The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-08
THE BIRDSONG TRIAL
PROSECUTION RESTS SOONER THAN
 WAS EXPECTED.
Effort Being Made by Defense to Prove Woman Wns Driven Ins7ne by
 Gossip Of Mnn She
 Killed.

Hazlehurst, Miss Dec. 7.~-With sur prisng rapidity, the prosecution in the case of Mrs Angie Birdsong. charged with the murder of Dr. Thomas Butler, completed its evidence today.
 A day and a half had been occupied in presenting the States witnesses. Two leadinl- points were aimed at by the prosecution. First, 1t was attempted to show that the youthful defendant was deliberate and that she followed her already mortally wounded victim out of his office to his veranda where she adjusted her revolver. after he had pleaded for mercy. and that with the weapon again ready she fired three more shots al him. The second aim of the prosecution was to prove pr. But ler's good character,
 One of the States witnesses Mrs.
 Nora Garrett, lived in house across the street from Dr. Butler. She testi- fled today that she saw the shooting
 both in the office and outside and that
 she heard the physician cry: Angie
 don't soot me any more." moment
 later, Dr, Butler exclaimed My God,
 Angie. what will become of you when
 YOU die" The witness said that she
 herself called to Mrs. Birdsong to stop
 shooting.
 This witness said there was no truth
 in report that she has informed Mrs
 Birdsong of stories about the latters s
 character, alleging to have been circu- lated by Dr. Butler. The prosecution went into details about the nature of
 the physicians wounds and then rested
 its case. ..@. it's first witness the defendants moth er-in-law, Mrs. s. F. Birdsong. The latter testified that the defendant after the birth of her last child, had shown signs of insanity and that these svmp. toms were repeated about the time of : frrt.-- fv, 1a,vr~ a that Mrs Garrett, who had testified for the State, called upon Mrs. Bird song n few days before the tra agedy and that after this visitors departure, Mrs Birdsong remarked that if she found that Dr. Butler had told i'll stories
 about her she would XII nm; Witness said Mrs. Birdsong had been ont at night only once during the ne riod the stories referred to and that | .bop thn defendant had gone for medi- cine at wituess's request Other wit nesges told of Mrs. Birdsong's attempt ,t suicide a few days before the shoot ing At this point adjournment was taken until tomorrow.
 If is announced that the attorneYs l defending Mrs. Birdsnng will attc~n | to Introduce into the trial the free at ! coptancc of evidence concerning the 1 phvsician's alleged statements about th,.. woman who deliberately shot him. Exception Was tdhtH 'o t'V iuii'S VI l the court at the close of yesterdays 1 session that only such parts of this
 evidence could be admitted as came to | Mrs. Birdsons ears.
 i Ii Is claimed that the actions of wo- men friends of Mrs Brdspng had quite as much effect in driving her to ! the verge of emotional insanity as did 1 cossip which sne heard. Some of these l former friends are alleged to have re- | fused 10 speak to her when they met ! her on the street.
 1 The case continues to attract to the | court room some of the leading per- | sons of the community and of the 1 State. A sad feature of the trial has