The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-10-27

Judge NoPrell and the Jury. Mrs. Nc
Afee, Deputy County Surveyor Nilsson.
Corporal Williams, Police officer Hem
pei, j. H. Thompson. Police officer Rob-
erts, DR.. &. C. Gerard and Detective
Sheets were examined 10 prove the kill
ing. The prosecution will probably close
this forenoon.
County Attorney Van Colt and As
Sistant County Attorney Putnam rep
resented the state and Attorneys W.
X. Hutchinson and O. P Rhea ap-
peared for Mrs. Thomas.
There was a fair attendance Of the
puplIe III court, among whom the col
cred citizens were well represented
PROSECUTIONS OPENING STATE
MENT.
Mr.. Putnam made the opening state
ment for the prosecution. Counsel said
the evidence would show that the de-
ceased, Samue! Thomas. was a colored
man. a member OF the TWenty-fourth
infantry band and the husband Of the
defendant, Cora Thomas. That on June
last. about O'Clock in the evening,
the deceased was in the house of Mrs
McAfee. 4l6 State street, in this city.
tie, with Mrs. McAfee and others, were
sltuag at table in the house con-
NerSln$ Whe2 Mrs Thomas came in
armed with z six chamber revolver,
from which she fred two shots upon her
husband, one hitting him in the back.
1nfiieting wound from which he died
three days later II would also be
shown that she came with the deIjber-
ate intent OF killing her husband and
50 declared after she had done the
shooting.
MRS. M'AFEE.
Mrs. Lizzie McAfee. colored, in reply
to Mr., Putnam. said she was mar
rled woman, 29 years Of age. and had
Two children; lived on Franklin avenue.
On June S last lived at 416 State street:
knew the deceased, Samuel Thomas. He
came to witness house about O'Clock
on the evening Of Jane S. Thomas. with
witness and others. was sitting at q
table in the dining room eonversing
Mrs Thomas came about O'Clock and
when her husband SAN her he jumped
up and ran, ard Mrs. Thomas fired Two
shots Witness asked her what she
meant by shooting, and she said she
meant 90 kill her husband Witness
caught hold Of her and with the assist.
ance Of some of the others took tho
revolver from her and she then pulled
q razor, but did rot attempt to use it
Thomas. after the two shots were fired
at hirn. succeeded in getting out by
the back door, and witness saw no
more OF him.
Cross-eAamineG by Mr. Hutchinson.
Witness said she gave up the house on
State street rs soon after the shooting
as she couldFget another house. It WAS
not fact that she had to leave the
house because the owner objected ia
her running z disorderly house Thomas
was only once at witness house be-
fore the shooting, and then he was only
IN the yard and didn't come into the
house. He came to buy eggs or chick
ems from a neighbor. Witness had only
seen the deceased three times in all.
Witness denied that she had ever been
in the DenitentiarY in jefferson City. Mo
and denied that she had ever been tried
for any criminal onense anywhere, Was
arrested in Salt Lake for the killing of
a MAJ named Compton in 4 shooting
gallery on Commercial street. this city
The death OF Compton was found to
have been accidental. and witness was
rot held or tried Witness denied that
she had followed the life of z prostitute
at any time, WitneGs' husband went to
Cripple Creek last September, and was
there now, end she expected to Join him
there.
Deputy County Surveyor Nilsson tes-
titled to tlEe correctness Of a plat Of the
premises where the shooting occurred.
which he had made.
CORPORAL WILLIAMS
Corporal John 2. Williams. company
T, TWenty-fourth infantry. was al Mrs.
MeAfee's house on the evening Of June
s. Samue! Thomas, the deceased. came
TO the house the same evening. Mrs
Thomas came about O'Clock and whel,
her husband saw her he jumped up and
ran towards the back door. and the
wife fired two shots at him Mrs Nc
-Afee, the witness and others. disarmed
Mrs Thomas and witness afterwards
turned oyer the six shooter 10 the po-
ice. Witness saw Mrs. Thomas. after
the pistol was taken from her make
motion as if she vas taking something
from her bosom, but he saw no razor
or other weapon Of that kind.
Thomas made his exit by the back
door AID witness. about % minutes
after the shooting, found him lying in
camping corral IN the rear of Mrs
McAfee's house. He was wounded in
the hack and WAS taken to Fort Doug
las in the ambulance, and died three
days later.
Cross examined by Mr.. Hutchinson.
the witness said he had been in the
habi, of calling at Mrs. NcAfee's house
Two or three times q week Had no
particular business. Just made social
calls
OFFICER HEMPEL.
Police Officer Hempei said. in reply
TO Mr.. Putnam. he saw Mrs Thomas
on the West side OF state street he
tween Third and Fourth South streets
after the shooting on the evening of
June s. She spoke 10 witness. saying
she Na.4 d to give herself up and
stated ttAt she had taken a couple OF
shots at her husband. Witness took her
to the poiicz station. He afterwards got
the pistol from Mrs McAfee 1t was
q six chamber revolver. two chambers
were empty and four loaded. II sI,elt
Of powder as if recently discharged
OTHER WITNESSES.
]. II. Thompson. colored. lived at Az
state street. next door TO Mrs. Me.AfAe
Met Mrs. Thomas on State street on the
night Of The killing. She Was crossing
Fourth South street. going north. She
stopped witness and asked him where
police headquarters were, and Witness
turned and walked up State street with
her until they met Officer Hempel. She
told witness she had taken a shot at
her husband, that she didn't know
whether OF not she had hit him. but
said she hoped she had.
Police officer Roberts said he brought
Samuel Thomas, the deceased, from a
hay yard in the rear Of Mrs. McAfee's
place to the police station He had q
bullet wound in the breast. and his
breast was covered with blood.
DR. GERARD.
Dr. a. c. Gerard. surgeon in the