New-York tribune., 1911-03-14

body was left In a conn.rativo,, ono,
space, While but a few TOE, avn, ,hora
was an abundance Of wooded cover
Then came Wilbur Johnson Nio,,o,
Connors and the Rev Usicl II. Graves Who
visited the Melbers In tho poorhoueo ne re-
lief representative OF The Bencvolort order
OF Noodmen. of which ho WAS a ,oomhcr
They testified that Mrs Ne,her.s o,,,ors
produced on their minds tho inn,os.,or
that she vas irrational or unrcaronah,c
MrS. Nelton Stanford. ir ,ha vool,hv
young woman engaged IN sat,lenan, yorl
" no has taken an active Part in the nrena -
ration or the defence. testified In having
visited Mrs. Melber In hospital about
three years ago and hearing her complain
that she was there because her illness
untitled hor for work.
'Lld her conversation impress vou "a
"rauohal. District Attorney Sanford in
quired.
No. responded the witness. Our in
tefCourse was too brief 10 base 4 iude-
ment on"
sheriff Plat left thc iail early with his
prisoner ana brought her by circuitoUs
route 70 the courthouse in an open car
mage. his was done In order 70 give her
p4sh'y oi fresh air. Isn't # beautiful
morning: she said to the Sheriff on the
way
William F. MCGUIRE. OF the Rochester
ponce iorce was the first witness called
oy the prosecution. lie testified that he
arrested Mrs. Melber in the Rochester sta
ton about o'clock on the afternoon Of
Friday. January l3 She said she told hin,
her name was Edith James, Of Troy and
that she came there looking for work. He
SAID he then noticed the alligator handbag :
which she carried, and on looking inside
found the name of Edith Melber on the
lining. She then broke down and confessed
that that was her right name. The wit
ness said that when he asked her where
her son was she said that she thought he
was in Chicago with her cousin
What did she ten YOU i'm Police Head
quarters? 2? asked the District Attorney.
Scar Noticed on Woman's Hand.
"She said that she met a cousin: Fred
Teller who agreed TO take the boy ont to
Chicago and care FOR him. When asked
her to describe him she said he wa8 a
man ABOUT thirtynyo wears old. clean
shaven and wore a military coat. no.
tlccd red scar between her forcnngcr and
thumb, and when I asked her about it she
said she spilled hot water on 1t. She then
became somewhat excited. and asked why
was Questioning her. When | informed
her that boy had been murdered in n
swamp near Albany she burst into tears
and declared. oh. my God. if my boy has
been murdered Fred Teller did it. NJ
poor child; they have killed him. Now let
them take me. lie was AL ] had -
on cross examination MIR. Palmer en-
deavored to show that Mrs. Melber was
alone. unadvisod and probably cocrccd at
the time of her arrest at the hands of cx-
pcriencod officers. lie brought out that
Mrs. Nclher had given a fictitious name at
first and had finally told who she was.
When Coroner William Hnlson was called
to Identify the boys clothing sIrs. Linda
simmons sister Of the accused woman.
and a number Of other women in the court
wept audihlv The boys GRANDPA ther shook
with grief when the little fellows clothing
was exhibited. Mrs. Melber showed no out
ward sign Of emotion except the tense
stra.gh'euing Of her body and biting her
lips. Witness identified each piece OF the
bows apparel and also the bottle of car
polio acid found under the body.
Harry r. Sprackland. the hunter who dis
covered the body. was the next witness.
He testified that he was walking through
the fields when his attention was attracted
by the yclping OF his dog on the opposite
side Of the road. He went over and found
the body in willow swamp south of the
road lie said the boy was dressed in a
white linen suit but the shoes hat and
overcoat were missing.
Vernon &. Finckle, keeper Of the Albany
penitentisry. testified that he talked with
Mrs Mebcr. and she told him that they
would never 1nd the boys clothes. 1T
will always remain 4 mystery" she told
him