The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-08
MELODY IN TRIAL
OF DR. bOYAJ|AN
Witness IsTQuestioned To the Accom-
pani,nent Of Strains From
Hurdy -Gurdy.

Under ''melodious" conditions the
second trial of DR.. G. X. Boyajian, who
shot and killed his nephew, Hartoon
Gostanian, in the police court on
April 80, 1909, began before a jury In
Judge Connolly's court, "Wednesday
morning. Throughout the greater part
of the morning the court room was
filed with tuneful airs from a hurdy-
gurdy which held forth within short
distance OF the municipal building. A
couple Of the court room windows
were open, and the sweet strains were
waited into the court with the spring
zephyrs.
Where were you when the shots
were fired?" asked Attorney +. F..
Bumps of John Eisman, former police
court clerk, the first witness called In
the case
"Tve got rings on my fingers. bells
on my toes" sang out the hurdy-
gurdy.
Didn't you see the doctors eyes
bulging out. his face red with anger
and his hair standing on end?' Mr.
Bumps continued.
elephants to ride upon. my pretty
Irish rose" interrupted the hurdy'
gurdy.
~No, I didn't notice any OF those
| features you mention" replied NJ
I Eisman.
'Dum-dum- -de-dum-de-d ttc
the tune OF the intermezzo OF Caval
leria Rusticana), was here drummed
into the ears OF everybody in the court
room.
Didn't you see the doctor swoon
Just before the shooting?" Mr.. Bumps
further interrogated.
by, I'm going by, I've got my own
good reasons why" came from the
hurdy-gurdy with greater vigor than
ever as. Il was trundled away TO an
other point Of supposed pecuniary
vantage.
The spectators and jury were sorry
to see il go, for they found the music
much more entertaining that the trial.
Mr. Eisman's testimony was much
the same as he gave In the first trial,
when the jury disagreed. He related
how DR.. Boyajian had talked with
Henry Mertz, chick clerk In the police
court about the case against his wife
and Gostanian the day. before the
shooting, and how the doctor had
come to court about $3.50 on the morn
ing set for the hearing OF the case
against Mrs. Boyajian and Gostanian; {;
how the doctor had asked the witness,
when and how the prisoners would be
brought into court He also told OF
seeing the shooting.
In his opening address TO the jury,
Prosecutor Van Zile told how Boya-
jian had purchased revolver the day
before the shooting; how he had in-
quired or the police court clerks as TO
the position the prisoners, his wife
and Gostanian.. would occupy In the
prisoners box, and about the penalty
provided In the offense charged
against his wife and Gostanian. Then
he dramatically described the scene
of the shooting. .y
Among the spectators In the court
room were many Armenians. They
are showing a keen interest In the
case of their ellow-countryman. Mrs.
Boyajian and her little girl were not
present The prosecution expects
that they will not come into court
until near the close Of the trial, as
was the case in the first trial. Their
entry on that occasion, well-timed, the
prosecution thought, created sensa-
tional scene, the wife and daughter
showing great love and sympathy for
the accused.
The murdered mans father was
present and was seated among the
audience.
Prosecutor Van Zile and Assistant
Prosecutor Charles Jasnowsh are
handling the case for the people, while
Boyajian Is represented by Ormond r.
Hunt and r. r. Bumps. IL Is thought
the defense will be temporary insan-