The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-19
In the Trial of Mrs. George,
Who Saw the Murder
is MADE VALUELESS.
Many Persons Swear That the
Night Was So Dark
That Light Was Required to
Identify the Body.

Canton, O., April 19-In the trial of
Mrs. George today for the murder of
George Saxton, Mrs. Huth was cross
examined in regard to the delay to the
street car on which Mrs. George rode
the night of the tragedy.
Jacob Adams testified to passing a
man on Lincoln avenue near the Alt
house residence shortly before the
shooting. Further south he passed Sax
ton and spoke to him.
Adams cross examination was
somewhat confused on the time of in
cidents he related, but explained this
away by the difference between sun and
standard time. He also said he had
talked about dozen times with Andrew
Wieland about his testimony. Wieland
is a private detective.
Former Mayor Rex testified to obser-
VatiOns showing that a cherry tree in
terferes with the line of vision between
the window where Mrs. Eckroate claims
she saw the shooting and the Althouse
steps.
E. D .Bomberger testified to the same
effect.
The defense yesterday spent the first
half of the day in reading dispositions
regarding Mrs. Georges trip to South
Dakota to get a divorce from Semple
George. her life while there and the
visits SaXtOn paid to her. The remain
der of the day was occupied in examin-
ing witnesses on matters connected di-
rectly with the homicide and in answer
to the testimony introduced on the part
of the state.
The attorneys for the defense now
talk of finishing their testimony this
week. but say that if they do they
will not call all of the one hundred or
more witnesses subpoenaed.
Joseph Schmidt, a 13-year-old boy.
living near the Althouse residence. told
of hearing the shots and of calling the
patrol wagon, and that he could not tell
who the dead man was until matches
were lighted by some of those near by.
Tn17T Hf,s.V 7ar z hos Sob 4 r
house, was one of the first to reach the
body. He said that it was pretty dark
and that he did not recognize Saxton'S
body until matches were lighted, but
being turned downward. He said it
was not raining at the time.
August Boron, Mrs. Eckroate's SON
in-law, and clerk in the grocery
store, said he could not recognize people
across the street the night of the shoot
ing. He also testified to more or less
obstruction of the view of the scene
from the window from which his moth
er-in-law claims to have seen and iden-
titled Mrs. George, but on cross exam
ination he said how much could be seen
depended on how far the observer
leaned out of the window.
Mrs. Francis Bederman testified that
there was some mud in the vicinity on
the night of the tragedy, sufficient to
cling to the soles of shoes, and that the
body could not be recognized until light
was thrown upon it.
Charles Huth and his wife testified
to the street car which was delayed by
a Valley train the night of the murder
1he one on which Mrs. George is said
to have gone to Hazlette avenue, did
not cross the tracks until three or four
minutes after 6.
The states evidence was that the car
reached HaZlette avenue about 5:55
o'clock.
Frank Hildenbrandt today said he
was the first to reach SaXton'S body.
He said the night was dark and misty.
An electric globe Sed light on the up
per part of the steps, but none on the
body. He said people could not be rec
ognized-
Upton Shutz testified to darkness of
the night. He said the foliage on trees
was heavy and that burdock burrs
were numerous along a vacant lot in
West Tuscarawas street.
George SWEET gave similar testimony.
Former Constable Adam Jackson,
said he had been asked to put Mrs.
George out of Saxton's block and also
that he was present during one of the
conversations when witnesses for state
said threats were made and that no
threats were made.