Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-16
THE DEFENSE OPENS
Testimony in Behalf of Au-
gustus L. Shafer.
ON TRIAL FOR MURDER
REVIEW OF EVIDENCE ADDUCED
BY THE GOVERNMENT.
Counsel States Purpose of Showing the
Prisoner to Be Of I'm
sound Mind.
ON TRIAL FOR MURDER

| case n the trial of Augustus L. Shaffer.
| charged with the murder of his wife. At
1925 o'clock the last witness for the prose-
| cution was excused. and the defense began
| its fight for the freedom of the accused.
| The proceedings were rather dry today.
| resulting from a review, to a great extent.
| OF the testimony when has been brought
cut before. Attorney Baker. in outlining
| the purpose of the defendants counsel, said
! he hoped to prove that Shaffer was not
mentally responsible at the time of the al
| legged murder; that he had been intoxicated
for some time Immediately prior to the day
| OF the killing. and that, naturally. the de-
| PENDANT quick-tempercd and cratic
| Shaffer. with sunken eyes and generally
| Gisinterested appearance. sat silently in
| front of the witness stand, while his mother
| aged and infirm. his sisters and his broth
ers. testified that he was a man of good
! habits. although he would get drunk once
| and awhile. The testimony for the defense
| all went to prove the irresponsible character
| of the defendant. and one witness. Mr.. ].
| O'Meaiy, declared that at his home SHAFT
| fer was commonly known aS Crazy Gus"
| One incident served to specially interest
| the large crowd of spectators and requir-
ed the ailiff to rap for order. 1t was in the
testimony of Aloysius Shaffer. younger
| brother of the accused. 1t appeared that he
had been called by their sister to take care
| of Gus. who was pretty drunk. His tax
| ing care" Of Gus amounted to trip to half
| dozen saloons where the brothers had
! either two drinks more drinks, re-
| sulting In Gus being carried up the stairs
and put to bed. while the witness admitted
| he was not exactly sober In recounting
| the taking care" trip. every time witness
| said more drinks" the spectators laughed
| and one attorney suggested. sub rosa. that
| 1t was a shame to arouse 50 many "thirsts
among the audience Silence was not re-
| stored until the account of the taking
| care trim had concluded
Young Girl Testifes.
| Georgia c. Ivey. the thirteen-year-old Sis
te- of the murdered woman. was placed on
the stand when court opened this morning.
Mr.. Davis called tho attention Of the court
| to the fact that her testimony should be re-
ceived under the same objections as were
made yesterday. She proved a good wit
! ness, answering all questions of the attOr-
neys clearly and positively. She testified
| that she was playing on the southeast cor
| rer of 18th and II streets northwest, and
| that Shaffer passed her-with a dark
souch hat pulled down over his eyes, She
| said Shaffer looked at her in such way
| to arouse her suspicious
| why were you suspiciOus?" asked Mr.
| Turner, for the government.
Because he never wore a SLOUGH hat be-
| fore" answered the girl He had 1t pulled
| down over his eyes and looked queer.
| Characterization by Mr.. Davis and Mr..
| Baker for the defense failed to disturb the
| witness testimony.
| Mr.. Keigwin. for the government asked
| that the decree of divorce granted Mrs.
Shaffer be admitted evidence.
| "Why do you offer this?" asked Mr.. Da-
| Wis.
ITO show the fact that the divorce was
| granted" replied Mr. Keigwin. "and to
show the court why that divorce was
| granted"
actly what I don't want done The decree
| Is nadmissible.'
Il don't see how else the fact can be
proved" interposed Justice Wright.
| A long wrangle between attorneys ensued
| which was finally settled by Justice Wright,
who ruled that the decree be received for
| the purpose of proving the divorce.
| With the conclusion Of this testimony,
Assistant District Attorney Keigwin an
nounced that the government would rest
| its case.
Mr.. Baker Outlines Defense.
At 1925 Mr. Baker on behalf of the de-
Tense, addressed the jury. Mr.. Baker con-
| tended that Shaffer had been drinking
| heavily just prior to the "act mentioned In
| the Indictment" that he was not crimi-
| nally responsible, and that the defense
would prove lack of motive for the al
| legged crime.
John Sanderson was the first witness called
| by the defense. He said he lived in KENT
! worth d. c.. and that he knew the defend
| ant and his wife. He acknowledged that
| Mrs Shaffer lived with him about year
| preceding the filing of the application TOT
| divorce. .,s
| What relation were you to Mrs Shal-
| fer?" asked Mr.. Davis
| "She my niece by marriage TO
Sp You lived with her alone, didn't your"
asked Mr.. Davis.
| Yes. sir. ,, ~,
| Did this have anything 10 90 with 'i'o
| divorce proceedings? ,
| II don't know answered the witness.
Mrs. susanna Shaffer. mother of the de-
| PENDANT, was then called to the stahu. on ad
| testified Shaffer was twenty-siX years olu
| when he left home, and that prior 10 thal
| time his ha bits were good. although he was
| ouick -tempered. She said that when ShaI-
! fer was a small child he was struck In the
| head with a stone. ana tlat later He suAiei
| ed from SunStroke
| Sometimes Irritable.
| He came home drunk several times. and
| was always quick and irritable on such oc-
casions. He drank more after the divorce
| proceedings were filed than ever before.
| and seemed to be worried considerably. She
| added that on the day prior to the alleged
| murder Shaffer was very much under the
influence of liquor.
Mrs. Christine Sullivan. sister of the de-
| PENDANT was the next witness. She said
| she was the first one to open Shafrer
| trunk after his arrest, and found several
| letters theie in Mrs. Shaffer's handwriting.
| The rest of her testimony was IN cOrroDOra-
| ton of that given by her mother. Mrs. Su-
| sauna Shaffer,
| Mrs Sullivan identified the letters, which
! were read to the jury by Mr.. Davis.
Name Spelled Differently.
| Mr.. Kegwin brought out the fact that
some Of the letters spelled the defendants
| name "Shaffer' and others ''Shafer.'' He
! coutended the different spelling warranted
a reasonable doubt as to the genuine char
acter of the letters
Mr.. Davis produced a letter and postal
| card written by the deceased to Miss Lor-
eta Shafer-one address with the two rs
| and the other with only one e. This was
| to prove that Mrs. Shaffer sometimes SPELL
| ed her last name one way and sometimes
! the other.
Mr.. keigwin objected. but later withdrew
the objection. Both the letter and the pos
tai were identified by Mrs. Sullivan as hav-
! ing been written by Mrs. Shaffer
The next witness was Mrs. Loretta Lef-
| ferts another sister of the defendant Her
testimony was along the same line as that
given by her mother and sister. She said
the defendants habits were good, except
that he would get drunk occa sionally On
I the Iav before he of 20