The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-05
DRAMATIC SCENE
in KANSAS COURT.
Sensational Developments I'm the
Trial of Jessie Morrison mt
EIlorQdO.

ELDORADO. Kan. Dec. To-day in
the Jessie Morrison murder trial an ef-
fort was made on the part of the prosecu-
ton TO prove the authenticity of a death
bed statement of Mrs. Castle which they
desired to introduce as evidence Two
physicians, Mrs. Castles pastor. Rev. Mr.
Wharton. his wife and daughter. and Au-
gustin Brumback. brother of the prosecut-
ing attorney in the case, depicted the
scene At the deathhed OF the dying wom-
an. They told how she unable to speak
because OF the wounds in her throat, nod
ded assent as questions pertaining To the
affair with Miss Morrison We're put to her.
and how finally she signed her name TO
the statement and wrote the words:
Before my God. IL is true"
The statement declared that Jessie Nor
rison had provoked the quarrel with the
dead woman and then slashed her with a
razor.
thrilling scene occurred during the
cross-examinatien of Brumback He had
been requested to tell what questions ne
had asked and what answers he had re-
ceved while he was taking Mrs Castles
statement. To answer the question Brum-
back related the statement made by the
wounded woman, described the approach
of Jessie Morrison 10 Mrs. Castles home.
and told OF the preliminary conversation
between the two young women.
As Brumback proceeded his voice grew
loud and his speech emphatic, His right
arm went out in decisive gestures until he
reached the point where he said that Jcs-
sic Morrison handed Mrs Castle letter
to read. and that while the latter perused
| II the prisoner took out her razor and cut
| her throat. AS he said this Brumback
sprapg 70 his feet and dramatically passed
his hand through the air as II he clutchcd
| a razor.
shuddered at story.
Mrs. Wiley. mother OF the murdered
| woman, put her handkerchief over her
| face IL to hide the picture. and DIN
| Castles mother covered her eyes with her
| hand. Every head in the courtroom was
| immovable. with all eyes straining for
| ward.
| Jessie Morrison never ninched She
| looked straight In front OF her and aside
| from the fact that her cheeks grew a lit
| tie whittier las she closed her eyes for a
| minute as Brumhack concluded. her ex-
| preston did not change. DIN Castle was
not In the courtroom.
| The cross-examination Of DIR. Ambrose
4 was directed against seven lines of the
| diving woman's statement that had been
4 written by DR. Ambrose himself and add
ed 10 the other statements made by Clara
| Castle and copied by Mr. Brumback The
| lines In question were these
| II had just finished sweeping when
first saw Jessie al the gate. Before sweep
| Ing | took the rugs to the board walk.
| where 7 cleaned and left them. ] do not
| know who fastened the screen, but ! pre-
| sumo | did as | usually kept II closed
| make this as my diving statement"
Mrs. Castle had not said these words "a
| him witness admitted. but she had given
| the information TO others, and she assent
ed 10 II before she signed the statement,
Az the afternoon session AuRustlr
| Br1imhack Miss Edna Wharton and Rev
Mr. wharton testified. corroborating Am.
hrose's testimony that Mrs. Castle had
| not expected to gel we'll, and that she he.
lieved she was making her dying state
ment