The record-union., 1899-04-19
KILLING OF GEORGE 0. SAxTON.
DEFENSE IN THE TRIAL OF MRS.
GEORGE BEGUN.
Strong Intimation That Plea Will
be Temporary Insanity, Super
induced by Wrongs Suffered.

CANTON (O), April 1S-The defense
In the trial of Mrs. George spent the
first half of the day in reading deposl-
ticns regarding her trip to South Da-
kota to get a divorce from Sample l.
George, her life while there, and the
visits Saxton paid to her. The re-
mainder of the day was occupied IN
examining witnesses on matters direct
ly connected with the homicide, ana III
answer to the testimony introduced on
the. part of the State
The attorneys for the defense no"
talk of finishing their testimony TINS
week, but say that if they do so tney
will not call all of the 100 or more VII
nesses subpenaed.
The State rested before the adjourn
ment of court last night, and the de-
fense began to-day with its long llSl
of witnesses. The defense will try TO
get Mrs. Althouse on the stand, pu-
will not indicate whether Mrs. George
will take the stand. There is strong
intimation that the plea will be tenn
porary or emotional insanity, superln-
duced by the wrongs said to have been
suffered by the defendant The State
failed to get the threatening letter ad-
mitted as evidence, the Prosecuting At
torney making a final effort for its adj
mission before resting his case. Mean
while the court admitted in the cross
examinations all testimony bearing on
the relations between Saxton and Mrs.
George, dating back in the SOS.
The opening hours to-day were de :
voted to the reading of dispositions
, taken in Sioux Falls, Canton, S. D.,
and in Wood, Ia. These covered Mrs.
Georges residence in South Dakota,
when she was there to get a divorce
from Samuel c. George.
Objections We're made to some matter.
and there was a deal of controversy
between attorneys.
The depositions read may be sum-
married. as follows:
Charles M. Seeley testified that during
the winter of 1891 and 1892 Mrs. George
stopped at his hotel in Canton, S. D.,
and that SaXton came there for week
They were on friendly terms, and were
often seen together.
r. f. Rudolph testified to having rep
resented Sample C. George in the di-
vorce case.
Cashier Brown of Canton eashed sew
George.
Robert Hunter and T. F. Ronayur OF
Sioux City testified that Saxton and
Mrs. George registered as man and wife
at the Booge House, Sioux City, Ia.
February 16, 1892, and occupied the
same room The signature was after
ward cut out Of the register.
L. NJ. Foote, Clerk of a hotel at In
wood Ia, had cashed checks from
SaXton to Mrs. George
Joseph Schmidt, a thirteen-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.
John Berger, boarder at the Schmidt
house, was one of the first to reach the
body. He said it was pretty dark. and
that he did not recognize Saxton's body
until matches We're lighted, but this
was largely on account of the face be-
ing turned downward. He said it was
not raining at the time.
August Boron said he could not rec
ognize people across the street the
night of the shooting
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
that the street car which was delayed
by Valley train the night of the mur-
der, the one on which Mrs. George IS
said to have gone to Hazlet avenue,
did not cross the tracks until three or
four minutes after 6. The States evil
dence was that the car had reached
Hazlet avenue about 800 o'clock