Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-17
Defense Puts Many Wit
nesses on Stand.
TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS
TO PROVE UNsOUND-
NESS OF MIND.
Defense Claims Strong Witness in MI
A. Saphar-Alleged Hallucination
May Go to Jury Monday.

Shaffer. charged with the murder of his
wife. this morning. the attorneys for the
defense announced that in all probability
they would conclude their side of the case
before adjournment this evening. and ti,at
the case could go to the jury either Mon
day or Tuesday. Court will be in session
tomorrow from 10 to II o'clock.
The proceedings today were dry and con-
fired to the examination of witnesses for
the defense as to the habits of the de-
PENDANT and his mental responsibility.
The strongest witness in support of the
unsound- mind defense developed this morn
ing when Mr.. A. Saphar was called. He
believed Shaffer to be "a little or all the
time. and described several instances OF
Shaffer's Authorizations All the witnesses
agreed that the defendant was in the habit
of drinking heavily. and that when under
the influence of liquor Shaffer was quick
tempered and ugly"
Shaffer was in the court room early. and
spent the entire day sitting alone. not even
conversing with his attorneys or members
of his family. all of whom were present.
He looked into space vacantly, occasional
ly drawing breath rapidly. as if laboring
under some excitement or strain From all
outward appearances he takes absolutely
no interest in the proceedings.
Upon the converting of court this morn
ing the testimony of Mr. John +, Wallace
was resumed and he reiterated his opinion
Of yesterday-that Shaffer was of unsound
Mind
Patrick Dee. a saloonkeeper. testified he
saw Mr.. and Mrs. Shaffer together, walk
ing arm in arm, about three months after
the divorce was granted. He said Shaffer
always appeared to him to be erratic. Mr..
Dee declined to express an opinion as to
whether Shaffer is of sound or unsound
mind
Jos. A. Hearney. in the employ of the Bal
timore and Ohio railroad. testified that
Shaffer had always appeared to him as
''fighty." Witness said Shaffer would be
talking on some subject. and would sudden
connection with the original. This and
other incidents formed the basis for his
opinion.
Samuel D. Gibson, a policeman. testified
he has known the defendant eight years,
and had seen him during that time about
once every two weeks. He only remember
ed having seen Shaffer drunk on three oc-
casons and then he said the defendant act
ed foolishly. Characterization brought out
the statement that all men "act foolish
when under the influence of liquor, and that
Shaffer was no more foolish than the gen.
eral average of men in the same condition.
He watched Shaffer the night after the
killing Of Mrs. Shaffer and said he walked
the floor Of his cell, running his fingers
through his hair.
Charles E. Miller. the next witness. had
XII own Shaffer about seven or eight years
He said when Shaffer was sober he was all
right. but when he got drunk he was very
els agreeable. Witness said Shaffer always
sTcke we'll Of his wife. The defendant. &C.
cording to witness, was a competent Official.
except when he was under the influence Of
liquor.
A Saphar. who boarded at the same
house with Shaffer for several months, tes-
Thought Shafer NOT exactly
right"
when Shaffer was drinking he appeared
to me like crazy man." said Mr.. Saphar
Witness testified that Shaffer often had
Authorizations. sometimes to the effect that
PEOPLE were following him. and other times
that people were looking at him. He be-
lieved Shaffer to be irresponsible when un-
der the influence of liquor.
Witness testified Shaffer was In the habit
of staring vacantly. He said he (Saphar)
would be reading a paper and Shaner
would start a conversation. Witness would
say: Don't talk. Gus. I'm reading'-but
Shaffer. looking all the while at witness,
would reply: "Oh. 1 didn't see you were
reading
John o. Knox, secretary and treasurer
of a local express company, was the next
witness Shaffer worked for Knox in 1855
and 1900 Mr.. Knox said Shaffer was sub
ject to irresponsible spells while in his
(knoxs employ.
known Shaffer ten twelve years. and
practically corroborated the testimony OF
preceding witness.
Richard H. Yates, proprietor of printing
office testified he had known the defendant
a long while but never saw him under the
influence of liquor. He believed Shaner oc-
casionally showed signs of weakmindedness.
In other respects his testimony did not dlf-
fer from that of former witnesses.
Court adjourned al 1870 for luncheon.
Edwin F. Fish and Edwin H. Blush were
called when court convened for the after
Thax tnSt 3pd a n h.
it's of Shaffer, with particular reference to
his use of liquor.
James Dillon testified he saw Shaffer at
G O'Clock on the day Mrs Shaffer was
killed and that Shaffer very drunk.
throwing his arm around witness neck and
insisting or witness having drink.
Michael Featherston was called and prac-
tically substantiated former evidence.
Late yesterday afternoon P b. Entrikln,
keeper of the time records of the govern
ment printing Office. was placed on the
stand to testify as to the time ShaHef
worked in that department.
Mrs. Anna c. De La Vergne. who keeps a
boarding house, where Shaffer lived for a
while testified the defendant was very
drunk during the week Immediately prior to
the killing of Mrs. Shaffer- Shaner had
lived in her house a year, and she never
had reason to believe him erratic or of un'
sound mind.
John s. Balm, another witness, thought
Shaffer of unsound mind. and was allowed
| to testify as a non-expert witness. James
f, Walsh who had worked with Shaffer In
the express business thought the defendant
had always been little on. John E.
Wallace superintendent of local transfer
company where Shaffer was formerly en-
pioyed. was on the stand when adjournment
| was taken until this morning.
Exceptions having been taken to the re-
port printed yesterday of portion of the
proceedings in the ShafYer trial, which en-
| bodied the testimony of John Sanderson.
the following abstract from the stem
| ographers official report Is given by way
! of correction:
Question by Mr.. Davis:
We'll. when did she (Mrs. Shaffer) come
| to your house? Do you remember
No sir. l do not remember the year"
Well she came to your house and lived
| with you alone"
Yes, sir"
For how long?"
About year. guess"
This in connection with testimony
! given by Sanderson.
| 1t is claimed by the parties in interest
| that a misrepresentation was created by
| the original publication.
| 1t is also stated that at the time Mrs
| Shaffer. who Sanderson's niece, re-
| sided in the latter's house. there were 9TH
| ers in the house. including Sanderson's
| daughters. a servant and persons who occu-
pied the relation of rOomers