The Washington times., 1904-06-21
.SHAFFER'S TRIAL
NEARING ITS END
Case Likely to Go to the
Jury Tomorrow.
STRAIN TELLS ON PRISONER
Family in Court-Attendance Today
Smaller Than
Usual.

The morning session OF Criminal Court
No. !, where Augustus L. Shaffer is on
trial for the murder Of his divorced wife.
was taken up today with an argument as
to the admissibility Of some Of the ex-
pert testimony given yesterday after
noon as to the sanity or insanity OF the
defendant. and the discussion of the
prayers Of the attorneys Of the Govern
ment and the defense.
The accused. three OF his brothers. his
mother. two sisters. and his little son.
Willie Shaffer; Mrs. Ivey. mother Of
Katherine Ivey Shaffer. and two of the
dead woman's sisters were present in
court.
The strain Of the trial Is evidently tell
ing on Shaffer He has lost color, and
appears more downcast
The attendance was not as large today
as II has been on previous days. but
there were more women among the
spectators during the early part of the
DAY then usual
II Is probable the prayers will be dis
posed Of by the court today. and the
arguments may begin this afternoon
Assistant District Attorney FIeigwin
will open for the Government He will
be followed by Attorneys Baker, Lam
bert. and Davis. for the defense. in the
order named. Mr.. Turner will conclude
Tor the government. The opinion was
expressed by counsel today that the ca
VIII go TO the jury tomorrow
The examination Of the expert wilt
nesses. DR.. Jellefe. OF New York: DIT
Shute. the jail physician: Dr. White. OF
the Government Hospital for the Insane,
and Dr. Hudson. OF the Washington
Asylum Hospital. yesterday afternoon
and the recalling 70 the stand by the
defense Of Willie Shafrer. TO answer a
few unimportant questions. concluded
the days proceedings. Almost every
question put TO the experts was object
ed 10 by counsel for the Government or
the defense, with the result that wncn
their examination was concluded II was
difficult 10 tell what parts of their tcsti-
InOny was admissible and what was not.
When the court opened this morning
Mr.. Davis first move was TO strike out
two answers made by DR.. Jellefe. An ef-
fors was made 10 get the New York
ahenist back 0n the stand tnat tine ques-
tons might be put 10 him again. Dr.
Je-iefe, hOWeNCT, left the city last mis- a.
The bulk of the testimony Of the *
perts. Including thdt part which was OBJ
jected TO. was to the effect that Shaffcr
was sane. not only at the time he was
examined at the jail last November, but
also At the time the crime was COM
mitted IN August.
The Government Closes.
After the court had ruled upon the
admission or striking out Of certain OF
DR.. Jullefe's answers, Mr.. Turner an
nOunced that the case Of the Govern
ment was closed. He suggested that
the jury be excused from attendance
in the court room while the prayers were
being discussed. To this Mr.. Davis OBJ
jected. saying he had a particular rea-
son for desiring the presence of the
jury. Justice Wright said the matter
should be settled by the jury. They
could go or stay. as they wished. The
jury elected to retire, and did so.
Il find myself again mistaken. your
honor" said Mr.. Davis. II find there
Is a phonograph in the jury's retiring
room. l cannot hope to compete against
that"
The court cannot take official cogni-
Zance Of the monograph said Justice
Wright, with "A smile.
Upon the presentation of their pray
ers. by the attorneys for the Govern
ment. counsel for the defense objected
to all of them, and a discussion fol-
lowed.