The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-06
TRIAL OF JULIA MORRISON.
The Actress Tells a Sensational Story
of Leiden's Prosecutions.

Chattanooga. Tenmn.. Jan. 5.The
case of Julia Morrison, the actress
charged with the murder of Frank Leid-
en-. on the opera house stage in this city
September 22d last, was resumed in the
Circuit court this morning. Miss Nor
rison appeared attired in black and sat
with her attorneys. Mrs. George j..
ANTI, sister of Leiden, the murdered
man, was also in the court.
The first witness called today 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 at the request
of Leiden he had found her and warned
her that the company was waiting for
her. She then Went TO the stage from
lower toilet room, by back stairway.
Before she reached the top of the 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 Ieiden quar-
reling, but Leiden had told him that
there was an unpleasantness between
them.
Leon Joseph. electrician for the opera
house; !. II. Womble and other employees
Of the opera house corrohorated Patter-
son. With these witnesses the State
rested its case for the present.
AT the afternoon session of the court
the defense introduced Miss Morrison.
Her testimony was sensational and she
frequently requested the court TO per-
INIT her to put some Leidens language
addressed 10 her in writing rather than
Reuter- the words. She said:
my name is Julia Morrison. / am
an actress l was born to the best of
my knowledge in Kansas. My parents
died when / was an infant, and | have
known only foster parents whose name
was Dale. / was married TO Mr.. James
hy justice of the peace in Memphis
under the name of Rosaline Dale. /
afterward learned my real name and
was again married under my right name
in Louisiana"
She continued. saying III substance
that after she Joined thc "1Ir. Plaster
of Paris" Company, Leiden was very
friendly until he found that she was mar
ried and that her husband would accom-
pany her on the road. From that time
he began systematic persecution. Had
made improper proposals to her and in
suited her frequently: had Frequently
corrected her in her lines, without cause;
that he frequently called her foul names
and had persisted in his course of abus-
ing her until she lost all control of her
self On the evening of the shooting she
stated that Leiden had gone to the toileu
room while she was sick and had offered
an indignity which She told to the court
and which is unfit for the prints. She
says that when he did she lost con-
troll Of herself and that when she went
to the stage by the rear stairway, jusr
as She reached the top of the steps, Lei
den approached her with an appraised
cane in his hand as il to strike her
and called her a foul name. She stated
that from that moment she has no menu
ory of what happened. Explaining why
She had the pistol on this particular
evening she stated that she always car
ried "A pistol in her bosom. On cross
examination she stated that She had
borne Leiden'S insults until she had
learned that she was to be Supplanted in
Atlanta by another woman and that then
she had become desperate
Adjourned.