The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-08
SMALL SENSATION
 IN SAMPSON CASE Slain Man Used SmokelesS Powder in Cartridges LEFT NO POWDER BURNS Mother of Young Woman Who Is Ac- cused of Killing Her Husband Is
 Called to the Stand By
 the Prosecution.

Lyons, N. Y., April Mrs. Mary E. Allyn, mother of the young prisoner, was unexpectedly called to the witness stand today in the trial of Mrs. Georgia Allyn Sampson, charged with the murder of her husband, Harry Sampson. Before the examination of the witness was begun it was learned that the young man who wrote Mrs. Sampson the letter which is alleged to have caused quarrel between the Simpsons just before the shooting, jwas a resident of Niagara Falls, and that his name is likely to be brought out shortly in the proceedings and to figure prominently in the case from now on.
 A sensational bit of evidence was offered today by Charles Ebert, who declared that Sampson had smokeless powder cart ridges in his possession on the day of the shooting.
 The defense claims that this explains why no powder marks were visible on Sampsen's shirt.
 Mrs. Allyn has been i'll for some time. and spoke in a weak voice, 80 that her answers had to be repeated by the prose cutor. She said the shooting took place shortly after her husband had gone to
 
 sampson's cry of "Oh, oh, oh," and ran into the dining room.
 .'As Harry came into the dining room," said Mrs. Allyn, ''he had his arms folded across his heart asked him what he had done, but he did not answer"
 Mrs. Allyn Breaks Down.
 Mrs. Allyn broke down while telling of the death scene and wept. Resuming her testimony, Mrs. Allyn said her daughters Georgia. came in the room. and, after looking at her husband. said: Tt can't be so; it can't be so."
 Mrs. Allyn said she saw no powder marks on the body on the shirt. She could not identify the shirts which the district attorney handed her, but said they looked like the shirts Harry wore. The mother said Georgia and Harry had some words the night before the shooting.
 ''rhat Sunday morning." said Mrs. Allyn. .I went into their kitchen. I said to them that they ought to try to fix up their differences. Harry said there was no use of talking about it.''
 Mrs. Allyn told Georgia that Harry said he would not live with her any more. Mrs Allyn said the father told Georgia that Harry said the reason he would not live with Georgia was because of "the letter."
 "Georgia said to me-" said Mrs Allyn, ,that Harry knew all about the letter and knew where I was all the time. Harry said he did not know about the letter and Georgia broke in saying Why. Harry, you knew all the time where that letter was
 Harry said we could believe what we might"
 Burned the Letter.
 Mrs. Allyn weepingly testified that she told them that they ought to make up and live together. She said she had burned the letter. The letter was post marked Niagara Falls' she said, and was signed 'Robert Maison."
 Mrs. Allyn said she would give to the best of her recollection the contents of the letter. In 1t she said the writer asked Georgia Sampson and a friend named Mildred to come to Niagara Falls and spend a few days and have good time.
 The mother said Georgia and her hus- hand had frequently quarreled, which sha had understood was over the wife's absence from home. She always thought we'll of Harry.
 Referring to the shooting, Mrs. Allyn said she had an impression that when Harry staggered in the room he had a piece of cheese wrapped in paper in his hand
 'Did you state to different persons that