Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-24
Mrs. Patterson
Tells the Story
OF Her Shame.

Denver, COL, Nov. 23.--Gertrude Glib
son Patterson, charged with the mur
der Of her husband, Charles a. Pat
| tcrson. took the stand, today, in her
| own defence and began the story of
her married life. The objection of the
state of the Introduction of the story
was overruled. Mrs. Patterson slipped
quietly into the witness seat and in
a low distinct tone began her story.
she told of her marriage to Patterson
in California in September. 1908. after
three-months acquaintance and of
her return to Chicago soon afterwards.
In November. she said, Patterson
began to make incossant demands for
money. which she was unable to give
him.
"One day he said to me-" she told
the jury. 81 know how To fix it so
neither of us will have to work. YOU
go down to Georges place Ca Chicago
RESORT. An attractive girl like you can
get lots of money. / don't care what
YOU do so long as l am in on it,
Some time afterwards Mrs. Pat
terson went on. MIR. Patterson came
to ms and asked me TO make PROPOSE
ton to Emil W. Strous. of whose
friendship for me he knew. He said:
You tell Strouss to rent an apartment
and live with you as his Wife and have
me live under The same roof and en-
JOY the same privileges I ordered him
from the fat and he gave me my first
beating. from which was in bed for
two DAYS"
Then Mrs. Patterson told the jury
how she met Strouss casually in n
street and told him of her domestic
Hnhappiness.
Re said he pitied me-" Mrs. Pat
terson said, and that he was going TO
Europe and wished he ould take me
with him. 1 told Mr.. Patterson, and
he said: Tell Strouss he can take YOU
TO Europe with him if he gives me
$500. And when l refused he flew al
me ana called me vile names"
In this encounter with her husband,
Mrs. Patterson said, he tried 10 throw
her into a CRATE fire and beat her. ATT
or this experience Mrs. Patterson said,
she again saw Strouss and told him
what had happened and he agreed to
give Patterson the $500 and take her
to Europe with him, provided Patter-
son gave him a written statement free
| ing MIN of blame.
] II teIephoned my husband Mrs Pat
| terson continued. land agreed to NEE,
| him at the bank, where l gave him the
| 1880. which he deposited TO his credit"
Wien she asked Patterson for the
statement that Strouss wanted. she said
| he called Strouss a name and refused
| to give it to her Mrs. Patterson next
described how Patterson took her to the
train on which she was to leave for her
| trip abroad with Strouss. She said she
met Strouss on board the steamer in New
!, York ON reaching Paris, she said, she
| found a letter from her husband.
II have come to the conclusion that
| YOU don't intend TO come back to me. y
| she said the letter read. land if You
don't return at once I'll follow you and
| XIII YOU
II showed the letter to Strouss," said
| Mrs. Patterson, land he gave me sbvG
and sent me back on the next steamer.
| | have never seen him since"
| ON her return to Chicago she said Pat
| terson met her At the train. lie asked
| her how much money she had brought
| back. When she told him she had
| brought none, and asked him what ne
had done with the $500. he flew into a
| rage she said. and beat her.
| Mrs Patterson went on to tell of quar-
rels and beatings which arose from her
| refusal To sell her electric automobile
and give the money to Patterson. To
| two of these, she said, there was a wit
ness. a Mrs. Campbell, who lived near
| the Patterson home. Mrs. Campbell, It
| is said, is here to testify Mrs Patter-
sons narrative was interrupted by adj
journment of court for the day.
Before Mrs. Patterson took the stand
| her counsel said that the defence would
show that Mrs. Patterson fired the shots
which killed her husband after he had
knocked her down and kicked her. and
| that she shot while she was on her knees
struggling to regain her feet.