The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-25
NAN PATTERSON
TELLS HER STORY
Gives Her Side of Shooting
Of Caesar Young.
HE INTENDED TO KILL HER
Maintains That Unsteadiness of His
Hand and Lurching Cab
Saved Her Life.
HE INTENDED TO KILL HER

NEW YORK, July 25.-Nan Patterson
has told the story Of the shooting Of
Caesar Young. while he and she were
in a cab on the way to the wharf of an
OUTGOING steamer. The story appears
IN the New York American"
The tragedy occurred at $50 o'clock in
the morning of June 4. while the cab was
at West Broadway and Franklin Street
Describing what took place, Nan Patter-
son says.
The district attorney says I'm a muir
deress- He will have a thousand lit
lie and big things cleverly fitted together
to prove that 1 killed Mr.. Young. And
Vet I'm not bit afraid of him-not Il
bit. l simply did not shoot the poor
fellow, and / can't make myself believe
that anybody can make a jury harm az
innocent woman.
THE truth is that the bullet that kill
ed Mr.. Young was meant for me. But
the motion of the cab and a hand I'M
steadIed by a nights CarOuse saved my
life
On the Right Side.
Mr. Young was on the right side of
the cab. leaning unsteadily against me.
His left hand was doubled up under
him and his right hand was lying
loosely on his leg.
Il felt him give a little lurch over
against me and his right hand went
beneath him. as if he was searching for
a handkerchief in his back trousers
pocket.
with his left shoulder pressing me
and his cheek almost touching mine
he fumbled about for minute. Sud
denly his right hand came around with
a jerk and touched my breast sharply.
At that very instant the cab jolted and
I heard a little muffled noise-nothing
the least resembling the sharp crack
Of a pistol; I never dreamed Of such
thing. The next instant he began to
lean more heavily against me, and then
his shoulder slipped by and his head
rolled into my lap. I put my hand on
his cheek; It was growing cOld-'
Nan Patterson paused. This. then, was
the wOman's version of the tragedy.
Plausible enough. TO be sure, and told
with straightforward earnestness. But
what havoc might the district attorney
And that is what you viii tell the
Wrote Her Name on Gard.
She nodded her head. Drawing a long
breath, Nan Patterson continued, speak
ing very slowly:
I shall tell the jury the story Of the
cab ride and everything that led up 10
il. A jury wants 10 know tho motive as
well as the manner of the crime and I
will tell it everything it wants TO know.
Mr.. Young shot himself while trying
10 shoot me. He had intended TO kill me
first. and, no doubt, he meant to commit
suicide afterward; but he had been
drinking heavily and his hand was UNI
steady. His aim was uncertain and he
shot himself instead Of me.
Il have the best Of reasons for believ-
ing this, because he had threatened his
own life and mine many times Besides,
while we were riding down town that
morning he took a blank card from his
pocket and wrote on II my name and
address, Miss Nan Patterson, care Mrs
J. Morgan Smith, st. Pauls Hotel, cor
uer Sixtieth Street and Columbus Ave-
nue. The card is in District Attorney
Jerome's Office. Mr.. Young wrote It so
that my body might be Identified
Awakened by Phone.
ION Saturday morning. June 4, my
sister, Mrs. J. Morgan Smith, and my
self were walked up by the telephone
bell in her room. Sister answered the
phone. and I heard her say:
81 But she Is asleep. and don't want
10 wake her.
she hung up the receiver. A few
minutes later IL was rung again.
q" Tell him / am dressing I said al
though l was in bed. We both knew
what dreadful temper Mr. Young lad.
and we tried 10 humor him.
My sister came 70 my bed and said.
.HouA have 10 get UP, Nan. He IS de-
TernlneQ 70 see you. He wants Won 10
meet him az the Circle and drive 10 the
pier with him
7 dressed as quickly as I could and
] was IL such hurry that after I got
on the elevator I noticed that ] Ead
my sisters
did you carry anything besides the
purse2"
Nothing else. ] wore a light iscE,et
It's pockets Were too small 10 hold NV
purse and / carried il in my hands
There was absolutely no place where ]
could have hid a pistol.
when l met Mr. Young at the Circle
he looked haggard and miserable and Zoe
was impatient
.' You're a nice one he said. TO keen
me waiting so long. I've had forty balls
while ! waited, and / am going 10 have
another one
Protestations Of Affection.
Il told him I had come as soon ag /
could, and we got into the hanson and
drove down town.
We did not say an unkiud word to
each other. We were both sad because
he was leaving for Europe. / said very
little, partly because he had been drink
ing all night, and knew it was danger
Gus 10 irritate him at such times. IL
AaQ violent temper.
% Dear said he in a suddenly synUa-
theJic mood. did / do anything 70 huri
your feelings yesterday The day is .
blank 20 rae, but 1 am afraid ] was ugly
You were drinking / replied, cheer
fully, and what you do then doesn'
matter
" You know he said, that would
rather see Mrs. Y. dead before me thar
20 hurt your little finger.
To Join Him Abroad.
Then be asked me again, as he hat
been asking for a week, II ] wOuldu'
sail the next Tuesday or Wednesday bl
another steamer and join him IN Europe
i shook my head, and he knew the rea
SON i had told him often before that
would not 90 70 Europe alone and bt
lonely while he was taking his VIII
around
He asked me what / would do whilt
lac was away, and / told him that / ex
pected 70 play at Manhattan Beach il
the SAubert companies. Then he spOk
OF certain man we had known in Gail
fOrnla, and who had come here 4 few
days before we did He had always beer
jealous or this man. ] tried % chang
his thoughts from that channel b
speaking OF something else, for he hal
often said,
II j ever hear OF your going out Z,
the theater or anywhere else. with an
other ] will kin