The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-03-08
Accusing Eyes of Mrs. Suy
dam Pierce RuInSden on
Trial for Murder.
SELF-DEFENSE HIS PLEA.
Ex-Governor Is Counsel for
Young Inventor Who Shot
Victim in His Office.

The trial Of John g. Rumsden. who
shot Harry b suydam. a curb broker,
in the latter's ONCE. at No 80 Broad
street, on Dec. ~, .nflcting wound
that caused death on Dec 81. was re.
sumed to-day before Judge Malone. In
the Court OF General Sessions There
were eleven Jurors in the box when
| the case was adjourned Friday, and
the twelfth man was secured without
great difficulty from an additional
| panel OF twenty-five talesmen.
| \ dramatic feature OF to-day's pro-
ceedings was the presence In the court
room OF Suydam's widow and the wife
OF the prisoner. Mrs. Suydam. attired
| In deep mourning, ard attended BY A
brother OF her husband ga, within the
railing around the Judges bench and
within few feet o, the prisoner.
Rumsder, good-looking, clean-cut
young fellow, noticed the widow Of his
victim as he took his seat at the table
] WIN 'i's N'A'lS'ls MS ihN' PuiSd'
flushed and he started In surprise After
that he sat with his head averted from
the gaze OF Mrs. Suydam.
Wife Turns From Widow.
Mrs Rumsden had seat in the rear
OF the courtroom. She wore fashion
able talor-made gown. When told that
Mrs, Suydam was in court she became
agitated and changed her seat so as TO
be out Of the view Of the woman whom
her husband made widow
Assistant Distrct-Attorney Mott opened
the case for the prosecution. He told
how Rumsden, young inventor, came
10 New York from Raleigh. y. c., with
an elertrical vibrator which he had per-
fected, and formed company, OF which
Suydam was an officer. The vibrator
was not financial success, and Runs
den, according to Mr. Mott. blamed Suy-
dam,
Mr., Mott told hold Rumsden went TO
Suydam's office on the morning OF Dec.
H. demanded money and drew a re-
voiver 10 enforce the demand. how
Suy-dam tried to take the revolver from
Rumsden and how two other men In
the office Joined In the melee; how they
got Rumsden and Suydam separated.
and how Rumsden, throwing aside the
men who were holding him, rushed
over 10 Suydam and shot him through
the body.
Rumsden is defended by J. j. Fitz.
gerald and ex.Gov. Aycock, OF North
Carolina, who was granted permission
to take part in the case by Judge Ma
lone, at the request of the District-At-
torney. The defense will he that
/ Rumsden. destitute, and, as he believed.
defrauded. went to Suydam's Office to
collect money rightly due. was set upon
by three men and drew revolver and
shot in self-defense
Saw Two on Runsden.
Coroners Physician Leblanc was the
| first witness called by the State He
testified 10 the cause OF death and the
course OF the bullet wounds. Or Hell
lenorand, OF Hudson Street Hospital,
gave similar testimony.
Arthur Meyers, office boy for Suydam,
then told the story Of the tragedy. He
said he had seen Rumsden IN the Office
/ fifteen or twenty times
] on the morning Of the shooting. 90
said Meyers, he came In and spoke 70
Mr.. Suydam, and then both o: them
utes they came In again. MIR. Suydam
stood AT the window overlooking the
curb market, down in the street, and
| Rumsden stood close by, with his hand
In his overcoat pocket
An at once Mr.. Suydam yelled, Grab
| him He's going 10 shoot" looked
around and saw struggle. Two men
We're on Rumsien, forcing him down.
| There was lot of confusion. He broke
loose and ! heard shots and saw Mr..
Suydam fall
on cross.eXamination the defense es-
tahl!shcd, through Meyers that the
shots were fred while Rumsden was en-
gagged In a struggle with George Downs.
a clerk in Suydam's ONCE, and a Mr..
Collins, who had desk room there. This
was Confirmatory OF the contention ot
he defense that Rumsden was afraid
his life was in danger because he had
been attacked by men in the Office.
Victims Widow Breaks Down.
Downs was the next witness He said
he heard Suydam call and walked across
the room. Rumsden had his hand halt
out Of his overcoat pocket. Suydam
said For Gods sake, grab II. Hes
going to shoot me
Il grabbed Rumsden around the
waist" the witness continued. and
tried to throw him down. I also got
hold NJ his right hand but he got the
revolver out Of his pocket and fred
two shots Then | let go Of him for a
second. and Nh Collins grabbed him.
jumped In again, and between US We
got the revolver away from him ! had
the revolver and told him II he made
another move ! would shoot him
At this point IN DJwns's examination
Prosecutor Mott produced the blood.
stained rlltlng worn by Sudan when
he Vas shot Piece hy piece. the gar
ments were handed 10 Downs FOR !den-
'if1ra'i0u.
Mrs Suvdam. the widow hroke down
and Wepl quietly AZ the sight ~ the re.
finders OF the crime Size buried her
face IN @ black -hOrdere1 handkerchief
and only nv the exercise ~ great con.
'rpl saved hor.ei! from 4 lys,eriral
'G'SErs' As size was seated facing IRE
fury BOX nor distress was r'ainlv vis.
HE ~ rho twelve men Nao are 10 do.
eide RVmsdr7 Fate