that is
hardly proper
IT beg the courts pardon. and Mr.. Bir-
Iey's," teplied Mr.. Niles. but we desire
to remind the court that one of our de-
ferses is that the shooting was accidental"
Judge Cole SmCothed the rufiled feelings
of counsel, but declined to allow the de-
fendant to state the conversation with his
r-ife previous to the shooting. Then Taylor
went on to say that when his wife came
tiCn with her respecting what he had Sc en-
and heard. when he came home at oclo TX
that morning. AS the result of that con-
versation, he explained. he suddenly be-
came very much excited and depressed, and
as filled with a desire to end his life.
The Fatal Shot.
Glancing up, said Taylor, he saw his pis-
tol. self-cocker, lying on a shelf. He
reached for 1t. pointed 1t at his breast, and
fred His wife grabbed his arm as he at
tempted to fire at himself again, and she
received the second bullet. He exclaimed
My God. Mamie, are hurt?" to which
she replied mo, not much. Don't kill
yourself" He then placed her or the
lounge, called for assistance, and endeav-
ored to revive the dying woman. Then the
room filled with people, and he inquired If
his wife's wound was fatal, saying that he
would finish himself. Il devotedly loved
my wife explained Taylor, "and had no
thought or desire of killing her."
Counsel for the defense again attempted
to have Taylor state the conversation he
had with his wife previous to the shooting,
but Judge Cole refused to allow it, saying
that il the shooting was accidental, or If
the man was insane, the defendant Is not
guilty; otherwise, he is.
Mr.. Barrett then stated that they would
ask the defendant nothing further until
after more foundation had been laid by
other testimony as to the mans tendency
to insanity.
To Mr.. Birney the defendant stated that
he remembered of firing but one shot. He
cited and PROSTATE :, his only thought being
to kill himself. He SAID he knew OF no one
here but one unknown man having seen
him in a fit, although he had them fire.
cuently at the Jail. He admitted having
be en- once discharged by an employer be-
Of fYfn