Evening journal., 1904-05-05
MRS. POWELL
ON THE STAND
WOMAN ON TRIAL FOR KILLING ESTELLE
ALBIN TELLS THE STORY OF THE
CRIME AND WHAT DROVE HER TO
COMMIT THE AWFUL DEED
specIal 70 The Evenlng Journal.

Special to The Evening journal.
Dover, May 5.-The State closed its
case in the murder trial of Mrs Mary
Ann Powell this morning.
In Mr.. Ridgelys brilliant address to
the jury in opening the defense, he
said:
"Gentlemen Of this jury, feel sure
that you, although you have had the
evidence OF the state ably and ex-
haustively presented, have arrived at
no unalterable opinion.
Il know Of no instance where the case
Of the state, If taken alone, would not
bring from the jury a verdict against
the accused. Our free institutions, hap
PLY. give every accused person equal
rights to show the other side.
when, a few days ago. it became
known that the state was in possession
of a confession of Mrs. Mary A. Powell
many people were struck dumb and at
once concluded that there was only one
thing to do-come here and pass sem
tence.
Mary A. Powell has not confessed
that she murdered Estella Albin. When
God made man He implanted i'm his
breast a certain animal instinct-an in
stinct Of elf-preservation. BE he even
So peaceable. even so humane. he will
when attacked by another contemplate
ing his destruction seize the nearest
weapon at hand and struggle, stab, cut,
slay.
ION the 9th of February last there
arose an alteration in which it became
evident that Estela Albin was about
10 take the life of Mary A. Powell. II
this prisoner had not done what she did
then do, Mary A. Powell would have
been dead and Estella Albin would
have been sitting here in the dock"
Mrs. Powsil's Story
Mrs. Powell here took the stand.
81 am SO years old" she said Il have
been married for seven years to Alfred
NJ. Powell. We were married on Janu-
airy and on the February following
a sister Of Estella Albin's brought the
girl to my house to raise her.
"She lived with me until two years
an act between the girl and my hus-
band which prompted me to immediate
" take her back to my people. My
husband asked my forgiveness and
promised to do better, and five days
later the girl came back and promised
TO do better"
Mr.. Ward objected to testimony as
immaterial
The State contended that there was
no Illicit intimacy with Estella Albin
proved on the day Of this murder and
anything that happened two years prior
was not admitted.
Mrs. Powell" asked Mr.. Davis, ''wher,
were you on the 9Th of February, last?
"At home"
What did you do that day?" Got VI
at $50, went down stairs about els: go
breakfast and cleared up with Georgia.
after my husband left the house tha
morning, about O'Clock. I put my din
ner pot on. Then it occurred to me to TAX
up stairs to the attic some glass cans o.
Jars that we were through with.
''Were the doors open between you an,
the wash-house where Essie was a
work?" Yes"
What was Essie doing then?" stand
ing In the wash-house looking at me
Clearly she looked mad. As / walke
around the stove, 1 was attracted by Essi
sull staring at me.
while was STOPPING over in the at
tic. I heard the door suddenly open an
locked around to see Essie.
''Essie rushed toward me. holding ne
right hand over her shoulder, hiding some
thlng. She grabbed my throat with he
left hand and said: III choke you t
death.
'Essie said she'd choke me to deaf
and with her right hand behind her, seize
my throat. 1 struggled up and struck a
her hand with one OF uhe bottles hut h
her en- the right side Of the head. Befor
she released me I struck her again an
pushed her away, thinking 1 mad hurt ht
enough
she came at me again and we bot
rurb.ed to the moor" resumed the W,
man. she tcpt hurting my right nan
which ! had injured with the scissors.
thought she would kill me- Then 1 though
OF the knife. She struggled TO get vt froi
me, sne grabbed II again ard agaia 81
clawed me and I cried with pain.
thought how she would XIII me. phen
got my only chance ond cut her unit
she foil away from me. staggered. SOM
thing said; Leave tho knife in her han
and size II look like n suicide "