The Washington herald., 1911-11-25
ASSAILS RECORD
OF MRS. PATTERSON
Prosecutor in Murder Case
Lays Bare Her Past.

Denver Colo, Nov. 24-Insinuations
that Mrs. Gertrude Gibson Patterson. on
trial for her life for killing her hus-
band, began leading an irregular life
when she was fourteen year old, and that
at least two men besides Patterson and
Strouss had figured in her career, and
that she practically paid Patterson to
make her his wife were made by Pros
ecutor Benson at this afternoons ses-
sion of the trial during his cross-eXamf-
nation of the defendant.
So bluntly and rapidly did Mr.. Benson
put his questions that Mrs. Patterson
several times broke down and wept, and
once during a short recess she tainted in
an ante-room and a doctor was called.
Mrs. Patterson admitted under cross
examination that she was expelled from
school when fourteen years old.
She admitted she lived at the Audi
torium Hotel, Chicago, for three months,
after she had met Emil w. Strouss, and
before she went to Europe with him. She
denied, however. that she was posing as
Strouss' wife when she met Patterson.
Prosecuting Attorney Benson intro
duced several letters written by Mrs.
Patterson to her husband, dated at times
Immediately following the date she had
given as times she had received alleged
beatings at the hands Of Patterson. In
them she professed most fervent love
for her husband. and insisted that he
should allow her to manage all their
financial affairs. In one she intimated
she had considerable money. Other
letters, post cards, kilograms, and cable
grams introduced by Mr.. Benson were
from Strouss 10 Mrs. Patterson, and
which Mr.. Benson insisted had been sent
after her marriage to Patterson. She
denied that they were from Strouss,
though some of them were signed "E.
W. S" Others she said she never re-
ceived. Some of the cablegrams were
signed Eros and others "Bullfrog."
Did you know of the death OF a man
by the name of Alexander Benson
asked Mrs. Patterson. when he ques-
toned her about an alleged residence
in st. Louis. Alexander is said to have
died in st. Louis as the result OF poison
administered in his beer.
MOI snapped Mrs. Patterson.
Were you not living in st. Louis. in
Lucas or Chestnut streets. with woman
whose name was Cupples?"
Il never heard Of such a person, and
have never lived on either street"
Coming down to the time she met
Strouss, she said she met him in Chicago
at the home of Mrs. Weller, at 2014
Indiana avenue.
Where did you go from there-home? p"
II went to the Auditorium Hotel"
with whom
Alone"
She said she staid all of one winter in
Paris in a boarding school. AS to the
shooting itself, Mrs. Patterson testified
that she met her husband by appoint
ment. and that he wanted so. She said
she had only car fare, and that he
Struck her in the face with his fist.
II was staggered by the blow. Then
he hit me on the left ear, and I fell
backward. While I was on the ground
he kicked me on the side. I struggled
to get UP and saw him standing over me
with his arm raised. Then 1 reached
into my bag, got my revolver, and shot. 3"
She said the quarrel began when she
asked her husband to drop his unjust
suit against Strouss.
Mrs. Patterson was still on the stand
at adjournment. .-.