Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-16

Then where did you go?"
ITO the fremont House..
What did you do there!
Got three or four drinks"
Then where did you go?
| And what did you do there?' asked Mr..
Baker.
Had some more drinks" said witness.
DO you call that taking care OF a man.
interposed Mr.. kegwin.
Il don't know. SIR" responded witness;
He added that he finally put his brother
to bed and left him. not seeing him again
until the next day in the police statioh
after the killing of Mrs shaffer. Witness
was then excused.
James A. Jackson, colored, was called.
Jackson said he Is now in the Dlstrlct Jali'
charged with assault and carrying con-
cealed weapons. He has known ShaHer 1or
about four years He said Sha1er was
staggering drunk" on the evening prior TO
the alleged murder. He worked with
local express company about year, WHERE
Shaffer was employed.
the next witness. He said Shafer seemed
to be greatly in love with his (Shafers)
wife, and that this love seemed to increase
rather than decrease after the divorce pro-
ceedings had been instituted. He reciteo
several apparent eccentricities he had oo-
served In defendants conduct. In detailing
one of. these Incidents, O'Mealy said Shat-
fer was known as Crazy Gus" He told
of an incident when Shaffer was employed
by local transfer company. Sharer, ne
said. gave witness bill Of goods upon
which there was S66 due Witness offered
payment. but Shaffer refused 1t. declaring
that witness had already paid him. This
made witness think Shaffer was loose in
his head.
Court adjourned at 1890 for an hour.
Session After Lunch.
Court convened at 1 30 o'clock after the
noon recess and the examination of Mr..
OMealy was resumed. He testified that
last summer he saw Mr.. and Mrs. Shaffer
walking 9Th and Washington streets
apparently on good terms with each other.
Had you seen them together during the
time between the divorce and the death OF
Mrs. Shaffer?" asked Mr.. Davis.
Yes. SIR" said witness. many times,
and they always looked happy
C. NJ. Fenwick was called and said he
had known Shafer twenty-five years. and
did not think he was exactly right"
Michael j. Colbert, the next witness, has
known Shaffer since 1877 and was his
counsel in the Shaffer divorce proceedings
as a man of slow wit'-of very quick and
fiery temper, moody and erratic.
What do you think Of the defendants
sanity?" asked Mr.. Davis
Mr.. Turner for the government, objected
on the ground that witness was not COM
petent to give expert testimony.
Justice Wright finally sustained the OBJ
lection on the ground that responsibility IN
to be touched upon by either expert Or lay
witnesses Mr. Davis noted exception
to the ruling. Further examination brought
out the statement from Mr.. Colbert that
he did not believe Shaffer to be insane
merely quick-tempered
ThOS. p. Woodward. president OF the
Washington Title Insurance Company, was
called, and testified he has known Shaffer
thirty years. but has seen him very little
since 1880. He said that the defendant, as
a boy. was known as "Looney Shaffer," or
Crazy Gus"
Skaters Alleged Letter to His Wife.
The time of the court yesterday after
noon was taken up with effort on the
part of the prosecution to introduce GER
tain letter alleged to have been written by
Shaffer to his wife about July %. just prior
to the murder. The letter itself had been
destroyed, but several members of the
Shaffer family could repeat it's contents
verbatim Attorney Davis for the defense
objected strenuously to the introduction of
this sort of evidence, but the objection
finally was overruled.
Mrs Sage the married sister of the MUIR
dered woman, then called and ques-
toned concerning her knowledge of the
letter.
She was familiar with Skaters handwrit-
ing The letter was addressed Kate,
and was in Skaters handwriting. 1t was
dated in Beltsville. Md, the latter part of
July. 1903. After saying that the little boy
was well, said the witness, Shaffer branched
off and made threat.
Mrs. Sage testified that the contents Of
the letter were as follows. speaking Bit
tery and looking at the defendant. who
sat with downcast eyes: II will be home
about August 4. Unless you see me I will
fix you in way you won't like. l don't
propose to let those d-n Ivey girls make
fool of You will do as l say or
you will see where you will end"
"And those your very Words de-
clared Mrs. Sage. facing Shaffer whu
looked up at his accuser almost impudent-
ly and with a smile.
Miss Agnes Ivey was recalled. So far
as she could remember the letter was
dated from Beltsville. Md, about July q
or %. She said the letter was signed
"Gus S.
The witness had seen the defendant
strike his wife at their home. No. 30 Mas
sachusetts avenue northwest. She had
heard Shaffer curse his wife. Sometimes
he was abusive, and again he was affec
Tomato.
Mrs. 1vey was recalled and questioned
in regard to the letter. Her testimony
was similar to that given by her daughters.
She said she had read the letter not more
than twice. She could not say when she
had with her daughters.