New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-11
PRICE THREE CENTS.
MRS. MACK TELLS HER TALE
AND MARTIN THORN LISTENS AND STILL
SMILES


BY THORN. SHE SAYS AND SHE
WAS FRIGHTENED INTO CARRY
ING OUT HIS oRDERs-TYE
MrRDERER'S CASE now
ALMOST HOPELESS.
Mrs. Augusta Mack. who is Jointly indicted
with Martin Thorn for the murder Of William
Guldensuppe. took the witness stand yesterday
morning. before Justice Smith and the Jury
empanelled for the case. and detailed fully
the circumstances under which the murder OF
Guldensuppe took place That Mrs. Mack
would turn States evidence was unexpected
until late on Tuesday night. when It was learned
that she had made a full confession. acting
under the advice OF her lawyer, Emanuel NJ
Friend The womans evidence was full and
comprehensive, and cross-examination by WILL
lam F. Howe. counsel for Thorn, failed to shake
her testimony In any imr ortant particular IL the
statements she made are not disproved by coun-
sci for the defence 1t seems certain that they
will send Martin Thorn to the electric chair.
Just what inducements offered 10 get
the confession from the woman is not known
Mr.. Friend would say nothing on the point
when approached on the subject. and District
Attorney Youngs was equally reticent. When
Mr.. Howe in cross-examnation asked the
woman what promises were made to her on
upon the stand Mrs. Mack said that no promises
were made to her and that she did what she
did solely from desire to ease her conscience.
THE STORY COMPLETE.
Mrs Nack's testimony covered the entire
ground OF the case from the time she first met
Thorn, in June, 1896 down to few days after
the murder had been committed. Mrs Mack
told how Thorn and Guldensuppe had quarreed.
how Guldensuppe had beaten Thorn. and how
Thorn had tried to get her to leave Gulden-
suDpe and had threatened both her and the
dead man. Then she proceeded 10 detail how,
&C ing under fear OF her life from Thorn. she
had obeyed his orders 10 lure Guldensuppe 10
the house In Woodsde how she stayed outside
and heard a shot. Then. she said, Thorn came
and told her that Guldensuppe was dead, and
sent her home with orders to return. When
she came back the woman said, the body had
been cut up She helped to tie. up one OF the
parcels containing part OF H. Ihen she anu
Thorn left the house and crossed ferry III
tom, she had brought Mrs Mack declared
that Thorn told her he dropped two parcels into
the river. and that they drove to the woods near
uisbhrdee and threw another parcel over
hank. She saw Thorn only once atter that'
ho so,d before they were both arrested.
Tho woman was on the stand about four
,ours The other witnesses Of the day were
mostly men who knew Guldensuppe and who
had Identified the parts Of the body. The owner
NJ the house at Woodsde testified to renting the
house 10 Thorn under the name OF F. Braun ana
aa,d that Thorr introduced Mrs. Mack as Mrs.
praun. He identified Thorn and Mrs. Mack In
court
CpowD OF THE MoRBIDLY CURIOUS.
Tho news that Mrs. Mack had turned states
avidence called a big crowd OF the morpioiS
curous TO the Queens County Courtho"'e'
Most NJ them were unable TO gain admittahce '"
the courtroom Nobody was admitted 10 'he
floor except those who had business, and the TWO
small galleries were soon so ful that al e
trance to them was stopped by the court a''e'u
ants. Among the spectators were NUMBER Oh
women who had abundant cause before '"e
aa,, u,as over TO wish themselves well out OF H.
,,.ho,ber thew did so or not The lawyers In the
,o ris,rict- Attorney Youngs, District-Attor-
o, O,cott Assistant District-Attorneys Rosal-
ekv and Davidson and Surrogate Weller, Tor tne
nresecrt,on. and william +. Howe and joseph
Moss for the defence, we're early on manu-
Justice Smith entered few minutes petore j"
o'clock The Jury followed and an instant ia'er
came Thorn, handcuffed to Police Captain Meth-
ven and a court attendant. There was prie'
nause before Dstrict-Attorney foungs an
nounced that the first witness or the DAY would
ha Mrs Augusta Mack A buzz Of expectancy
went over the courtroom. but IL died away III a"
instant as Mrs Mack appeared through the
,,,oir door She passed close to her accomplice'
ra Thorn from his seat behind his counsel
exed his eyes upon her, but the woman did not
look AT him either then or later.
ROTH ACCOMPLICEs EMOTIONLEss
Mrs. Mack. as most people know by this time.
Cant
nate and no acquired intelligence. She speaks
urglish with difficulty and the services OF an
,p,ernreter were frequently needed yesterday
yhiIe she gave her testimony. The woman told
har incredibly brutal story at first In low
.o,oo tba. grew stronger gradually. She mani
fasted no emotion. and recited the details OF the
revolving butchery without the least hesitatlon
except such was caused by the stupidi'y '"a'
nrevented her from understanding questiohs Pu.
. -. only once did she show any traces or
feo,ing and that was when Mr.. Howe leaning
over the rail. shook his finger at Ter ana said
,pterr,gativey: And you deliberately plot'ed
% murder William Guldensuppe did you| Az
this point the woman covered her race win her
hands and CALCULATED proAeniE w. "'' "''
Then she sobbed audibly
,r,.or,.s demeanor was even more remarkable
vostardav than at any time before The man
sat quietly Win Lao o'"'' 49,. -.
sr,uc on his placid face, and heard the woman
1''.. o,iderce that seems now almost certain to
send him to death. Through 1t all ne gave NJ
, .ho, ha was other than the most casual
90 snectators At times he seemed shghty
o,rused az Mrs Mack told how he had killed
Cudensuppe and cut his body into pieces ana
orca he laughed aloud There was much curl
ositv manifested by the spectators over Thorn,
ord when court was adjourned crowds fingered
70 see the prisoner taken away until the court
attendants had to clear the hall forcibly.
TOO STUPID TO TELL HER TALE.
Surrogate Weller undertook by his questions
90 ossist Mrs Mack in the telling OF her story.
not that she was in the least unwilling, but be-
cause she was stupid. The first part OF her tes-
,i,oonv dealt with her early life in Germany.