The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-12-07
.UNWR|TTEN LAW
TO Be HIS PLEA
U. S. SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI
TO DEFEND NIECE, WHO
KILLED PHYSICIAN.
TO DEFEND HER HONOR
She Shot Him, She Says--Ex Governor
Longino, Uncle Of Slain Man to
Appear For State---Girl Bride
in Tragedy.

|
written law that justifies the murde
OF man by the woman whose homo
he has impeached Is the defense whic
viii be offered by Mrs. Angle Birt
song niece of United States Senate
A. j. McLaurin OF Mississippi, an
wife of DIR. j. r. Birdsong, promir
ent dentist, Mrs. Birdsong was place
on trial yesterday, charged with In
murder OF Or, Thomas Butler.
nephew of former Gov Longino 0
| Mississippi. The case came to Haze
hurst from Monticello, the scene o
the tragedy. on change of venue.
Among the counsel participating il
the trial are some of the most emin
ent lawyers in the State. They in
clude Senator McLaurin, ex-Gov Long
inc r. H. Miller, A. G. McNair ant
r. L. Dent District Attorney Greave.
is conducting the prosecution.
The case was called yesterday, after
noon. Mr.. and Mrs. Birdsong, with
their two children, entered the court.
room together. District Attorney
Greayes announced that the was
ready for trial.
The defense asked continuance on
the ground that several of its wit
neeses were absent but the prose-
cution agreed, to admit whatever the
defense claimed would constitute the
absent Witnesses testimony, rather
than delay the case. and the work Of
jury proceeded
Mrs. Birdsong's husband is also
under Indictment as an accessory to
the murder of Dr. Butler, but he will
not be tried at this term of court.
Defendant Barely Twenty.
Mrs. Birdsong is barely 20 years
old. She has been married nearly five
years, and has two children. She is an
attractive woman. and Is a
member of one of Mississippi's most
prominent families. The tragedy In
which she figured on the morning of
Nov. %, 1905. shocked the state.
DR.. Butler was the Brdsong family
physician and was warm friend of
he head of the household. He visited
he Birdsong residence frequently. |
)ne day, under the influence Of liquor, |
le boosted of his alleged relations
With Mrs. Birdsong. Several persons
eard these remarks, and made no sec.
ct OF IT,
AS the result of Or. Buffers drunk
n boaats, Mrs. Birdsong was ostra-
sed by Mon icello society women.
The became Respondent and a few
ays after the first slight she suf
cred from her feminine friends she
wallowed morphine in an effort 20
nd her life. She was saved, and ,
y the following day she had recov.
red and seemed cheerful
Mrs. Birdsong's attempt to kill her (
elf was made on Thursday. The fol- !
,wing Saturday, after her husband .
ad gone downtown. she procured his :
svolver, hid it in the folds of her !
ress and hurried TO DR. Buffers of
&c. There she waited until patient =
nd been dismissed and then rushed
to his private office. As he turned !
greet her she leveled the revolver \
him and pulled the trigger five
mes. r
Four of the bullets struck DR.. But 4
r. two piercing his heart The physi- v
an fell to the floor. dying. Mrs v
rdsong walked from the room and D
It into the street, where. facing the n
ovid that had been attracted by the s
und of the shots, she said: "You r
II find the result Of my work up e
air." II
Mrs. Birdsong surrendered TO the "
eriff. Her husband was arrested Il
ortly afierward, and a weapon was
md in his pockets. He was indicted a
an accessory. m
Mrs. Bidsong spent a month in Jail
Ter her preliminary hearing at n
itch the evidence tended to show %
1t she was a victim of temporary
'ntal alteration. she was releases re
800 bond. %
The evidence brought out during "
: preliminary hearing was sensation.
in some respects. and Il is expected
be repeated during the present n.
al. John II. Williams. clerk in q a,
re Of which Dr. Butler was one of n
proprietors. testified that DR.. But "a
had shown him a letter in Mrs. IN
dsong's writing. in which DR.. But ly
was unbraided for his failure to hs
p an appointment in a secluded a
sting place on the previous night
? writer made an appointment for
following night
Williams testified that DR.. Butler sa
rewarded al the time that he had da
r the appointment but was intoxi. th
ed. The physician said. according br
the witness. That he intended 10 ha
it out" in the future. be
Irs. S. F. Birdsong the defendants