The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-05
REFUSED TO RETRACT
Mr.. Craig'S Attitude Caused
Mrs. Castle to Shoot.
VERSIONS OF ACT
Former Actress Pleads for Forgive
ness, but Attorney. Declines to
Listen TO Her-Woman on Verge
of Nervous Breakdown, and Hear
ing Is set for Friday.

New York, Aug. A-Mary Scott Castle.
the former actress. who fred bullet at
Lawyer William B. Craig's heart IN one
OF the Waldorrs elevators last even
ing. gave two or three statements Of her
act to-day.
The last one, and the one that she Je-
clared TO be true. was that the shooting
had occurred when she was attempting
90 make Craig retract what she regarded
as insulting remarks about her. Earlier
in the day she had insisted that she in
tended TO shoot herself. not Craig.
The appearance Of the lawyer in the
Jefferson market police court TO press
the charge OF felouious assault against
the woman gave her another opportunity
to plead for forgiveness, but Craig
turned on his heel with a sneer and re-
fused TO listen to her.
I knew VIII Craig as a child" says
she in her final statement. I'VE grew up
together out in California. We went to
school with my brothers. It was not until
about six months ago. however. that
went 10 call on his WIFE who is a distant
cousin OF mine. and the acquaintance Of
childhood was renewed. We met often
after that He called at my apartments
almost daily for four months He show
cred me with attentions. I tried 20 keep
him away, but could not When he was
not calling at my apartment he was tele-
phoning.
Confessed He Loved Her.
Why, one night he confessed before his
own wife that he was in love with me.
| That caused trouble betweez Mrs. Craig
and myself, but her husband refused TO
leave of visiting me.
He came 10 my house The night before
last about : o'clock. Something occurred
for which I swore he should be punished.
He said things to me that 1 considered
insulting. and his remarks were over
heard by a negro servant.
I went on Wednesday night TO meet
him at the Waldorf 10 make him retract
what he had said. I wanted him to come
10 my apartment and make the retrac-
ton before my negro servant I told him
he would have to do it because the
/ servant had heard. That was IN the
street just outside the Waldorf. I fol-
/ lowed him and into the elevator
II wish 1 were dead; that Kate Chis
wife) were dead. and that you were
dead. he said 10 me.
I asked him II he really meant that
for me, and he said he did.
She shoots at Him.
We'll. it won't be long, I replied.
I Then I grabbed this crazy little affair
| (the .22-caliber revolver) from my bag.
threw it up, and it went off"
/ Mrs. Castle made this statement In the
| jan of the jefferson Market Court She
wept as she spoke
! Craig himself declined 10 throw any
/ light on the affair. He was bent upon
1 having the woman punished and willing
enough TO swear out the charge against
\ her.
| Mrs. Castle was verging on a nervous
breakdown, and her lawyers told Magis-
trate Butts that his client was in no
condition to plead. and he asked 70 have
the hearing adjourned until Friday. Her
| counsel, Lawyer Deane, tried to get Craig
I 70 drop the charge, but he again refused.
Craig started toward the complaint