The evening world., 1911-03-14
Sister of Child Slayer Tells Of
Queer Doings to Prove
Her Insane.
FATHER CALLED IOAFER'
Mother a Drudge, Wore Out
-Four Sewing Machines Last
Year Of Her Life.

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ALBANY. March 1.-The insanity de-
sspse set up for Mrs. Edith Melber, on
trial In the Supreme cour, before Jus
tice Howard and a Jury for the murder
of her Hve-year-old boy. received rs
stronges support to-day IN the tcsti-
mony OF Dr.. Jesse NJ. W Scott Of
schenectady, formerly employed as an
insanity expert at the State Hospital FOR
Criminal lnsa ne at Mattc1wan. br.
SCOTS declaration that Mrs. Melber IA
imbeclilc insane was backed up with un-
shaken testimony under the severe cross
exan,nau ton OF Dis,rict-Attorney Sln-
ford.
The other witnesses to-day wero
Patrick II. Gubbins. a member OF tho
Modern woodmen Camp OF Schenectady.
which aided Mrs. Mslber and her hus-
band. now dead. when they were forced
to 20 10 the poorhouse Ave years ago.
Mrs. Mary 0ibcau. sister OF the de-
PENDANTS deceased mother, and Dr.
Herbert +. Defreost OF Troy. first in
sanity export for the cefense.
Mrs. GFbeau created a sensation when
she testified that Mrs. Melber had
danced around her mothers grave.
Both Of the defendants attorneys. Mr..
Dusan md Mr.. Palmer. stated that they
fet confident that all their lay witnesses
would be disposed OF to-day. DR.. James
T. McKenna, who heads the experts for
the defense. was In court ms lie has been
each day since the taking o. testimony
began.
Mystery About Kirk.
Mystery continues 10 attach TO tn"
reason OF the defense for Insisting upon
tie attendance In court OF Howard
Kirk. who has figured rs Mrs. Melber's
closest friend prior to the tragedy for
which she Is on trial. Imposing ex-
h.blts OF art embroidery by Mr.. Kirk.
piled on the desk OF the defendant
counsel. arc highly stimulative of curl
osity.
Mrs. Melber wore the same plain blue
suit and black ha; with the limp os.
;rlch plume that she has worn through.
gu. the trial. Much stress has been
placed on the ex;rava gance of the nc
cused woman. especially In the matter
Of clothes. Attorney Dugan announced
taat he would put in evidence this par
tleular hat. which. he claimed. was tn,
bes. Mrs. Mciber's wardrobe affords
Ii Is OF the kind. he said, which coule
lee bought at any shop for So.
More Modern woodmen, tho benevo.
lent order to which George Melber. nus.
band OF the defendant. belonged. ap
peAred on the witness horizon this morn
ing. One OF them was Patrick Ii. Cub
bins, godfather to the boy who was slail
by his mother. He testified that Mrs
Meiber's actions while she was an In
mate Of the Schenectady ~poorhouse. TO
gether with Ter husband. caused him &
doubt her mental ~soundness.
Prisoners Sister Heard.
There was Intense interest when Mrs
Mary GIbean OF Syracuse, sister OF Mrs
Melber, told f~alteringly the sordid stor
OF the home life OF the woman on trio
during her childhood. Her father, sal
Mrs. Glbeau. was a barroom loafer an
confirmed drulAard. dying from del
rum tremens, strapped TO a hospiti
bed.
The witness described graphical
h struggle OF the consumptive moth
TO maintain the household by SEWN
She wore out four sewing machine
the last year OF her life" Mrs. Glbea
~
Edith. the daughter, said tho witnst
was always M srratio child. VIII
mother died Ddith danoed aroui
her grave"
How old was sheT' counsel asked.
Between nine and ten" was the +
Spouse.
The witness testified that when MI
Melber was a child her father a,
brothers mcknamed her crazy bab
because of her actions.
She was n wild child" she said, IA
nobody could manage her
Insane, Say Doctors.
Or. Herbort g. DE Frecst Of Troy,
medical expert, testified he made a pl
s1cal and mental examination OF N
MeIbor at the pe~ntentiary.
did she appear san or insane
you?" asked Attorney Dugan.
Insane"
What form OF insanity would y
term IT,
"ImDec'le insanity"
do YOU think she was insane on j
a .