The Anaconda standard., 1898-02-15

Emma ]. Baptiste, on trial in Judge
Clancy's department OF the district
court for the murder of her husband
James Baptiste was very crazy on the
10th of last September. when she COM
mitted the crime, according to num-
ber of witnesses who testified yester-
day. She was insane for some time
prior to that date, and the fact was
known to many people, but strangely
enough they kept the fact to them
selves until after the woman had COM
mitted the murder. According to other
witnesses, the woman gradually recoS-
cred her mind and is now practically
all right again. The trial, which will
be concluded to-day has been remark
able not only for the expeditions man
ner with which 1t has been conducted,
but for the fact that at no time was
there an ill-natured word between at
torneys, and the court and lawyers got
along together with astonishing har-
mony, not a bit of friction occurring
throughout the whole proceedings so
far.
c. S. Finch, general utility man and
engineer at the Silver Bow block, was
the first witness yesterday morning.
He said he frequently took Mrs. Bap-
tiste up in the elevator during August
and September of last year She cried
and acted peculiar and he thought she
acted like anything but a sane person.
She was hysterical and had a strange
look in her eyes.
She had peculiar look in her eye"
he said
Did you ever see a cross-eyed per-
SOM" asked Mr.. Stivers on cross-ex-
animation.
Yes. sir.
DO you consider such an eye pecu-
Iiar?"
.svas si,
And you would consider a person,
having such an eye. insane?"
Mr.. Clinton objected to the method of
examination. He said there was no
cross-eyed person in the case. and that
the witness being a lay Witness could
only be required to testify as to the
action of Mrs. Baptiste and the impress
sion she made on him as to her sanity.
The court sustained the objection.
You have seen other women in
trouble?" asked Mr.. Stivers.
Yes. many times.
And how did they act?
Another objection was sustained.
You say Mrs. Baptiste was hysteri-
cal?"
Yes, sir
What do you understand by hyster-
ical?'
well. she would cry while and then
stop"
That is she cried a while and then
stopped a while; she didn't cry all the
tme2'
Yes, SIR"
Finch said he remarked to some other
passengers in the elevator that the wo-
man acted more strangely than any
woman he had ever seen and some one
suggested that evidently she was in
very great trouble.
Larry Gleason. the next witness,
testified that he was on West Broad
IN .ifytaf afC
Mrs. Baptiste run west with crowd
after her and some one yelling, stop
that woman: stop that woman" Gleas-
on ran after her and caught up with
her at Academy street, where she fell.
and he helped to assist her to her feet
She was afterward removed to the city
jail.
Il never in my life saw a woman look
like she did, said the witness.
Describe her looks and actions"
4 can't describe them. A person
would have 10 see them to understand"
How did she appear TO your
well. she looked wild, or crazy, as
it would probably be termed
Did she say anything at that time2'
She said she wanted to go home. and
| heard her ask, Did | kill him, did !
kill him2''
What is your impression as to her
sanity or insanity at that time?.
Il think she was insane
In answer to questions on cross-ex-
animation by Mr.. Stivers the witness
said he was employed about pool rooms.
Ever see any crazy people there?"
Il have seen them act crazy"
t.On horse races ?"
Yes"
You have seen people excited there.
have you not2'
Yes, sir
How did their actions compare with
fhIE of Al Ila .ftRs