The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-09
TELLS OF TRAGEDY
MRS, BIRDsONs GIVES MOST STAR
 THING TESTIMONY.
Declares She Went to pr. Buffers Off, flee with Peaceful Intentions, and He Attempted Assault Be-
 fore She Fired.


 Haziehurst, Miss, Dec. S.-Some startling evidence was given today by Mrs Angie Birdsong when she went on the witness stand in her own de- fense on the charge of murdering pr. Thomas Butler.
 The young defendant said that she went to the ofice where the tragedy occurred with peaceful intentions, and that Dr. Butler attempted an assault upon her while there. In tears, she swore that no Illicit relations had ever existed between her and pr. Butler.
 Mrs. Birdsong began her evidence without apparent nervousness. She said that Mrs. Nora Garrett had told her that Dr. Butler had said he had been intimate with the defendant and that she had made appointments 10 meet him during their intlnaacy. These stories. with sss sals aISnest broke her. heart, aud srtm q tinle she heard ttssgn she sgsycetg Ahsss @hat she was
 sns said she was in this half dazed condition when she went to Dr. But ler's office. Her purpose was to ask him if it was true that he had told such stories about her. and how, as an old friend. he could have done such a thing.
 pr. Butler seized her, the witness testified, when she had asked these questions. He attempted to drag her into a room adjoining the office. Mrs. Birdsong said she believed he intended to assault her in this room and that she took hor revolver and began firing He had hold of her when she began shooting.
 She said she remembered that she kept on shooting, but that the &etails of pr. Buffers death were confused in her mind. Sc said she could not after ward recall how she reached home at- ter the shooting.
 The prosecution then examined the defendant They did not alter her tes- timony, but toward the close of the questioning she grew nervous. once she cried. She exclaimed to her eX- aminers:
 T swear before God that no intimacy had existed between us.'
 Dr. O. M Turner, an insanity expert, testified for the defense that he was satisfied Mrs. Blrdsong was insane at the time of the killing. Her attempt at suicide a few days previous to the shooting. he said. was evidence of this insanity.
 The court refused the defense per mission to introduce evidence which they claimed would show the character of pr. Butler. The defense rested its case today, having occupied day and a half in presenting witnesses. Argu- ments will begin Monday.
 The trial thus far has been remark ably short, but three days having been consumed by both prosecution and de- fsnse in submitting evidence.
 W. A. Sillman. the first witness for the defense, was asked about state ments alleged to have been made by Dr. Butler on the Tuesday night be- fore the shooting
 Witness said that Dr. Butler was drunk when he made these statements. The court ruled out most of the state- ments made by this witness concerning Dr. Buffers alleged remarks. Senator McIaurIn, speaking for the deferse argued strongly that 1t was unjust to exclude these portions of the testimony, Judge Miller, however, stood firm m his ruling that only those parts of the remarks which had been reported to Mrs. Birdsong before the shooting should be admitted.
 SilIman testified that on the Tues day night in question Mrs. Butler had asked him to prevent her husband from going out upon the street, she alleging that he was going for the purpose of meeting a woman.
 Lutcher Grice, Mayor of Monticello was not allowed while on the witness stand to tell of conversation with Dr. Butler on the Tuesday night in ques. tion. The defense attempted by ques- tions to show that the Mayor reported these remarks to a man, whose wife carried them directly to Mrs Blrdsong.
 Mrs. Mary Hoffman was called and testified that she had told Mrs. Bird song about the stories alleged to have haaD made bv Dr. l5utleF.