Evening star., 1911-05-25
Coroner's Jury Places Murder
Charge Against Macdonald.
STORY OF TRAGEDY TOLD
Witnesses Describe Scenes Before
and After the Shooting.
NONE SAW THE SHOTS FIRED
Prisoner, Nervous in His Cell, Says
He Will Be Able to JUS
tify Deed.

Edward J. Macdonald, who shot and
killed his wife, Gertrude Macdonald, yes
terday afternoon in the corridor of the
fifth floor of the Colorado building, is
held for the action of the grand jury on
the charge of murder, on the verdict of
a coroner's jury. rendered today at the
morgue.
The defense will probably be insanity
when the case comes to trial. While
no evidence of the sort was presented to
the coroners jury, 1t is understood that
an attempt to place Macdonald in a sani-
made several years ago.
Eight witnesses were heard by the jury
number of them, business men, law
yers and a girl stenographer, testified to
circumstances preceding and following the
tragedy. There were no eye-witnesses
evcept the principals. Mrs. Martha
Billop, sister of the dead girl, repeated
her story of how the couple came to-
gether by appointment
Both the sister and Policeman Cramer
told OF charges made by the wife-slayer
against the sister when she accused him
of killing her sister. ITS your fault" de-
clared Macdonald: and the policeman
declares that he made an effort then to
break away from him and attack Mrs.
Billop. He says his prisoner lunged to-
ward the woman several times, although
L.
The policeman gave testimony of bitter
language used toward the sister, of which
no other witness told on the stand. Mrs
Billop said she had no understanding Of
his accusation. especially as she had been
the chief instrument. at his solicitation.
| to bring the couple together
Lawyer Fugitt's Testimony.
Lemuel Fugitt, a lawyer with Offices
| in room sos, on the fifth floor of the
| Colorado building. told of hearing the
| shots while in his Office, of running
into the corridor, of disarming the wife
| slayer and Of holding him while the
police came. The prisoner, he said.
asked him not to hold him so tight
and said no other word, although his
| eyes nlled with tears when the law
| y
Mr.. Fugitt said that he detected the
| odor of intoxicants on the breath of
Macdonald, and considered that his
| bearing was indicative of drunkenness.
Other witnesses testified that MacDon-
aid bore himself as If in a stupor. and
| declared that he kept his eyes fixed on
| vacancy during the time he was held
awaiting the arrival of the police.
Margaret Moore, Stenographer on her
way from the office of Mr.. Blankinship.
| in room 527. on the fifth floor of the
| Colorado building. observed the couple
| in the corridor. and her interest was
excited by the manner Of the woman.
| She was not around when the shots
| were fired.
Heard Victim Laughing.
She said that Mrs. Macdonald threw
| back her head and laughed scornfully
| at some remark of her husband who
| then seized her arm angrily. Mrs Mac
| Donald stepped back. said the wit
| ness. AS Miss Moore entered the ele-
vator to descend. she heard the woman
say: We'll, 1 guess not" and laugh
| long and gayly.
! Walter Price. NJ. D.. resident physician
| at Emergency Hospital, told of being
| called TO the side of the dying woman
| of carrying her to the hospital in the
ambulance. and of the wounds discovered
and the hopelessness of surgery TO save
HeT lie, ana OF NeT Oedtn Within twenty
| five minutes after reaching the hospital.
Charles S. White, deputy coroner, recited
| the results of the autopsy, and ascribed
death to a bullet that had penetrated the
brain. There were two other wounds,
one through the eye and another in the
| shoulder.
A. H. Weber and Gordon r. Cowrie
who have offices in the Colorado building
added details of what happened after
the shots were fired, when they rushed
/ from their offices to find a tragedy COM
| mitted.
| The witnesses were not questioned by
| the attorneys for the accused man, Rob-
| ert L. Montague and Herbert Robinson.
Prisoner Spends Restless Night.
cell at the first precinct police station.
| He paced the cell floor most Of the night,
| stopping occasionally to rest few min
| utes on the iron bench.
| Seated in front of his cell during the
entire time he was its sole occupant
| was policeman in Uniform. His pres
| ence there was much on the order of
the death watch placed over condemned
| men in Jail. The policeman was kept
there, Ii is said, for fear Macdonald
| would make an attempt TO end his life.
| This morning the prisoner appeared re
pentant, although he expressed by word
| no remorse for his act of yesterday. He
had fully recovered from the effects OF
| the strong drink in which he had in
dulged, however. He would make no
| statement in addition to what he had
| told Detective Evans and Precinct De-
| tective Messer at the first precinct station
yesterday afternoon.
| When taken to police headquarters this
morning to be measured and photo
| graphed he found himself In a room with
| other offenders. He displayed consider
able interest in the work of the Bertillon
| operator and photographer.
II have nothing to say" he replied to
Inspector Boardman when asked If ne
desired to make statement.
After being measured and photographed
Macdonald was returned to the first pre-
cinct station and held until he was taken
| to the morgue to be present at the in
quest.
From the prisoner relatives of his wife
and other sources the police learned
something of MacDonalds past. He Is a
native of New York. they learned. and
| his father is manager of a hotel at
| Rensselaer,, n. Y. His brothers. George
Macdonald, jr.: Walter and William Mac
Donald. are said to be in the hotel busi-
ness in New York state.
Had Served in the Army.
Macdonald enlisted in the Hospital
Corps of the United States Army and
served on Governors Island. n. Y, aft
erward coming to this city and sgving
at the Washington barracks. Detective
Messer served with him as a member OF
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