Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-18
DRAWING TO A CLOSE
Probably One More Day Of the Taylor MUIR
der Trial.
The Government Produces Evidence
in RebuttaI-The Alleged Fits of
TnylOr-Witncsses Today.

There was another large crowd in at
tendance today at the trial of Thomas ].
Taylor, charged with the murder Of his
wife, Mamie W., at their home on the 14th
Of last September, every seat being occu-
pied and many persons standing. Among
these present were several women, and
DR.. John B. Chaplin Of Philadelphia, the
well-known expert in diseases of the mind,
who will, it is understood. testify on be-
half of the government -'" 7'
Yesterday afternoon after The Stars re-
port of the trial closed the defendant con-
cluded his testimony, claiming that he shot
his wife accidentally. after having first
tried to kill himself. Taylor asserted that
his wife admitted being unfaithful. To
Judge Cole Taylor denied that he ever
drank to excess. and claimed that he dis
tinctly remembered the incidents previous
to the shooting
With the defendants testimony the de-
Tense rested and MIR. Birney called as his
hrst witness in rebuttal Wilbur j. Carter
who stated that he had known Taylor from
boyhood. and never knew of him suffering
from fits.
Testimony Resumed.
The first witnesses called today were
Clara ard Laura Brown, and Mrs Alice
Adams. sisters of the defendants wife.
The defendant had testified that he lad
been an affectionate husband, and had al
ways treated his wife kindly. The de-
ceased woman's sisters. however, testified
that they had frequently observed marks
eloped with Taylor, but that she Invariably
endeavored to make light of her husband
apparent ill-treatment: The sisters also
defendants wife with clothing. They
never knew of Taylor having fits
Mrs. Victoria L. Clarkson testified that
she was in the Taylor home at the time of
the shooting. She heard shot, and either
a moment before or after the report heard
Mrs. Taylor exclaim: Before God In
Heaven, 1 am innocent" Then Taylor call
ed out that he had shot himself and his
wife.
John w. Bean stated that Taylor had
worked for him for quite while, but had
not known of him having fit. The de-
PENDANT was quick tempered when things
did not suit him. The man also drank
some.
Adward ]. Adams, the defendants brother
fn-law, testified to visiting him at the Jail,
he was sorry he had failed to kill himself.
He endeavored to talk further about the
shooting, but the witness would not allow
him.
Dr.. Chas. C. Marbury of Providence Hos
pital described Mrs Taylor's wound, stat
ing that she lived about twenty-five min.
utes after reaching the hospital. Her
dress was scorched by powder. &.
Jail officials.
After the usual midday recess Mr.. Biz
ney called Jail Guard James Woodward,
who testified that he had observed Taylor
at the Jail, but did not know of the man
having a fit.
DR.. D. X. Shute. the Jail physician stated
that the defendant had no fits while at the
jail, and from what he had seen of the man
while at the Jail he had concluded that he
is sane.
Dr. John b. Chaplin of Philadelphia was
the next witness for the government, and
stated that he had treated about 1000 in
sane patients. Many times he had treated
cases of epilepsy. and then he at great
length deserted the disease. The defend
ant. Is tnought, had symptoms of epilepsy.
But Taylor. he said, could not have been
suffering from epilepsy at the time Of the
shooting If he remembered the details of it.
DR.. Chaplin said he did not believe in mo-
mentary insanity. and having examined
the defendant and heard his testimony and
that of the other witnesses, saw nor heard
anything to lead him to believe that Tay-
lor Is row insane or was so at the time OF
the shooting.
DR.. Chapin was subjected to a long cross
examination by Mr.. Barrett, but nothing
new was developed.
That closed the case for the government
and the defense proceeded to call few wit
| nesses in sur-rebuttal, the case finally
closing at 2:i5 o'clock. 1t Is expected that
| the case will go to the jury late tomorrow
afternoon.