The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-09
MURDER SUSPECT
WEEPS BITTER
TEARS
Alexander Displays First eig1s =
Emotion As he Tells Of Shooting
of Wife, Which He Says Was
Accidental.
Weapon Was Discharged When he
Was Unloading 1t, Il Prisoners
Story-Will Know Fate Saturday. x

After sitting like q stole for three
days. with no sign Of interest or emo
ton while damaging testimony was
being given against him. John Alex
ander, charged with the murder o.
his wife, Eva. In Ford City, Oct. 80
1908, almost collapsed on the stand
in Judge Mandel's court, Friday morn
ing, when telling his version Of the
shooting. He suddenly burst into
tears when giving the details leading
up to the tragedy. and was on the
point of fainting when his attorney
hurried to him with glass Of water.
He was given time 10 regain his COM
posture and the trial proceeded.
Alexander testified that he came
home drunk on the night OF the shoot
ing. When he first entered the house
his wife scolded little. he said. anti
then he gave her an imitation opal
ring he had purchased He said they
talked for a short time about . sauer-
kraut cutter he was making, In which
he proposed certain changes In the
cutter. After the talk was completod
he started upstairs. he said, apd hin
wife followed, going with the baby TO-
the bedroom. She started "fussingy
with the bed clothes, he said. and the
revolver fell to the floor. He said he
warned her that they were liable ~
be shot. then picked up the gun and
started to unload It. While that op-
GRAFTON was In progress the revolvt-
was discharged. -'--~'~- 80
My God. John, you have shot the
baby. No, 1t Is me that Ii shot; run
for a DOCTOR" he alleges his vile sato.
He started at once for q doctor. N
said, and his wife called To him a14
warned him to say that he had moth
ing to do with the. shooting. q they
would make q case against him. a
Alerand0x,s direct testimony voe
completed Just . few minutes beloGn
the noon recess, and tho o<QQp111
animation had NOT l4QeS4424
when court adjourned. xIGx1hdlf -
clared that he loved his wife. ana
stuck TO the story Of the shooting a.
he related II.
J. C. Alexander. brother of the ac-
cused. testified that Mrs. Alexander
told him the shooting was an acci-
dent.
A deposition by Mrs. John Isabelle
was read. Mrs. Isabelle was q patient
in the hospital where Mrs. Alexander
died, and is still too i'll to appear M
court In the deposition, Mrs. Isar
belle said that she heard Mrs. Alex
ander call several times: II want my
John, my dear one"
II Is expected that the case VIII
go to the jury Saturday morning.
Mrs. Marion Alexander. the prison.
ers mother, was the first witness cali
ed by the defense. She testified that
when she first reached the hospital
her daughter-in-law drew her down.
kissed her, and said:
"Oh, mother, I'm so glad to Sc
you. II was an accident. John did
not mean to do 1t. want to see
John. Why do they not bring him TO
me?"
Mrs. Blanche Tallman, sister of the
prisoner, quoted Mrs. Alexander Al
saying:
John came home full. went up
stairs with my baby In my arms, and
as I turned the covers Of the bed tho
revolver fell out. This provoked
John. and he picked IL up. saying that
one OF us would be shot. He then
said he would empty the revolver.
and that was what he was doing when
II was discharged.