The Washington herald., 1907-01-31
MRS. May DEFENDED
Husband Of Lucien COnen'S
Slayer on the Stand.
BELIEVES WIFE AN EPILEPTIC
Pistol with Which Shooting Was
Done Bought shortly Before Trag-
edy-MOther of Dead Musician De-
scribes Fatal EneOunter-WO oman
on Trial VtsibIy Affected.

Mrs. Jennie l. May, charged with as
saulting Lucien II. Conen with danger
Gus weapon. and Mrs. Josephine Conen.
mother of the dead man, who was with
her son at the time he was shot by Mrs.
May, faced each other yesterday for the
first time since the tragedy, when the
taking of testimony in the trial began
before Judge Stafford in Criminal Court
No. /.
That Mrs May is subject to epilepsy,
and comes from family suffering from
the same disease, and that at times IS
for her actions, was
brought out during the day, together with
the fact that the fight for the woman's
liberty is to be made along these lines.
Mrs. Mays counsel also explained that
the defendant suffered at times from at
tacks Of intense nervousness.
May TestiHes for Wife.
At the morning session Mrs. Conen
took the stand and related the details of
the shooting Of her only son in Seventh
street southeast, in September, 1893.
Beatrice May, age fourteen years, daugh-
ter Of Mrs. May. was also called as
witness. Ole J. May. husband Of the
defendant, took the stand in his wife's
behalf, and was still being questioned by
District Attorney Baker when court ad-
journed until this morning. The govern
ment concluded its evidence at the morn
ing session, and announced that the de-
tails were all in
During the afternoon Mr.. May stated
that he was aware that Mrs. May ana
Conen were great friends, and he was
Of the opinion that she was somewhat
indiscreet. He had consulted Prof.
Santelmann. OF the Marine Band, Of
which both Conen and May We're mem
beers, several times about the acquaint-
ance between his wife and the man she
afterward killed. He had also consulted
an attorney about securing q divorce. He
said that several times he had been con-
PEELED to employ a servant TO attend 10
the household duties and look after the
children on account OF his wifes poor
health At other times, neighbors had
been called IN when Mrs. May was suffer
ing from one Of her nervous spells.
Husband Tells of Pistol.
Several days prior to the shooting M.
May said he had had trouble with his
wife, and that he had gone to d hotel.
Mrs May had told her husband that
Conen was insistent upon paying her at
tention. Conen had informed her that he
had right to come to her house, The
witness said.
Later, Mrs May had informed her hus-
band that Conen had insulted her.
The revolver with which Mrs May shot
Conen was then produced in court The
witness said he had purchased it only
few days previous TO the shooting. RE
was not certain where he bought it. in
fact. he could neither remember the name
of the dealer nor the location of the store.
He had another pistol at home. which
was the property Of a friend.
Did you buy this pistol SO that Mrs.
MAY could kin Conen2" Attorney Baker
asked the witness
Il did not" he replied.
May said that some time prior 20 the
shooting he had had a quarrel with Conea-
He accused me Of being insanely jealous
of my wife" said the witness.
May said Conen had promised Prof.
Santelmann that he would discontinue his
q AAtltAtOl4S tONc q WI - nay
The question Of why May bought the
revolver was then brought up again.
May said he had It for the protection
OF his home. Said he had had a firearm
in his house since 1885, and that he had
not bought il particularly TO be used
against Conen. or any one else.
Conen was still on the stand when court
adjourned. at , o'clock. until this morn
ing
Mrs. May Affected by Recital.
When Mrs Conen, the mother of Lucien,
was called, she was the center Of attrac-
ton. and every eye 20 the crowded court
room was turned up7a her. She took the
stand and dramatically related the shoot
ing Of her son by Mrs. May.
Mrs. May sat just back of her attor-
neys. c. NJ Fulton and Gibbs N. Baker.
She was attired in black. with a waist
with white facings. She had complete
control OF herself and showed no evi-
dence of nervousness. Frequently, how
ever, during the testimony Of Mrs. Conen.
Mrs. May would lower her head and ap-
parently gaze into her lap. She was con-
siderably affected by the story from the
lips Of the mother OF the victim, and as
the aged woman told of the shooting,
tears came into the eyes of the defendant.
Mrs. Conen said that she had first seen
Mrs. May at the May home. In Chicago,
in 1903. where she had gone to visit her
son, who was living with the family,
The witness had gone there from her
home in Louisville, KY
Mother Tells How Son Was shot.
Where were you on the evening of
September p, 1862" asked Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Turner, who conducted the
case for the prosecution during the
morning
Mrs. COnen was much affected by the
question, which had Immediately brought
to her mind the scene Of the shooting
and the incidents following as her boy
lay on the pavement mOrtally wounded
She almost chOked with emotion, and
for a second could not answer.
Il was walking down Seventh street
southeast, near our boarding house, with
Lucien." she replied
What, if anything. happened on that
OCCASION asked the attorney.
Mrs. Conen then began her account Of
the affair. with her voice quivering and
only slightly above a whisper
Lucien suddenly cried at the top of his
voice and fell forward on his face" she
began. My God. Lucien, I cried. I
stopped to raise his body and this woman
pointing to Mrs. May crept down beside
me and pushed revolver at my sons
head again. ] grabbed her arm and tried
to hold her so she could not shoot him
again. Then some one came up and said
I viii hold her, and ! released her arm
and turned around to see what had be-
come of my boy. He was trying to get