The sun., 1907-04-27

saw
Coming Down stairs Women visitors
I'm Gowns OF All COlOrs Attend the Trial I
II Anisia Louise de Massey is convicted Of
murder for killing Gustav Simon. a Broad
way shirtwaist maker. it will be due In
large measure to the testimony given by
women witnesses. The Baroness, as
everybody at the trial insists upon calling
her. does not show resentment at the tes-
dmony Of these women. some OF whom
we're employed in the same shop with her.
She smiles all the time. but her smile does
not grow warmer at the testimony OF the
men for the prosecution. although their
testimony is not so damaging.
There were not a few women spectators
yesterday, and two. a strawberry girl and
toilet girl. caused a sensation. They got
front seats. probably because they were
the hashiest things that have been at this
or any other murder trial in some time.
Assistant District Attorney Tinker, who is
a yovng man and unacquainted with the
etiquette OF murder trials. fixed his back
on the women, but cut of the view OF three
of the jurors. They waved to him to step
aside. but in doing so he obstructed the
view OF osher jurors. He got another quick
reminder of the fact that he was doing
something wrong. but he didn't understand
just what A juror explained TO him why
he was so much in the way, and Mr. Tinker
obligirgly went of and curled himself up
in a corner.
The last witness yesterday, a woman.
gave most the important testimony. She
was Celia Guggenheim, who was employed
by a hatmaker on the fourth floor OF Goa
Broadway. where Simon had his office.
Simons shop was on the sixth floor.
Miss GuEgenheim said that she and Otto
Shissel who worked in the same shop with
her, heard the three shots fired when Simon
was killed. They walked to the door OF
their shop when they heard the shots.
Coming downstairs was a woman dressed
in black. She had never seen the woman
before, Miss Guggenheim said. But she
remembered her and could identify her.
lis that the woman there?' asked MIR.
Ely, pointing to the defendant. Mrs.
de Massey, with pencil poised ready to take
notes, looked intently at the witness.
That is the woman said the witness
positively.
Shssei wanted to know what had hap
pened and stopped the woman in black.
Somebody has been doing some shooting,
was the answer. The woman was not
excited but wanted TO hurry on.
"Shissel grabbed her and she tried TO
break away-tried TO escape said the
witness before Charles lie Barber, counsel
for Mrs. de Massy, could object. On Mr..
lie Barbier's motion the evidence was
stricken out and the witness went on TO
describe how Mrs. de Massey acted. II
appeared that Shissel put his hand on her
but that didn't stop her. Miss Guggenheim's 3
examination will be continued on Monday.
Madison II. Travis. who was employed
by Simon, said that he was standing near
the door to Simon's Office when he heard
the three shots. One Of the bullets went
through a glass partition over his head
and he ducked. When he raised his head
he saw something leave Simon's office
This was his description Of the something
Il saw a fash OF black and OF white as
Of a.
@As of face7' said Assistant District
Attorney Ely.
AS Of face said the witness.
There was a black dress or gown, as
though it had been worn by person
That was the best description he could
give Of what he saw. When IL had dis
appeared Simon came to the door. stepped
up 20 him and said something. Then he
went down in the elevator with another
employee named Zimmerman. Mrs de
Massey was standing on the corner look
ing up Broadway She was not excited
a Bit Then the policeman came and took |
her back to Simon's office.
That was all Mr.. Ely wanted TO hear
from Travis. who was puzzled. He had |
something more he wanted to tell and he |
whispered to Mr. Ely about IT, Mr.. lie |
Barber wanted TO find out what il was, |
but Justice Blanchard described it as a |
confidential communication. II appeared |
that Travis thought he ought 10 tell what |
Simon had said TO him after the shooting,
but it was not admissible in evidence.
Howard Eberlein, an elevator boy in
the building. said he saw man go down
stairs a second or so ahead OF Mrs de Massey.
There has been a good deal Of contention
on this point The prosecution insists that
Mrs. de Massey did the shooting and that
she walked downstairs and did not take
the elevator. The defence is that there
was a man in the room with Simon at the
time Of the shooting and that he left the
building before Mrs. de Massey.
II finally turned out that Eberlein said
he couldn't see or hear anybody going
downstairs as the elevator was enclosed
Shissel's name was brought into the testi-
mony again, and Eberlein said he knew him
An effort will be made to show that IL
there was any man on the stairs at that
time il was Shissel.
Mr.. LIE Barber questioned Eberlein at
some length Eberlein couldn't remember
having made certain statements at the
COroner's inquest concerning the shooting
To most Of Mr.. lie Barbier's questions he
answered Il don't know" or Il don't re-
member"
HAS anybody told you to answer here
i don't remember" asked Mr.. lie Barber,
who was not in good temper.
mo, sir" said the Witness but I'm
not going TO say l do remember when |
don't"
Max Zimmerman. who was also en-
ployed by Simon. practically -. coTob-
GRATED the story Of Travis. He went
down in the elevator with Travis TO get
a policeman after the shooting. He told
about finding Mrs de Massey on the corner
quietly looking up Broadway. When they
got back TO 81 mon's ofice some OF the
women employees h ad tainted and there
was a good deal Of excitement.
There are still several witne sses to be
examined by the prosecution. jus tice
Blanchard notified the jurors that they
might be prepared to sit nights next week
as he intends 10 finish the trial be fore the
April term expires.