The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-27
THE TRIAL OF MRS. FLEMING
ATTORNEY MILLER BRoUGHr OUT
FIXTURES IN HER CAREER,


The Defendant Became Hostile to Her
Mother and Called Her Names-Testi-
mony Given by the witnesses Called
Looks Very Black for the Accused-Did
Not Show Any Signs of Grief.
New York, May 26.-The trial of Mary
Alice Almont Livingston Fleming, who
\ is accused of poisoning her mother, Ev-
elina M. Bliss, on August 80, 1895, be-
gan here to-day. Assistant District
Attorney Miller opened the case for the
people. He said:
when this crime was first suggested
X it was appalling to every one and It
\ was only when the evidence was col
lected step by step and brought to bear
\ that the abiding conviction of the guilt
of the defendant came to the people.
Mr.. Miller entered into history of
the Livingston family. He said the de-
fendant was the daughter OF Robert
\ Swift Livingston, who died in 1867 and
n left life interest to his widow in his
\ property. The defendants mother mar
n ried Hon. E. H Bliss in 1868. The for
tune of Mrs. Bliss slipped away through
\ unfortunate investments, until at the
4 time of her death the city chamberlain
\ only held $4,000 belonging to her.
II Mr.. Miller sketched Mrs. Fleming S
4 career, bringing out the worst features.
i He said:
Il "a child was born to this defendant,
Il Miss Livingston, as she was then called,
and she brought suit against Henry
u Fleming for breach of promise.
Mr.. Brooke, for the defense, objected
and the recorder sustained him.
4 Mr.. Miller then came to the time that
4 Mrs. Fleming formed the acquaintance
of young man named Ferdinand. Mrs
4 Bliss, he said, did not favor the ac-
quaintance and Mrs. Fleming used to
meet him clandestinely. Mrs. Bliss,
n when she found the condition the de-
4 fendant was in, begged her daughter
Ito give UP the intimacy with Ferdinand
The defendant became hostile to her
y mother and called her names. Mr.. Mil
~ lCI ISltIIGu W IIlC 0GlCLde'hC . AAiie1AASA@ei
N troubles and her efforts to get part OF
II the money left her. He then said that
Il on the Wednesday before that fatal
n Friday Mrs. Fleming received her moth
u er in the Colonial hotel. the defendant
"a had a violent disagreement with her
@ mother The defendants position was
III most serious She was without funds.
III Her mother had told her that she must
g find another home, and was constantly
n upbraiding her. Two days after the
III quarrel the defendant learned that her
M mother was to be alone. Then it was
that the poison chowder was sent which
a caused Mrs. Bliss death. A gentleman
N who had been with Mrs. Bliss the week
Il before returned expectedly in time to
q save her life for time, SO that the
"a doomed woman was able to accuse her
y murderess in her dying words. Mr.
q Miller told about the arrest. The mo-
Il tive of the alleged crime, he said, was
d to get possession of the money that
Twas in the hands of the city chamber
il lain.
Il Frank E. Towle, jr., a surveyor, was
n the first witness He presented and ex-
4 slplained diagram of the fiat occupied
Il by Mrs. Bliss.
d August L. Tubner, commercial
4 Sgtraveler, testified that Mrs. Bliss, Miss
81 Florence Bliss and himself went to
#3Point Pleasant a few days before Mrs
E4Bliss died Florence remained at Point
q Pleasant and he and Mrs. Bliss return
led to the city. He left for Maryland
#ithe next day and returned on August &c
Hand saw Mrs Bliss. In consequence OF
|ia conversation he had with her he went
Edown stairs for the housekeeper He
Ewas not allowed to tell the nature OF
1.-THE conversation. The housekeeper
Mrs. Van Norden, hurried to Mrs. Bliss
Broom and found Dr. Bullman there
|aWitness saw some medicine in Mrs
lBliss' room. It was a kind of powder
HHe tried to put some of it on hel
|3tongue as ordered by the doctor. He
Hsaid: 'The sufferings of Mrs. Bliss
|alarmed me, and l went down stairs
|ito see Mrs. Van Norden."
COLLECTED to- shouted Mr. Brooke.
Witness said about 10 or IL O'Clock
Ithat night he went again for the doctor.
1.-THE doctor went in to see Mrs. Bliss
Hand said she was dead. Mrs. Bliss ap-
&peared to be in ordinary health at the
XIlIQe OI the NlOuHl itdodHt tAlp.
Mrs. Van Norden, the agent for the
Iflat where Mrs. Bliss died, testified that
lin consequence of what Mr.. Tubner told
her she went to Mrs. Bliss fiat and saw
her in the bath room. She was on her
Sknees purging and vomiting. Her face
was very pale and she was perspiring
livery freely Witness said she assisted
Mrs. Bliss to her bed. DR.. Bullman
came and examined Mrs. Bliss. By the
hoctor's orders she put mustard plas-
her on Mrs Bliss abdomen. Mrs. Bliss
died that night.
Witness saw defendant the following
bay Defendant said her mother S
Heath was a surprise. Witness said
she took package off the dumb waiter
that same evening and put it in Mrs.
Bliss room. 1t was a package from
drug store.
Mrs. Mary A. Leonard, janitress OF
the ST. Nicholas avenue fiat, where Mrs.
Bliss died, testified that she and Mr..
Cubner had tried in vain to give Mrs.
Bliss the powder that the doctor had