New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-10
TEARS At MELBER TRIAL
Women Weep as Prosecutor
Tells of the Murder.
CONFESSION IS ADMITTED
Two Admirers Testify Against
the Accused-Denied the
Murdered Boy Was Hers.

IN tho supreme Court for the killing Of her
infant 500. was offered by the prosccu-
ton TO-DAY. following the selection OF Peter
sharp and Theodore Bell. farmers, as the
eleventh and twelfth jurors A hush fell
over the room when Assistant District At
torucv Alexander arose to tell OF the crime.
In d cool. deliberate and convincing tone
re- related briefly the facts leading up TO
the murder Mrs. Mclbcr sat without show
ing auv sign of emotion, while her sister.
Mrs. Simmons. II Syracuse. and her aunt,
Mrs Gi0eau were crying HISTORICALLY.
Scores OF other persons in the room were
sobbine when Mr. Alexander referred trasi-
cally 10 the tiny life that lay out in the
open field or. the cold ground, with his face
toward the stars. for five cold winter
nights"
Without any oratOrical flourish Mr.. Alex
snder began by stating that about five
years ago the defendant became the wife
Of George Meber, and ono child was the
result Of that union, and that about year
after the marriage Mr. Melber died.
Motive for the Crime.
And here begins tho motive for the
crime" saiC Mr. Alexander. Mrs. Meiber
began n think of second marriage. She
mad the matter in mind for some time and
VAS keeping company with a young man
whom she desired 10 marry. lt appeared
that the child was the only obstacle She
then placed the Child in home i'm Science
tsdv. bu, paid nothing toward its main
teuance :or a fun year. Prior 10 that she
lad placed him ia another home in Troy.
Time went on and she began TO think
for the third time of getting married. There
vas another young man who had sprung
UP in her affections She continued to keep
company with this third young man for
year and n half having openly admitted
that she hoped 10 become his wife. and even
went so far as 10 state that date had been
set for the wedding. She denied owning
the child. and said that she was caring for
II only ss an aunt.
This brings tho case UP 20 about De
cembsr. 1910. st that time many women
from charitable organizations in Science
tady approached her time and time again,
asking what kind Of a mother she was 10
treat son so indincrontly. she never
visited The little fellow. and practically
denied her motherhood. she gave false ad-
dresses and when they came 10 look for
her To take care of her hoy they found the
addresses 10 be vacant lots. They finally
found her and made her take the boy.
The boy remained with her that night.
End whea tho young man called she still
denied the child as her son. The following
day she brought him to another institution
in Saratoga. hut the institution refused 10
take the boy. and she then placed him with
the grandfather
"On Jdnuary she went 10 the grand
fathers home and demanded the boy. The
Il f.f 4G q
long alteration ensued. lie told her that
she was well able to pay for him. and not
10 put him in "a home. She paid SO for
Rats and clothes. and still said she could
not afford 10 pay 81 30 week to support
hor own child. She left with the child and
-aid she would commit suicide before long.
When she left the crandfather's house
-hc told of q cousin She was 10 meet
" 10 would adopt the boy and take him out
West she even said ? want to take him
far away. don't want % be bothered with
am She did 60 20 Albany but not 90 the
station. Instead. she went TO the Albany
lrrhan Asylum hut being unfamiliar with
.he fact that legal requirements must he
bad before the boy could be placed there
she went away. saving she would return
iu the morning
"Nou viii see 10y the evidence" said Nj
Alexander. that she robbed the boy Of
every pleasure he should have had. When
they LEFT the asylum in Albany the little
hos said: You must take me now, mother:
nobody viii keep me That night the VIC.
man returned 20 schenectady alone. The
hoy was out OF her path forever. Five cold,
wintry nights his body lay I'm the dismal
swamp Until found by a hunter who was
passing
The women in the court were now weep
ing, while the jury. with bowed heads,
Listened ottentvely. Mrs. Melbcr stared va
cantly at the jury.
Mir. Alexander then told how Mrs. Melber
fed 10 Rochester under an assumed name.
lie called attention TO the facts surrounding
the case and the condition of the body at
the time IL was found. Everything that
would have identified the body was re-
moved, lie said. even the rubbers, which on
Tho inside were marked "Georgte'
When Mr.. Alexander started 10 tell OF
Mrs. Melber's answers 10 the questions Of
the police in Rochester, John u. Dugan
her attorney, objected. lie held that Mr.
Alexander could not bring out a confession
which had not already been proved.
lengthy discussion was had, and Justice
Howard said he would decide that point
after the noon recess.
When court reconvened Justice Howard
held that the prosecution had every rSht
10 include the alleged confession In its out
line Of the case.
Mrs. Blanche Bartlett of Schenectady,
VINO had emplyed Mrs. Melber as house
keeper, was the first witness called by the
prosecution. She testified that she engaged
Mrs. Melbcr in November 1910, and she
said that the defendant told her the boy
vas her brothers child.
Did YOU notice anything wrong with hey
on January S, when she returned. after
saving she left the child with cousin
Yes: she said she had just received a
telegram stating that an aunt had died in
Syracuse. and she must 20 Immediately.
She left the following day
The defence tried 20 bring out the fact
that Mrs Meber appeared 30 be irrational
while at her house. but objections were
made by the prosecution and sustained by
the court.
Howard Kirk. the alleged hance Of Mrs.
Nelber, was the next witness called. lie is
q good looking. clean shaved man, with
light. curly hair. He testified that he knew
Mrs Melber about year and that an In
tinacy had been formed between them.
did she ever mention the child TO yOu?"
eyes: she said II was her brothers boy.
and she was merely taking care OF 1t for
him. The first time l saw the boy was the
day before Christmas in Nj. Bartletts
home. She said somebody had left the