The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-06

The Leading Lady Of The ''h1r. PIas.
Ter Of Paris Company Gives Some
Very Sensational estimony.

CHATTANOOGA, TENN, Jan. 5-Spec-
iai.-Thc case OF Julia Morrison, the ac-
tress charged with the murder of Frank
LeiGcn, on the Opera House stage in this
city September I'd last. was resumed
in the Circuit Court this morning.
Miss Morrison appeared attired in black
and sat with her attorneys. Mrs. George
]. ANTI. sister OF Leidcn. the murdered
man was also III court.
The first witness called to-day was w.
j. Patterson, the stage manager OF the
local opera House. He stated that Miss
Morrison had not changed her dress to
appear in the play. That al the re-
quest of I-aiden the witness found her
and informed her that the company was
waiting. She went to the stage from q
lower toilet room by q back stairway.
Before reaching the top step. and while
she was within three feet of Leiden. she
fired three times After he had fallen
she advanced and shot Leiden while he
lay on the floor. He had not heard
Miss Morrison and Leiden auarrelling, but
Leiden had told him that there was an
unpleasantncss between them.
Leon Joseph, electrician for the Opera
House; J. II. Womble and other en-
ploves Of the Opera House corToborated
Patterson.
With these witnesses the State rested
its case for the present.
SENSATIONAL, TESTIMONY.
At the afternoon session of the court
the defence introduced Miss Morrison.
Her testimony was sensational, and she
frequently requested the court TO per-
init her to put some of Leidens Ian
suage addressed to her in writing rather
than Reuter- the words. She said:
My name is Julia Morrison. I am
an actress. l was born 10 the best of my
knowledge. in Kansas. My parents died
when ! was an infant, and I have known
on,yr foster parents whose name was
Dale. ! was married TO Mr.. James by
a justice OF the peace in Memphis, I'M
der the name of Rosa1ine Dale. I after
ward learned my real name and was
married under my right name IN
Louisiana.
She continued, saying in substance that
after she Joined the .'Mr. Plaster OF
Paris company. Leden was friendly un-
Ill he found that she was married. and
that her husband would accompany her
on the road. From that time he began Il
systematic persecution. He had made
improper proposals 10 her and insulted
her repeatedly. Had frequently corrected
her in her lines without cause. He had
frequently called her foul names. and had
persisted in his course of abusing her
until she lost all control of herself
UNFIT FOR PRINT
On tie evening of the shooting she
stated that Leiden had gone to the toilei
room whiie she was sick, and had offered
an indignity, which she told 10 the court
and which is not iii Tor print. She says
That when he did this she lost control
Of herself, and that when she went to
the stage by the reac stairway, just as
she reached the top of the steps, Letden
approached her with an upraised cane
in his hand as IL TO strike her. and called
her a foul name. She stated that from
that moment she had no. memory of what
happened. Explaining why she had the
pistol on tbs particular evening, she
stated that she always carried a pistol in
lia- bosom.
On cross-exan1iaatfon she stated that
she had borne Leiden's insults until she
had learned that She was to be sup-
planted III Atlanta by another woman. and
then She had become desperate.
Court then adjourned.