The Washington herald., 1906-12-09
JURY HAS Her STORY
Mrs. BirdsOng Says She Shot,
Fearing Attack.
CLAIMS BUTLER SEIZED HER
Tells OS Childhood Marriage and
Says Gossip Drove Her InsaneIy
Mad-Denfex wrongful Relations
with Man She KiIIed-FIrst Wanted
to Commit suicide to End Agony.

HazeIhurst. Miss. Dec. s-Angie Fox
Birdsong went before the jury this after
noon and laid bare her whole life She
admitted she shot Dr. Thomas H. Butler,
but denied "A clear knowledge Of the cir
cumstances.
1T all seems hazy 10 me now" said
Mrs. Birdsong. 'I was made insanely
mad over the gossip that connected my
rame with that of DR.. Butler
Just before leaving the witness stand
Mrs. Birdsong. rising from her seat, and
holding her right hand high to heaven.
declared:
u will swear before my Lord, this even
ing. that there was never any undue inti-
macy between DR.. Butler and myself.
The little woman took the stand with
every appearance of confidence, but after
being tortured by attorneys for the State
for more than an hour. she was in a pita-
bic condition. She staggered TO her feet
and almost collapsed.
Tells of Her Life.
Mrs. Birdsong said her husband. DR..
James r. Birdsong, boarded with her par
ents while the family lived at Columbiat
and that he had known her since she was
six years old They were married when
Angie was thirteen years old. Her first
baby was born fve years ago and the last
one three years ago. Dr. Thomas H. But
Ter, the man she killed was not present
at the birth Of either, she said.
Two days before the tragedy, she testi-
fed, Mrs. Barrett called on her. abused
her. and called her a bad woman. Dr.
Birdsong. her husband the same day
spoke about gossip going the rounds con
ceTning a statement by DR.. Butler that
he had an appointment to meet her
First Turns to Suicide.
She said the news struck her like
thunderbolt and nearly broke her heart.
She knew it would disgrace her family
and children. The reports kept her in
perfect agony. She decided that suicide
was the only solution. and. accordingly
went 70 q lawyer TO arrange for leaving
her property to her children. The determi-
nation to suicide was thwarted, Mrs. Bird
song said, by a physician, who relieved
her Of morphine poisoning. Then she re
solved to visit Dr. Butler and learn from
his own lips if he had said there had been
any intimacy with her.
When she asked Dr. Butler if he had
denounced her. the physician jumped TO
his feet and tried TO drag her into a rear
room. Then it was she jerked a pistol
from handbag she carried and began
shooting
You say Or. Butler held you?" asked
counsel for the State
He had me about the waist" declared
Angie and / believed be intended to out
rage me
If he had hold Of you. you could not
have shot him. You know that" said op-
posing counsel.
4 don't know it. and did shoot him"
was the only reply Mrs. Birdsong gave.
Not I'm Love with DIR. Butler.
1T is lie," said the woman. with eyes
blazing. "to say that I was in love with
Dr. Butler. / never wrote him note and
never had an appointment with him."
Mrs. Birdsong insisted throughout her
evidence that she could recall few OF the
happenings of the fatal morning. She
had not taken her pistol to kill Butler
and had never said she would not rest
until DR.. BLtler was out of the way
DR.. Turner testified that it was his be-
lief that Mrs Birdsong was insane at
the time she killed DR.. Butler. The effect
of marriage at the age Of thirteen would.
in the average woman. impair develop
ment and produce a backward effect on
the mind.
With the evidence of DR.. Turner the
defense rested, and court adjourned until
Monday, when arguments viii be heard