Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-15
Commencement Of the Taylor Muir
der Trial Today.
INSANITY TEE PROBABLE DEFENSE
Witnesses Tell Of the Tragedy Last
September.
W Ate HE'D HER DIE

ThoS. j. Taylor, the young man VINO Snot
and killed his wife. Mamie w. Taylor. at
their home, 1872 18th street southeast. on
the 14th of last September. was placed on
trial before Judge Cole in Criminal Court
No. 2 this morning charged with murder.
The defendant, accompanied by his sister,
was represented by Messrs. o. D. Barrett
and E. G. Niles, District Attorney Birney,
assisted by Mr.. Tracey L. Jeffords. prose-
cutting. The court room was well filled, al
though not crowded.
Little trouble was experienced In the Sc
lection of jury. the twelve men finally
selected being: J. HERE Purdy, E. N.
Throckmorton, Washington Donaldson.
Ransom L. Main. VIM. NJ. George. Thorn
Collins. Fred Parks. Griffith E. Hid, VIM.
K. Stevens and Bernard Mooney. Mr.. Biz
ney, opening the case to the jury. stated
that the government would expect to show
that about o'clock on the morning Of the
14th Of last September Taylor shot his
wife at their home, and also inflicted
slight wound on himself and that when
persons attracted by the shots entered the
in the throes Of death, Taylor explained
that he had shot her and then shot him
self.
Counsel for the defense reserved their
opening, but 1t Is understood that the de-
Tense will claim emotional insanity. 1t be-
ing claimed that Taylor was crazed be-
b
deity.
First Witness.
The first witness called by the prosecu-
ton was Zimari Rodgers. who stated that
his attention was attracted by the shots.
Entering the house. he found Mrs. Taylor
lying on lounge in the dining room. shot
through the body. Her husband stood near
her, pistol in his hand, and suffering from
a wound in the left shoulder.
Dr. W. P. C. Hazen testified to making
an examination of Mrs. Taylor's wound.
stating that the ball entered about an inch
below the sternum. penetrating the liver
and lodging in the back.
JOS. P. B. Berber stated that he entered
the house shortly after the shooting. and
met Taylor coming out of the room where
the shooting had occurred. He remarked,
Its all over now" Witness saw Mrs.
pain, apparently unconscious. Taylor, COM
ing back, asked witness If he thought her
wound was a fatal one. remarking that II
pistol. and would make 1t SO. Taylor also
asked the doctor if his wife's wound was
fatal. Before Taylor was taken to the -po-
lice station he knelt down beside his wife
and embraced and kissed the dying wo-
man. exclaiming, May God forgive you for
what you have d.ne.'' The man appeared
to be wild and excited.
Benz. F. Graham gave similar testimony,
stating that Taylor explained that the
shoe ting was done by mutual consent.
MIS-. Taylor was heard to ask for water,
but appeared to be unconscious. When
Taylor embraced the dying woman he said:
Mamie, you'n soon be over there, and
wish l was going with you" He also said:
witness stated to Mr.. Niles that he thought
Taylor acted as il not in his right mind,
as II he was deranged.
Policeman Gustav Kramer, after DR..
Sterling Ruffin had testified as to the
nature of Mrs. Taylor's wound, testified
that when he entered the room to arrest
Taylor the latter said: Il suppose you
are after me. I'm the man who did it."
Two empty cartridges were found in the
pistol and one or two loaded ones Taylor
was in a greatly excited condition when
arrested, few minutes after the shooting.
Policeman VIM. Evans testified that he
carried Mrs. Taylor to Providence Hospital,
where she died in about twenty minutes.
Laura Brown. the sister Of the deceased
woman, gave unimportant testimony, be-
ing the last witness for the government.
Defense Opened.
Mr. Barrett opened the case to the jury
on behalf of the defendant, explaining that
the defendant had been kicked by a horse
in the head when a boy and severely in
jured.
He also suffered at times from fits and
spasms. He had such an attack shortly
previous to the shooting, and his excite
ment therefrom was greatly Increased by
information that his wife had been I'M
faithful.
Mrs. Lucy A. Davis was first called by
the defense, and testified to the defendants
injuries while boy, and to the fact that
he had suffered from sunstroke and spasms.