The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-16
He WASABURCLAR
Defense Of Mrs. Wilson in the
Fredonia Murder Case.
She Declares She Shot Lee
Prunty by Mistake.
TESTIMONY ALL IN.
Contention of the State That
Killing Was Case Of Revenge.
Report That Dead Man Was to
Wed Another Woman.
TESTIMONY ALL IN.

Fredonia, Kan. April 16.-The defense
in the t.ial OF Mrs. Enma Wilson,
widow, charged with the murder of Lee
Pfunty has rested its case. The state
put in several witnesses in rebuttal. Ar
guments viii be heard today.
George b. Brown, who owned the
lodging house in which the tragedy &C
CURED, was on the stand for the de-
Tense. His testimony occupied all the
forenoon. but nothing new was brought
out except that he knew Mrs. Wilson
contemplated suit for breach of prom
Use against Prunty. His testimony was
a review of the incidents after he was
called by Mrs. Wilson shouting up
stains to him, George, I've shot a
man"
Nj Brown Immediately went down.
He found Mr.. Prunty lying on his back
just inside Of Mrs. Wilson's bedroom
with his feet toward the open door lead
ing from the bedroom into the sitting
room and only about IS inches from
the door. Mr.. Prunty was dead, haV-
ing been shot through the heart. Mrs.
Wilson explained the shooting by say
ing she had been awakened by the
presence of man in her room standing
a the foot of the bed. She told Mr.
Brown she jumped out of bed and shot
at the man three times in rapid sue
cession, the last shot being fired at
close range just as she ran past him
and out of the door, Mr.. Brown found
Cgnized it as his revolver which he had
last seen on a dresser in his room. He
had not missed il and did not know
she had the revolver.
Miles Wilson, aged 10 years. son of
the defendant, testified to about the
same as Mr.. Brown, except that he did
not see so much nor know as much.
Miss Maud and Miss Gertrude Elkins,
stenographers, who occupied two rooms
in the house. testified that Mrs Will
jnTO their dress 2 f.
ter the shooting. She was wrought up
to a high pitch and although the rest
were too warm, she complained of be-
ing cold and they turned up the gas
Mrs. Wilson said to the girls over and
over why did he come to my house at
this time of night?"
oh. if he had only spoken. I never
had harsh word with him in the
world" One of the girls testified to
having heard the body fall Immediate
" after hearing two shots. She said
Mrs. Wilson said, Z expect I've killed
him. I shot three times"
Only one of two witnesses testified to
having heard more than two shots, but
the body showed that three shots had
been fired and that all three struck
Mr.. Prunty in the left side. One bullet
struck a suspender buckle and another
a button and although the flesh was
bruised neither inflicted a wound. The
OlHSI UuA16t went lltEOuSn int AEdEt dl
close range. All the witnesses said 1t
was dark in the bedroom.
The contention of the state is that
Mrs. Wilson had invited Prunty to her
room: that he had been there before
that she was enraged at him because
Of reports that he was to wed another
woman and that she killed him in re-
venge. The defense contends that
Prunty stole into Mrs. Wilson's bed
room and that she thought him a
burglar.