The Cairo bulletin., 1906-12-08
WITNESSES TELL HOW MRS.
BiRDSoNG SHOT DOWN
FAMILY DOCTOR.
KILLED HIM AS SNAKE



der of DR.. Thomas Butler, the Bird
songs family physician, at Monti-
cello. Williams was an eye witness
and told a detailed story of the
tragedy when he took the witness
stand this morning
4 Questioned by Attorney McNair for
the state, Williams testified that he
was seated on a pile of bricks in
front of Or. Buffers office on the
morning OF the shooting. November
25. 1905. He saw Mrs Birdson on the
street, but did not notice her enter
the physicians office.
| Williams testified that he heard
1.-TWO revolver shots, evidently fired
in Dr. Buffers office The physician
appeared in the door, holding his
hands to his breast as though he had
been wounded. Mrs. Birdsong fol-
lowed him from the office, Williams
testified. DR.. Butler stopped aud SEEM
ed about to fall when another shot
was fired. Williams sprang up, but
/ before he could interfere Mrs Bird
song, he swore. deliberately fired two
more shots at the physician. Or. But
! Ter fell to tn ground, sasping. He eX,
pired without making a statement
! Williams testified that someone in
the crowd. which gathered after The
shooting. shouted; There comes DR..
| Birdsong," the woman's husband. The
witness said DR.. Birdsong was armed.
The witness said the tragedy oc-
Cured about 10 a. m. Before the ply
stefan appeared in the door the wit
ness heard an exclamation which
sounded like, oh Lord!' but he was
unable to say whether it was the
voice of a man or a woman.
The witness was asked if he knew
DR.. Buffers reputation for lascivious-
ness. The state objected to this ques-
ton. The defense argued that it was
an important point in the case, but
the objection was sustained by the
rUurt.
When asked If Dr. Butler had ever
made any statement 20 him as to his
alleged relations with Mrs. Birdsong,
the witness replied in the negative. II
was the son OF the witness who testi-
fed at the first hearing that the ply
stefan mad boosted of his alleged rela
tons with the senator's niece, and
had shown notes purporting to have
been written by Mrs. Birdsong, in
which the doctor was upbraided for |
his failure to keep an appoin! ment in |
a secluded trysting place at night
The witness insisted. however, that
he himself had never heard the physi |
clan discuss the matter
The strongest array Of legal talent |
ever gathered for a trial in Mississip- !
pi was in court when the case was
called this morning. EX-Gov. Longino, |
uncle of the slain physician, IS in
reality directing the prosecution, al
though District Attorney Greayes is
technically in charge United States
Senator McIaurin. uncle Of the WON.
an on trial is in charge of the de
Tense.
The arrival from Jackson Of Or. J.
Y. Miller led 10 the belief last night
that the defense would plead insanity
but it was stated this morning that
this was not the intention of the ac-
cused woman Mrs. Birdsong has
pleaded all along that she killed Dr.
Butler in defense of her honor.
"Of course. ! killed him, Mrs. Bird
song has told the friends who have
gathered for the trial Il killed him
as | would a snake. He ruined my
and what else have / 10
i've for?"
G. Wood Magee. state senator. the
original counsel for the Birdsongs, is
here, as wei as many Of the most
prominent persons Of Mississippi. all
elated to the slain physicians family
md that of the accused woman. The
defendant is attended at the trial
~ her husband and two small chill
Iren Near her sits the widow of DR..
Butler. her children and relatives
rom this and other states.
Jurors AvoweC Sympathy.
a venire Of 100 men had been sum
noRed for jury service and these
we're exhausted yesterday. More were
allied hastily, however and the last
+ the II men was selected at
clock last evening The jurors are
u farmers Of Copiah county. They
re: Carl Bailey. " H. Newman. Sid
10th. Henry ID. Barksdale. J. p. Phil
ps. J. J. eagle. 5. NJ. Keene, F. VI.
Ollins. NJ W. Harrington. billiard
Wade. G.. ~ Bishop and W. A. Smith.
They declare they had little knowl
1ge Of the case. and, though they adj
lifted they felt sympathy for a wOm-
n on trial Tor murder. they vowed !
his would not affect their verdict Z.
7. Miller, who is assisting Senator !
IcLaurin in defending his niece. was
mphatic in declaring that il was inn
roper 10 require a Juror to declare
rat he would treat a woman a. he
ould a man. but he did not object to
le statement that the jurors would
81 Let this prevent hfme from giving
IN Uafa4r trial I