Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-18
Testimony in Shafer Murder
Trial About Concluded.
THE LAWYERS CONFER
DEPENDANT SHOWS MARKED IN
TEREsT IN PROCEEDINGS.
Son Of Accused Man a Witness Today
Physician Describes Effect
Of Strong Drink.


in Criminal Court No. for the murder of
his wife. Catherine Ivey Shaffer. August
% last. announced the close OF their case
shortly before noon today. 1t was explain
ed. however that after going through the
record 1t may be deemed advisable to intro
duce further evidence in behalf of Shaffer.
but such Is not thought to be likely. An
adjournment was then taken until 10
o'clock Monday morning. The prosecution
expects to consume all Of the session Mon
day with the introduction Of testimony In
rebuttal 1t Is expected that the summing
up addresses OF counsel to the jury will
be begun Tuesday.
The trial took a pathetic turn today, when
Willie Shaffer. the twelve-year-old son of
the defendant and the woman alleged to
have been murdered, was called as wit
ness.
The little chap gave way to tears while
testlfying. and his presence caused his
aunts. sisters Of the deceased, to weep.
The boys father displayed marked inter-
est in the statements made by Willie. and
listened closely to all that he said. When
he was excused from the stand the boy
FASTENED to his father kissed him affec-
tionately and. trying hard to check his
tears. sat on the prisoners knees during
the remainder of the session. Shaffer
clasped his son closely. When the defend
ant was conducted from the court room to
the cell Enclosure In the basement of the
city hall building Willie accompanied him.
Conference of Counsel.
Just prior to adjournment counsel con-
ferred with the court. the result being a de-
cision that the jurors may be supplied with
newspapers over Sunday. provided the dep
marShalS m ha a
references to the trial are eliminated from
the copies of those newspapers that are
provided for the jury
Shaffer. as stated. appeared to be deeply
concerned in what was going on today and
conversed at some length with Attorney
Lambert of his counsel.
Testimony Of DR.. Frederick.
Dr. Leon l.. Frederick Of 4th and East
Capitol streets. physician to the Shaffer
family. was called to the stand this MORN
Ing and testified that he had treated Shat
fer several times for alcoholism. He said
that when the defendant was drunk he was
wild and wanted to throw things around
geLerally. DR.. Frederick explained the diff
ference between acute and chronic alcohol
ism. declaring that the excessive use of
whisky caused different forms Of brain dis
ease. He said excessive drinking will
make people want to fight kill, steal and
lie and break up furniture-in fact, do any
thing almost"
Witness testified that four or five years
ago he treated Shaffer for delirium tremens
and that he was uncomfortable, vicious and
wild. He believed defendant to be below
par" mentally Assistant United States At
torney keigwin brought out the statement
by the wftress that alcohol affects different
people in different ways and will affect the
same person differently at different times
Dr. Frederick added that people of different
compile ions are affected differently.
For instance" said DIR. Frederick,
whisky makes blonde people happy-whle
the brunettes grow wild. I may add that
man can absorb food about three
tablespoonsful Of whisky day. Any more
than that goes to the tissues and causes
the conditions have described"
Wyatt ]. Brown. a lamp lighter. was also
called this morning. but his testimony was
unimportant. merely proving the time Of
lighting a certain street lamp.
The Effects Of Drink.
Further Dr. Frederick expressed the
opinion that a man who had been good
natured all day could in the evening COM
NIT deadly assault on person. through
being an alcoholic maniac. The witness
further stated that the partaking Of whisky
by a man who had a grievance against
another individual would be apt to accen-
tuate such grievance.
The last witness today was the defend
ants son Willie. He told of the pleasant
relations that existed between his father
and mother up to at least one month prior
to the killing. The boy explained that
he went away from the city the latter
part of last July. but up to four days of
that time his parents were apparently on
good terms. For six seven months
prior to his departure last July, accord
Ing to Willie. he delivered notes almost
every day from his mother to his father.
His father frequently tried to induce his
Jyit m
would not do so.
Detective Hartigan Witness.
Detective Sergeant Thos. P. Hartigan
was called late yesterday afternoon. He
testified that he interviewed the defend
ant shortly after the commission of the
alleged murder and that the defendant
was nervous and appeared to be drunk.
He was, in the opinion of the witness. on
the verge of delirium tremens. He said
Skaters hands trembled. To Mr.. Turner'S
question. They were also red with blood,
were they not?" the witness replied. Yes.
they were"
Frank H Miles testified that he had
known Shaffer in the government print
ing office. He said Shaffer had taken out
a life insurance policy in a council of the
National Union OF which Miles was pres
ident. The policy was for 81 .0OO and was
in favor OF Catherine Shaffer. 1t was is
sued In July. 1903. but lapsed on August
10 of that year because of non-payment
OF dues. This was subsequent to Shaffer s
divorce from his wife.
Miles stated that, TO use vulgar term
/ always thought Sharer 'nutty'" but
when pressed by Mr.. Turner, admitted
that. as "A responsible officer of the Ma
ticnal Union, he would not have recon-
mended the issuance by that body of a
policy OF insurance upon the life of an in
sane person. James F.. Wallace repeated
his testimony of the previous day that
he believed Shaffer to be of unsound
mind.