The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-05-29
SPENCER ON
THE STAND
Denies All knowledge Of
Murder ofEna Mundt
HE SAID HE DRANK POISON
Gives as His Excuse That He Had
Got to Drinking and Was Ment-
ally irresponsible.

There was an air of expectancy in
the criminal courtroom this morning
when the case of the state vs.. Edward
Spencer. charged with the murder OF
Ella Mundt, was resumed, says last
nights Spokane Chronicle. 1t had
been given out that the defendant
would be placed on the stand in his
own behalf and the audience room
was we'll filled with a curious crowd
among whom were a large number OF
women
Spencer appeared. if possible, more
pale than usual, except for hectic
flush on his checks. and it is evident
that the severe strain is telling on his
health.
Spencer on the Stand.
Mr.. Spencer will now take the
stand" said Mr.. Graves.
The defendant arose and walked tc
the witness chair aiding himself il
passing up the steps by holding to the
Judges desk. He was asked to state
when he first met Ella Mundt. and re-
piled that it was a year ago last Feb
ruary in Spokane. 1t was at show
at the Auditorium. He went to q
dance with her in the spring and saw
her at different times until in March
when he left Spokane
He returned about the Sth Of De
cember last and went to work al
IDavenpOrt's restaurant Worked there
until the middle Of January, when he
was discharged for drinking beer from
a can in the kitchen.
From the time Of his return to the
city in December he met Ella Mundt
frequently. at dances and at hel
home. He also took her 10 shows and
met her on the streets. Her friends
were with her frequently when he
met her. After his discharge he &C
cOmpanied her to dance This was
on Saturday night.
Sunday afternoon she called him VI
by telephone and he met her by APP
pOintment. That evening he took hel
to the CineOgraph theater. Then he
told her he was going to Walla Walla
Monday morning.
He Got to Drinking.
Witness said he had intended to &C
to Walla Walla, but got to drinking
and did not want to 60 home in that
condition. When he took her home
from the theater Sunday night he
stood at the door and talked with her
for perhaps five minutes. They talk
ed Of nothing in particular After
| leaving her he went down to the
SnOWshOe saloon. first stopping at the
| Club. where he got a drink Of whisky
It was about - or half past when he
reached the SnOWshOe
Wasn't In Love With Her.
He said he liked the girl because
she was jolly and was good company
| Had never had any words or feelings
! toward her other than as a friend
| He had heard she was engaged to be
married TO Bud McLaln He was en-
gagged to marry Mary Mullins of Ba-
ker City. Or; had been engaged about
| a year
When | went to the SnOwshOe
had eaten nothing and had slept but
little and felt pretty bad. Then | tool
a drink with absinthe in it and sal
down. | have no knowledge of whar
occurred after that. Don't know wher
| left the SnOWshOe or where | went
Didn't Remember Them.
Witness was shown three letters
one directed to his mother at Walls
Walla, one TO Della Burton at Pen
dletOn, and one to Mary Mullins a.
Baker City. He said they appeared
to be in his handwriting. but he die
not remember writing them
Have you any remembrance of 60
ing to the Schulein house and shoot
ing Ella Mundt and shooting your
self" was asked by Mr. Graves
None whatever,' was the reply
The first | can remember was wher
was at the hospital, when by broth
er came to see me there
Had you any reason for killing the
girl?"
Il had not"
Put il in His Pocket.
The shopping bag which was taker
from his pocket after the SHOOTING
was shown him. and he identified il
as one he took from Ella Saturday
night, put in his pocket and forgo
about it. The revolver found on the
floor at the Schulein residence was
shown him and was identified as one
he purchased at Baker City. He sait
after coming to Spokane he left i
with the night bartender at the Hoff
man house and got it again Sunda,
night before the shooting.
John Macy was called to the stant
to testify as to the first conversation
he had with Ed at the hospital afte
the shooting He said he came K
Spokane Monday night and went Il
the hospital, but did not see Ed. H,