The Portland daily press., 1898-01-12
CAUSE Or HIS DOWNFALL,
Edmund ElliOtt's Reasons For
Shooting Woman.
VOULD-BE MURDERER OF KITTY
LEAYITT ON TRIAL.
Case Oponed at Belfast Yesterday-Mrs
LeavItt's Story of the Crime-How FL
lott Explains the Affair.

Case Oponed at Belfast Yesterday-Mrs
Leavitt's Story of the Crime-How El-
Iiott Explains the Affair.
Belfast. January 1.-THE case of Ed
mund Elliott, charged with assault with
intent to kill upon Mrs. Charles Leavitt,
was called in the Superior Court here
at 4. Is o'clock today. Elliott pleaded not
guilty and the taking of testimony was
begun.
Elliott fired five shots from revolver
at the woman, four of which took effect,
but the woman did not die.
The victim of Elliott's deed, Mrs. Leav-
lit, was an invalid who, with her husband,
and young daughter, occupied apartments
in a lodging house, in which the shoot
ing occurred. OF the four bullets from the
mans revolver which took effect, one
entered the rightabreast, one penetrated
the lung, one made wound below the
small of the back and the last one near
the right shoulderblade. The woman,
who was victim of consumption, has
partially recovered from her injuries, but
is still in very weak condition.
Her story is as follows: "Elliott, (whose
room adjoined that occupied by the
Leayitts), was sick during the forenoon.
1 carried to him in his room cup of
tea. He asked me to get him some liquor
and gave me 3S cents TO pay for it. I
refused to get the liquor, but told him
would get some ginger. While eating
my dinner in the restaurant across the
street, 1 sent my little girl after the GIN
ger. I then returned to my room to wait
for the little girl. The door leading to
Elliott's room was open and couldisee
him sitting on his bed. He was sitting
near the foot of the bed. Beneath him
saw revolver. I went into the room and
tried to secure the weapon and tried to
escape by the back hall, but his door was
locked. Elliott jumped up and seized me
by the throat and took the revolver from
me. I then ran up to my room hoping
to escape by the front hall. Elliott fol-
lowed and as I was passing out the door
he fired. ran along the hall and down
the front stairs with Elliott following
and firing the revolver at me. The last
shot struck me in the back When was
at the foot of the stairs"
Mrs. Leavitts clothing was set on fire
by fash from the revolver. She rushed
from the house and across the street
where she was caught by.a pedestrian
and as she was about to fall. The next
moment Leavitt sped through the door
and ran up the street, f1ourishing revol-
yer and calling for the police. He entered
the Revere hotel and told the clerk to
telephone for the police. He then ran
upstairs and locked himself in room.
CITY Marshal Norton was notified and
soon after arrested him. Elliott seemed
greatly excited and appeared dazed. He
said to the police: 81 will tell you all as
soop as have some sIeep?" When placed
! in a cell he Immediately went to sleep.
Elliott told him he only intended 30 fire
! four shots to kill the woman and reserve
one for himself, but in the excitement
emptied the revolver.g By the dazed ap-
pearance of Elliott and his desire for sleep
so soon after. arrest 1t was thought he had
taken some drug or poison. When seen
at the, iail the next sevening after the
shooting, he would say but little, as he
had been cautioned by his attorneys. lie
did say regarding Mrs. Leavitt's state
ment: 81 did not ask her to get any
liouor;'' also on being asked why he
shot the woman, said: 81 have nothing