The Washington herald., 1909-05-27
THRILLING UNMOYED
BY MURDER STORY
Relatives Tell of Defendants S
Weak Mentality.
CASE MAY GO TO JURY TODAY
Ak with which Mrs Lucretin Cor
Iiss, Grandmofher of Accused Man,
Is Alleged TO Have Been Killed Ex-
hfbited in Court-COunSel for De-
fense Enter Plea of Insanity.

Staring vacantiy into space. salloT, and
silent. John P. TrIning, charged with one
Of the most brutal murders in the his
tory Of the District, sat yesterday IN
Criminal Court No. l, and heard wit
nesses for the government tell the story
OF the night Of January 20 last, when
the body Of Mrs. Lucreua Corliss. with
seventeen gashes IN the head and limbs.
was found in the back yard Of her house,
et 6l2 L street southwest
The blood stained sx with which the
crime is alleged to have been committed
was an exhibit IN the case. as well as
various articles Of clothing on which the
life fluid had left its mark.
The trial is unusual in the number Of
close relatives of the defendant called 70
the witness stand to testify for the gov
ernment. Among them were Hiram G
CoEliss. husband OF the slain woman. and
grandfather OF Triiling's wife; Henry
TriIllng. a younger brother OF the de-
fendant, and Mrs. Henry Trilling. who
was so nervous that her husband stood
beside her as she gave her testimony on
the stand Several cousins and aUnts will
be called as witnesses, and even Mrs
Trilling. wife Of the defendant. over whom
the trouble arose that led to the kill
Ing OF Mrs. Corliss, viii be called by
the government to testify against her
husband
Defense Is Insanity.
The defense Is insanity. Attorneys
Thomas Taylor and Mark Stearman, rep
resenting Trilling, examined the witnesses
carefully as 20 their opinion. OF the mental
condition OF the defendant on the days
Just preceding the tragedy. Mrs. Triihng
said the defendant was drinking heavily
Just before the tine when the crime was
committed, appeared nervous, and talked
continually of his wife and children
she said that on Tuesday, the day te-
fore the killing, she missed e razor from
the house. at which Trilling had been
staying. When asked Why she knew the
razor was gone. and why she had
searched for Il, she replied that she
thought there was no telling what's man
with lis troubles might do"
Assistant United States Attorney TJr-
ner- who IS prosecuting the case with As
s!stant United States Attorney Given.
/ questioned Mrs. Henry Trilling and her
/ husband pointedly as 70 how their treat
ment Of Trilling could be reconciled with
/ their stated belief that his mind had
been deranged by his family troubles
/ Henry TrilIing especially was subjected
/ 20 severe examination. He was asked
why ne had pleaded with his brother to
/ QUIT drinking and make man OF himself
/ II he thought he was talking 70 a maniac.
! He replied that he had always done
T everything IN his power 70 get Trilling
/ 20 leave alcohol alone
( Trillilg, according 70 the government.
went 70 the home Of his wife's grand
( mother and charged her with hiding his
7 vsfe from him On her denial OF any
/ knowledge Of the whereabouts OF Mrs.
TriIling. declares the government. Trill-
I ing chased her with a short ak fn his
hand and literally hacked her head 20
pieces. She died an hour later n Emer-
ge1cy Hospital, and Trilling was arrested
al the home of his brother and sister-in-
( law
( Adjournment was taken yesterday, with
I the defense stin submitting its case. The
government VIII combat the insanity Plea
/ to-day. and the case viii probably 60 70
/ the jury late this afternoon