Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-10-26
PROCEEDING SLOWLY.
A WITNESS ANSWERS EQUWOCALLY,


The taking of testimony in the
Thomas murder trial was proceeded
with in the criminal branch of the
Third district court this morning and
II the witnesses thus far examined are
samples Of what are to come, 1t is
likely to develop itsesf into a comedy
drama before the case Is through with.
Nearly the whole of the morning ses-
sion was devoted TO the cross cxamina-
ton Of Mrs. McAfee, at whose house
the shooting occurred. The witness
got along fairly well on direct exam
nation and when Mr.. Putnam con-
cluded by saying, that's ALL" Mrs. Nc
Afee got down from the witnses chair.
She was intercepted by Attorney
Hutchinson with, "wait a moment" at
the same time pointing to the seat she
had Just vacated. The witness re-
turned TO her seat giving the attorney
a look that Indicated she didn't hold
him in very high esteem. Then the fun
began, Instead of answering the at
torney's questions, the witness would
equ!vooate and start off on something
else foreign to the question. When Mr.
Hutchinson asked her how long she
and her friends were engaged in the
struggle for the possession of the re-
volver in Mrs Thomns's hands. her
answer was, DO you 'spose a pusson's
gwine to pull out his watch to time
themselves on a little ting like dat2"
Again when counsel asked her where
she kept the sugar bowl Uhe witness
had previously stated that she had
grabbed 1t and threatened to hit Mrs.
Thomas over the head with It II she
didn't put the razor DOWN, We'll
l.
sugar bowl. up stairs? and then Mrs.
McAfee would turn her head away in
disgust.
The witness had said that the de-
ceased came to her house to get some
eggs to put under q hen. Were you
selling eggs?" asked Mr.. Hutchinson.
mo, but / s'pose like all decent folks
we had some in the house." was the
reply.
Once or twice the crowd broke out in
hearty laugh which was quickly sup
pressed by Judge Norrell. who threat
ened to clear the court room II it was
repeated
The Jury as selected comprises o.
N. Despair y. A. Ridd, ]. r. F1agg.
G. A. Carlquist, Lewis Hoagland, q.
w. Proctor. Charles Plant, Thomas
johnson. w. X. Jones Jr.. James God
frey, James MoGhie and Robert Fisher.
OF this number five were Jurors in
the Hamilton murder case They are
.. N. Despair c. A. Carlqust, Lewis
Hoagland, Thomas johnson and Rob
ert Fisher.
Although It has not yet been stated
II Is understood that the defendants
defense will be insanity.
Clerk Little read the information,
when Assistant County Attorney Put
nam made the opening statement to
the Jury. He said that the evidence
of the State would show that Samuel
Thomas. husband of the defendant,
was a colored soldier and a member
OF the 24th infantry band, and that on
the night of the Sth OF last June Mrs.
Thomas went to a house on State
street. kept by Mrs. Lizzie McAfee
and shot her husband from the effects
of which he died few days later.
Lizzie McAfee tcolored) was the first
witness called. She said she was n
married woman and the mother of
two children. She had resided in Salt
Lake for about four years. Last June
she lived at 4i6 State street. She knew
Samuel Thomas. She first met him
last winter. He came to her place
about o'clock In the evening Of the
Sth Of June. There were two other
women In the house. Knew Mrs. Cora
Thomas. the defendant. who came TO
her place the night of June Sth Wit
ness was first to see her enter the
front door. As soon as the deceased
saw his wife he made for the back
door when Mrs. Thomas fired two shots
at him Witness asked her what she
was doing md her reply was that she
wanted to kill her husband. Witness