The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-16
Mrs. Christine ECkrOate SaW Two Of
the Shots Fired.
ATTORNEYS FOR THE PROSECUTION
Succeed in Qualifying a Witness on
Mrs. Georges Handwriting to Iden-
tify Letter They Propose to
Introduce as Evidence.

Canton, o., April 15.-Attorneys for the
state regard this as their red-letter day
in the trial of Mrs. George. They produced
the eye witnesses to the firing of two Of
the shots which took effect in Saxtons
body. One of the witnesses claimed to
have identified Mrs. George positively as
having fired the shots and the other testi-
fed positively that the woman she saw do
the shooting closely resembled Mrs. George,
whom she knows only as she has seen her
In the court room. The state also quail
fed a witness on Mrs. Georges hand
writing to identify letter which they
want to introduce in evidence.
The trial opened with Miss Mattle
Grimes on the stand for cross-examnation.
She explained that she especially observed
Mrs. Georges flushed face when she passed
her an hour after the murder had been
committed, because she, the witness, mad
heard of Saxtons death and had been told
OF some of the relations between Saxton
and Mrs. George
Evidence Excluded
E. q. Willis was called to say that Mayor
Rice was Mrs. Georges counsel the morn
ing after her arrest, but the evidence was
excluded.
Mrs. Oberelin, with whom Mrs. George
roomed, described Mrs. Georges dress and
appearance when she left the mouse on tie
morning of Saxton's DEATH
Mrs. Christian Eckroate presented start
ling testimony. She testihed~to going 10
her window on the night OF the murder
after hearing two shots and to seeing
person bend forward and fire two shoss 10
ward the ground and then walk away 70
a vacant lot, through which the person
ran She identified the person as MIS-.
George.
She had previously often noticed "o-
man parading up and down the walk IN
front of the Athouse residence, Whom sue
learned to know was Mrs. George atter
peace proceedings had been commenced py
Mrs. Althouse.
The Person in Black
Mrs. Eckroate Is the first witness ex-
amined either in the hearing or any OF the
preliminary proceedings who CLAIMED 10
recognize 1.-The person in black.
There had been some gossip ABOUT sur
nrise eye-witness to be introduced.
In cross-examnation the defense sought
to show that the witness did not know Mrs.
George well enough to Identify her, ana
that tbe street was too dark for any one
to recognize a person across the street
Mrs Eckroate, In answer 10 Questions vi
cross-examination, said she had been using
,,.or,,hine for nine or ten years, but for the
last six months only took 1t every other
dav. She said she had always done her
housework and managed her housenoio.
Mrs Laura Houwig, of Cleveland, one OF
the daughters of Mrs. Eckroate, testihea
as an eyewitness to the firing Oh TWO shots
and the person who fired them. She oe-
scribed this person, and said from what sne
NJ since the 0efenQ-
apt resembled the one she saw fire the
shots in form, figure carriage and general
appearance.
Cross-examination was In progress at
the noon adjournment.
Shove ed No Hesitancy
Mrs Eckroate is past middle lie, ana
the mother of grown children. The famlly
is humble, but respected by those VINO
know them. On the stand Mrs. Eckroate
talked direct on the subjects asked ner.
She showed no unwillingness to answer the
defense as readily as the state. She did,
however, show indications that she did not
comprehend all of the language and ques-
tions addressed to her.
Michael Barse the postoffce clerk who
Yesterday failed to prove his capacity for
identifying Mrs. Georges handwriting, an
swered other questions today which made
his identification of letter admissible. and
this will be formally offered after the de-
tense has opportunity to read 1t.
Police Sergeant Harler told of a conver-
sation he had with Mrs. George, in which
she talked of having Mrs. Althouse and
Saxton arrested. He said that on Monday
morning after the murder he found re-
volver at the corner of High and South
streets. The revolver was offered and
identified and the bullets found in Saxton's
body shown to be of the same calibre.
The cross-examination was under way
when court adjourned.