Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-05
MYERS IS PLACED ON TRIAL.
Sequel to n Sensational Episode of
the Inst Winter.

Sequel to n Sensational Episode of
the Last Winter.
The trial of David r.. Myers for the at
tempted murder OF his wife. Nora Myers,
was commenced in the criminal court before
Judge Baker yesterday. On March 16
of this year Myers shot his wife in the
head, inficting what proved to be only a
scalp wound, and then shot himself In the
head. Neither shots proved fatal. The af-
fair occurred in front of the house where
the couple were rooming, at Seventeenth
and California streets, about 8 o'clock in
the evening.
Myers and his wife had had considerable
trouble before the shooting occurred. Ac-
cording to the stories told by both at the
time, they were married In Memphis and
lived together about six weeks, when the
woman left home and came to Omaha, where
she was employed in a dressmaking establish
ment in the Karbach block. Myers followed
his wife to Omaha and made frequent visits
to where she was working. She finally
yielded to his opportunities and resumed her
former relations with him. According to the
story told by Myers, he discovered that his
wife was not true to him. He said he tried
to draw her away from her associations, but
was unsuccessful. He was especially re-
v~engeful toward one certain man., who had
induced his wife to leave him at Memphis
and had followed her about in this city.
At the trial yesterday the first wit
ness was Mrs. Nora Myers, the wife Of the
defendant. She related the story of the
shooting, her memory failing her completely
when asked regarding her own doings, either
before or after. According to her story, she
left Myers because of his cruelty and the
trouble eliminated when he objected to her
visiting some of her female friends.
Mrs. Clara White testified that she was
passing the house where the shooting &C.
CURED and when she heard the first shot
she turned quickly and saw the man fire
at the woman a second time. She then
started to run and heard two more shots
fired.
Witness Shackleford testified that Myers
and his wife passed through a room where
the witness was sitting just before the
shooting occurred and Myers remarked to
the witness: 81 saw her with Riley again
tonight" Shackleford said he heard the
shots soon after the couple had gone out
Of the front door. Witness saw Myers run
ming back into the house. He caught him
and took the revolver with which the shoot
ing had been done away from him.
Witness Karbach testified that he met
Myers the day he made trouble in the
rooms where Mrs. Myers was employed, in
the Karbach block, and had a long talk with
him. Myers threatened his wife and said
to Karbach that she should never come into
that building again If he had to swing for
it. Karbach said he thereupon complained
against Myers in the police court and had
him arrested and bound over to keep the
| peace.
The state rested early in the afternoon and
the defense called the defendant to the
stand.
Myers did not testify regarding the actual
occurrences Immediately surrounding the
shooting, replying to all questions on that
point by saying that he could not remember
just what happened. He gave his wife a very
bad name but when crosseXamined could not
state any facts in this connection which had
come under his own observation. All he
could say on this point was that he had
formed his opinion on circumstantial evil
dence. His recollection seemed perfectly
clear upon everything except the actual cir
cumstances Of the shooting, but upon this
point he would go no further than to say
that when he stepped oct of the door after
his wife there was a flash" and that was
all he could say.
Other witnesses were called and questioned
In a way calculated to bring out statements
affecting the character of Mrs. Myers since
the shooting, but these were ruled out by
the court. 1t was also attempted to show
that Myers was temporarily insane at the
time of the shooting. Several witnesses were
examined with a view Of bringing out this
kind of testimony.
The case will be concluded this morning.