Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-07
MOTHER
TESTIFIES
Mrs. Wilson on Stand
During Day
Evidence of Wife Helps
Husband
Two Long Beach Officers, Witnesses
In Murder Trial, Declare They
Would Have Shot Man Under
Similar circumstances

was thoroughly demonstrated yester-
day when before jury in depart
ment ! of the superior court, in giving
testimony in the case of w. II. Will
son, on trial for the murder Of WAL
lace Belden, two officers of Long
Beach testified that two days before
the murder they had given their opn-
ions to the tortured father in favor
of drastic measures.
There were several score business
men from Long Beach yesterday in
court when the case was called and
they nodded their heads emphatically
at the testimony given by the Off
GERS. Wilson is on trial for the mur-
der of Wallace Belden bandman,
who was shot and killed on Pine
street. Long Beach, on August 20,
while he, Belden, was on the way to
court to prosecute complaint against
Wilson, alleging assault with intent
to kill.
Five days prior to that time Natalie
Wilson, the slayer's 16-year-old daugh-
ter, had told her father and mother
that Belden, the bandman had taken
her to u boarding house in Long Beach
and there had assaulted her. She
showed tiny ring and a string of
paste pearl beads with which Belden
had persuaded her to walk with him
toward the part of the city wherein
the house was locate,. and those pitt
fui and innocent baubles were filed
as exhibits yesterday. The pearls
were proba bly, worth 10 cents and the
ring 1itf 10 hIIt thaIy had oa1
the despoiling of a little girls honor,
the life of her betrayer and the pros
ecution of her father on a murder
charge and of her mother on a charge
of assault with intent to commit mur-
, der.
Mother Takes the Stand
The prosecution closed its case
promptly at noon vest terday. Deputy
District, Attorneys North and Donnell
brought out in the evidence the fact
that Wilson had disguised himself on
the morning of the murder by shaving
his muStache and changing a soft
white felt hat for a cap with a peak
10 it, so that, according to the allega-
tion. he might get close to the band
man without being recognized and
make more certain of the aim.
The witnesses admitted that fact
and the attorneys for the defense
practically seconded the admissions.
With that testimony to prove the
murder premeditated th- prosecution
rested.
In the afternoon Mrs. Wilson, the
accused mans wife, was the first wit
ness called to the stand for the de-
Tense Mrs. Wilson is under charge
of assault with a deadly weapon with
intent to commit murder, having fired
two shots at Belden and missed, three
davc before his sudden death.
my daughter told us about Bel
den" testified Mrs. Wilson "This
bandman, like many others who play
at the beaches, had been annoying
many of the girls and Belden's spe-
cialty was very young school girls
When Natalie came lone crying and
told us all about Belden's attack on
her and showed us the paste beads
and the trinket ring he had given her
to get her to talk with him my hus-
band became as though some one had
struck him a hard blow. He seemed
dazed. Several times during the even
ing he muttered, My God, my God,
my little girl is ruined
Shoots In Sudden Anger
your husband is from Mississippi
and hot -blooded, is he not?" queried
the prosecution, and Mrs. Wilson as
sented.
"Didn't you know that you had no
right to take The law in your own
hands, that you would be punished for
that sort of violation of law?' again
queried the prosecution.
1--WE never discussed that" said
Mrs. Wilson. 1--WE never discussed
that part of the case at all and never
made any plans for any shooting.
NY husband came with me to Los
Angeles and saw Deputy District At
torney Paul Mccormick and he issued
a warrant for Belden.
1.-THE day before that, however. Bel
den had come to the stand to buy a
drink. When he asked if the girl was
around / could contain myself no
longer and I grabbed gun and fired
two shots at him and missed and he
ran away. My husband caught up a
shotgun and ran after him and had
nearly got him at the bath house
when an officer interfered.
my husband at that time was not
like himself. He was not angered,
just quiet and still, and had peculiar
look on his face. He told me after
ward that he did not have any inten-
tion OF firing at Belden with the shot
gun"
WAS not the reason that he did not
fire at Belden due to the fact that the
gun was not loaded?" asked Major
Donnell.
"Maybe it was" said the woman.
Tells Straightforward Story
when we got TO the district attor-
ney's office and saw Mr.. Mccormick
and told him our story" continued
Mrs. Wilson, "he said 1t was a pity
/ had not shot the brute.
II had become SO wrought up about
the case that / hardly krew what /
was doing and my husband seemed
dazed"
"Then you were both feeling crazy .
interrupted Major Donnell for the
prosecution.
mo. not feeling crazy" said the
woman. "-ve could hardly stand the
shame OF the wrong to our little girl.
(Continued ON Page Three1