The Washington herald., 1907-04-25

r.
turned out to-day for the trial Of Anisia
Louise de Massey for the murder OF Gus
tav Simon, a Broadway shirt-Waist maker.
The powdered and painted women who
were barred from the Thaw trial came
TO the same courtroom to-day and looked
on.
Mrs. de Massey shows little concern
about the proceedings against her. She
talked earnestly at times with her coun-
sell
birs. de Massey took notes all day, and
sometimes she handed slips of paper to
Mr.. lie Barber. one of her counsel. In
his opening, Mr.. Ely described the kill
ing of Simon. He said he would prove
that the woman committed deliberate
murder.
The first witness was Coroner's Ply
sician Weston, who described the course
of the bullet that killed Simon.
Miss Rae Forscher. a good looking
young woman, was the principal witness.
She told OF the row between the defendant
and Simon over money due the defendant.
Before the row ended, Miss Forscher said
she left. going to the bank. When she
returned there was crowd, and Simon
was on a lounge. dying. Mrs. de Massey
who had been arrested as she was leav-
ing the building, was sitting in a chair
at his desk.
Furnishes Description OF Dress.
Miss Forseher's story viii be continued
tomorrow, when the trial Will be resumed
before Justice Blanchard.
The defendant is very sensitive about
her attire. So that her dress should not
be improperly described in the newspapers
during the trial. Mrs. de Massey furnished
the reporters with a description of her hat
and the clothes she wore. According 10
this description, her headgear consisted Of
a black toque with a gold band and a
black plume She further stated that she
was wearing "a suit of jet black, white
shirt waist. and black skirt sprinkled with
gold tassels, designed by herself and made
TO order"
Long black mOusquetaiTe gloves cover
her hands and arms TO the elbows, high
heeled boots are in evidence below her
mOdishly cut skirt, and few inches Of
blue silk petticoat can also be seen She
does not remove her gloves, as she sits al
the table with counsel. peHciling her
notes, as busy as the stenographer him
self
Neither Nervous Nor IN EeAE.
She was particular that her counsel
should be able to converse with her in
French. She held several long consulta-
tions with representatives of the French
consul in this city, and with an attache
OF the French Legation. who came on here
from Washington to consult with her, be-
fore she retained Lawyer le Barber,
The baroness is hardly under forty
years Of age, and her face cannot be
called beautiful but her care in dressing,
the perfect lines of her figure. the clear
ness and softness of her complexion show
that she is particular as to her appear
ance.
She betrays neither fear nor nervous
ness Never apparently, has she realized
the gravity of the Indictment, which re-
counts that on November is last she en-
tered the private ofice Of Gustav Simon,
president of the Queen Shirt Waist Com
pany. and, drawing a revolver, fired three
shots at the old man.
Since her arrest her demeanOr has
earned for her the title OF the most re-
markable woman prisoner who has ever
occupied a cell in the Tcmbs. She has
rejected every advance from fellow prison
ers and has steadfastly ignored their
good mornings" and the salutations of
Matron O'Brien.
She has occupied herself in translating
into English French work TO which she
has given the title In Hora Norris Nos
trae"
Would Keep Men Guessing.
7 am not beautiful by any means. she
said to the matron who assisted her. but
am distingue. which counts tenfOld
more than beauty. I care far more about
exciting the interest of my jury than theii
admiration, for then, as you Americans
say. I have them guessing, and once d
woman has the men guessing, half tbs
battle is won
Though this singular woman, who prideS
herself on being interesting and having Z
figure that the men viii turns around Il
admire. will not declare positively that
she is a baroness, she does state that
there was a Baron de Massey, and that sh'
married him nineteen years ago, when
she was slip of a girl
She lost her baron in a tragic manner
about which there is also one of the mys
teries she delights in. He was poisoned
by an enemy. That is all, except thai
she knew who the slayer was and pur
sued him until he fed the country.
Il could write a volume about thai
great man." said the baroness TO Matr0f
O'Brien, but I cannot. There Is an in
fueuce that seals nay lips and will keel
them sealed forever IT is the shadow o.