Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-14
ON CHARGE OF MURDER
Augustus L. Shaffer Placed
on Trial.
THE JURY IMPAN ELED
DEFENDANT ACCUSED OF KILL
ING HIS DIVORCED WIFE.
The Alleged Crime Occurred the Even
ing of Saturday, August
22, 1908.


with the murder of his divorced wife, kath-
crime Ivey Shafrer. begun In Criminal
Court No 1 yesterday afternoon. was con-
tinued this morning. The jury was COM
pleted at 1885 o'clock this afternoon after
the defense had exhausted fifteen and the
government thirteen of the twenty peremp-
tory challenges allowed each side. More
than sixty talesmsn were examined during
the morning hours, large number OF
those summoned declaring that they had
conscientious scruplcs against capital pun
ishment These were challenged for cause
and excused
The iurv as finally selected is as follows:
Arthur T. Walker. H. c. Coburn, Otto II.
Fisher. John Bardroff. Louis NJ. Paxton,
IL r Davis Charles y. Jones, VIM. f.
Turner. George A. Blackman, James w.
Gibson. George E Terry and Norman A.
Taylor
Shaffer is charged with having murdered
his former wife without apparent provoca-
ton. Early in the evening of SATURDAY
August 22 last it is alleged that Shaffer
met his divorced wife and stood talking
with her at the corner of 4th and Massa-
chusetts avenue Suddenly the woman
screamed and Shaffer. 1t is said, was seen
to take hold of her ANA with his right hand
cut the womans throat from ear to ear
1t was evident from questions propounded
to the jurynen this morning that the de-
Tense will endeavor TO prove that ShaHer
suffering from temporary insanity, IN
duced by drunkenness, at the time the
crime was committed. For several months
after he confined in the District JAIL
1t is said, Shaffer displayed symptoms OF
insanity. much so in fact that jury
OF inquiry had been summoned AS the
time for the inquiry approached Shaner
one day threw up his hands with the ex-
clamation:
INV God can't stand this any lonperr'
After that he quieted down completely
and the insanity inquiry was abandoned
The Work of Securing Jury.
Shaffer is represented by Mr.. Henry E
Davis and Messrs Lambert & Baker. while
the governments /. terests are in the hands
of Assistant District Attorneys Turner and
Keigwin.
Have you any prejudice against the de-
Tense of insanity" the constant ques,
ton put to prospective Jurymen by counsei
for the defendant.
This was inevitably followed up by a
question like this:
Would you give due heed to whatever
the court might tell You is the law with
regard to drunkenness?
One talesman answered that he did not
believe drunkenness was entitled TO any
weight. He was promptly excused by the
defense.
would stop 4 he were compelled to serve.
The business of the government also
stops if we can't get jurors to do duty.
remarked Justice wright, VINO IS pres
ing at the trial.
After James +. Scrivener was excused
by the defense Attorney Davis said:
That's our thirteenth challenge; we
can't stop there.
When w F. Mayfeld was called he
asked the court to be excused, saying he
was suffering with toothache, had a piece
of rubber between two of his teeth ana
1, 10 do OF
Il should think you'd rather serve on
the jury than go to the dentist" re
marked Mr.. Davis.
It's case of necessity" answered the
talesman, and he was allowed to GO
With the acceptance of Norman y. Tay-
lor by both sides the panel was com
pleted. Justice Wright stated that as
many of the jurors mad not been sum
moned until this morning they would be
granted until 1:i5 o'clock to make bust
ness arrangements to continue during the
time their services were required by the
court. \ recess was then ordered to the
time set
Government Presents Case.
When court was reconvened this after
noon the jury was formally sworn by Mr..
F w. Smith. clerk of the court. ASS slant
District Attorney Turner made the opening
address. presenting the governments case
He read the indictment found against the
defendant. He told of the marital rela-
tons between Shaffer and his divorced
wife. The two lived together he said for
ten years, and two children We're born TO
them In 1900 Mrs Shaffer sued Tor divorce.
which was subsequently granted the wi,e
resuming her maiden name of katherine
Ives. Mr.. Turner declared that Shaffer,
after the divorce, constantly sought his for
mer wife. while she in turn tried TO avoid
him She worked to earn her own living.
Mr.. Turner next told of the circumstances
OF the crime. characierizing the deed as /
calm and deliberate one.
During the recital Shaffer sat unmoved,
MS eyes on the floor. Thus he sat through
the proceedings of the morning. He, was
never consulted by his attorneys. ShaTer
is man of slight stature. dark complexion,
with short black beard and mustache.
Three brothers of the defendant We're pres
ent. and these assisted counsel in the con-
duct of the case
The defense reserved its opening.
Samuel w. Savoy. a colored man, was
the first witness called for the prosecution
and Savoy said he was within twenty feet
OF the couple when the crime was COM
mitted. Shaffer. he said was waiting at
the corner. and when his former wife
came along. grabbed her by the hair and
said:
Kate. my turn has come now"
With that he took out razor and cut
the woman's throat When asked who
the woman and why he committed the
crime Shaffer replied
"She was my wife and done me dirt
did it