The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-12

The case of the State against Mrs. MIN
ME Cummings, charged with killing her
husband. Dennis Cummings, on April 10
last. went to the jury at 1925 O'Clock last
night.
The arguments In the case began at ':'''
when Andrew c. Maroney. Assistant CIR
cult Attorney, on behalf of the State ad-
dressed the jury for thirty-fve minutes,
Attorney Thomas. for the defense. then
spoke ten minutes. He was followed py
Colonel John l. Martin, also for the ue-
Tense. who addressed the jury fifty minutes
Attorney Maroney in closing for the stat
spoke for almost an hour. 1t was W
when he finished, and at 1913 the jury
tired. ..,rf,
Mrs. Cummings was on the witness stahu
three hours and ten minutes. II was 1'0'
o'clock when Colonel John 1 Martin as
sisted her to the witness chair, ana eAae'
" AS o'clock when the last questioh
put to her and she was excused.
The defendant was rigidly questioned by
both her own counsel and Assistant Circuit
Attorney Maroney. Mr.. Folks assistant
is known for his clever questioning, and
since he has been prosecuting cases at the
Four Courts no person has been subjected
to a more severe fire of question than MIS-
Cummings yesterday.
Mr.. Maroney at all times was kind to tne
winess but necessarily, to bring out poii'S
of material Importance TO his case, WIS
forced to speak in loud tones ana Win
much force to the defendant
The witness stood the ordeal remarkaoi!
we'll Persons who have followed the case
from the first day Mrs. Cummings :,ppearen
In court agreed yesterday that the trial mas
had a terrible effect on the defendant Her
piercing black eyes have lost their gieam
and she has smiled but seldom since she mas
been on trial
Mrs. Cummings face has grown more
hacgard with each day. Nearly four
months behind the bars of the City jan
naturally have made her face pale. but each
morning as she has been led into the court
room her checks have been more mono"
and. II possible, whittier. She has been ape
to eat but little. She has consequently
grown weaker and it was with difficulty
that she climbed the three steps to the W.T.
ness stand yesterday to answer for herself
the charge Of numbering her husband, Den
mis- Cummings.
HUSBANDS BLOODY VEST
CAUSED TEARS TO FLOW.
Several dramatic incidents came about
while she was on the witness stand She
had told her story on direct examination
and Assistant Circuit Attorney Maroney
had questioned her nearly half an hour be-
fore he led up to the actual killing OF Cum
mings
Mr.. Maroney was asking her about the
letter. fragments of which had been found
in the crate ard the blood sDots on it. He
asked her II she did not search her hus-
bands pocket after shooting him. and in
doing so got blood from her hands on
the letter and the lining of her husbands
vest She declared that she did not.
Leaving the courtroom for few min
utes Mr.. Maroney returned. A minute later
Gus Yore. a clerk in Mr.. Folks Office. en-
tered. carrying Cummings vest.
Yore laid the garment on the table. The
defendant recognized it Immediately. and
covered her eyes with the palm leaf fan
she has used all during the t-ial.
Grasping the vest in his hand the As
sistant Circuit Attorney arose and stepped
toward the defendant She shuddered and
burst into tears. Turning his back to the