Evening journal., 1908-01-14
JEALOUSY LED
MAN TO MURDER
Sister Of Dead Woman, in
Tears Tells Of Under
hills Crime
BOUGHT GUN JUST
BEFORE THE SHOOTING

Trial Of the murder charge against
Fred Underhill was resumed in Oyer
and Terminer Court this morning with
William Taylor, an eye witness to the
death of Hester Nelson. on the stand
for cross-examination. Taylor under
went direct examination in court yes
terday afternoon after Rachel Nelson,
who survived 1--WE shots from Under
hills gun, and Ellen Nelson, in whose
house the murder was committed,
graphically described the circum-
stances leading to the crime. Their
testimony showed that Nelson had
committed the crime while in a jealous
rage, after learning that his common
law wife had been in ;he company Of
another man the night before the
crime.
Taylor lived at the house of Ellen
Nelson. He told of Underhill coming
there, of him Quarreling with Rachel
Nelson, of Underhill firing three shots
into Rachers body and then killing
Hester with oen shot. Taylor also
swore that Underhill remarked follow
ing his crime, that's what it is to have
a nerve"
Mr.. Handy inquired OF Taylor why
he had not attempted to pacify Under
hill.
Il am a 6S-year-old man; too old to
tackle a man like underhill when
shooting arms are being used.
thought I would let the law take its
course" was Taylors reply to the
question.
Bought Weapon on Day Of Murder.
George Davis. a young colored wo-
man, told of Underhill coming to her
husbands home on the day Of the
murder and asking her husband for the
/ loan of a revolver. Davis refused to
lend the weapon, but afterward sold 1t
/ to Underhill, who paid 90 cents on ac-
count of the purchase price. Underhiu
then left tie Davis house and went in
the direction of Ellen Nelson's home,
where witness understood Hester and
Rachael Nelson lived. The witness af-
terward heard of the murder.
Charles Davis followed his wife on
the stand. He corroherated her testi-
mony concerning Underhnrs purchase
Of a revolver from him. and supple
mented it with the information that
Underhill threw the weapon into a
yard adjoining the Davis house after
committing the murder.
Upon redirect examination Davis
identified the revolver handed TO him
by Attorney General Richards as the
one he had sold to Underhill. The
weapon was of an old pattern, carrying
seven balls. Davis said the weapon
contained seven cartridges when he
sold it to Underhin. but when he found
the gun in his neighbor'syard the
cartridges had been fired.
George Washington and Walter
Townsend, colored men. swore that
Underhill was at the Davis home prev
ious to the shooting.
Forrest Lovett. a son of Magistrate
Lovett, of Newark, to whom UnderhIll
surrendered himself after the murder.
swore that the prisoner told him he had
committed the crime because Hester
Nelson conducted a disorderly house
and enticed his wife there
'That and rum drinking win make a
man do anything" Underhill remarked
later according to Mr.. Lovett
State Opens. Its Case.
The State began its prosecution yester-
day afternoon by calling Rachel Nelson.
sister Of the murdered woman and Un-
derhiI's former friend to the stand as the
first witness. Rachel wore a blue coat
and hat to match, and during the examl-
nation showed evidence Of intelligence
She wept frequently while repeating the
circumstances leading up to the murder
and while telling Of her relations with
Underhin
Rachel said she was at the home OF her
sister Hester on Sunday morning, NO
vember 10, when Underhill came there
and asked her to go to his home to pre-
pare breakfast for him. She went to the
house and later returned to the home Of
her sister. While there Hester made some
statement which called from Underhin
who had also returned there. the re-
mark, don't you get between her and
me while 1 am talking to her." From
Hester's home Rachel said she went to
the home Of Ellen Nelson, her aunt, whore
/ Underhin afterward came and again ask
ed her to go home with him.
''He said he did not want me to 20 to
my sisters home because of the character
Of the place." Rachel said.
Mr. Richards then brought out that the
witness had been I'm the company of an
other man after leaving Underhill, and
that when she told Underhin of the mat
ter he slapped her in the face. Later I'm
derhll took hold Of the witness and point-
ed revolver at her side but did not dis
charge the weapon.
Il broke loose from him and ran to my
aunt asking that she save me. When I
reached the kitchen he shot me in the
arm. AS I reached for the cellar door he
again shot, the ball striking me again
in the arm. A third shot struck me in the
chin and I fell unconscious"
Rachel said that up until that time her
sister Hestar was back Of Underhill Wit
ness did not see her sister murdered.
This ended Mr.. Richards direct examina-
ton Of the witness and he turned her
over to Mr. Handy. who had the woman
fully describe the rooms In the house
where the murder occurred before having
her repeat the circumstances leading up
TO the murder.
To Mr. Handy Rachel said she had left
Underhilrs home two months before the
murder but had been in his company
frequently after that time. She said she
did not prepare Underhilrs breakfast for
him that day although she went to his
home for that purpose. There was no
bad feeling between u.s." witness said.
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