The Washington herald., 1912-01-24

was all a joke when he told MN 80
Raeder said he thought Macdonald was
nervous and much broken up, but could
not say whether he had been drinking.
OryiIle Chase and Mr.. Singleton. clerks
Of the Collateral Loan Company. identi-
fed a revolver which was pawned with
the company, but could not identify any
OF the parties 10 the transaction. The
records of the loan company showed that
revolver was pawned May 8. 1871. for
$50 and redeemed May 20 following.
Sergt. Evans said he had interviewed
Macdonald In his cell at the police sta
ton the day Of the murder. Macdonald,
witness testified, refused to tell his cor
rect name and refused a request TO no.
tify his friends. Macdonald told Evans
he had purchased the revolver with
which he shot his wife at time when
he was employed as night clerk. for the
purpose of defending himself, II neces-
sary. Evans said he smelled liquor on
MacDonalds breath. and that the pris-
oner looked dissipated.
Policeman on stand.
William Messer. a member Of the police
force, testified he had known Macdonald
in the army, and that he interviewed
the defendant several times in his cell,
but that he refused to discuss the shoot
ing
Assistant United States Attorney Proc
tor at the opening Of the court yesterday
morning outlined the governments con-
tention. saying he expected the evidence
would show a case Of premeditated mur-
der, and that the government would
prove that at the time Macdonald mar
ried the woman he Is accused of killing
he had a lawful wife and child living In
New York City, and that his real name
Is George A. Gillette, having been mar
ried In New York June q, 1899 TO Agnes
r. Meagher. Mr.. Proctor related the
story Of Macdonald joining the army and
of his marrying the deceased In Febru-
ary, 1906. which union proved unhappy
Mrs. Macdonald leaving her husband in
February, 1911. and going to New York.
Macdonald remaining In this city with
Mrs. Billopp. Fearing that his wife,
while in New York would hear Of his
first marriage, Macdonald. the prosecu-
tor alleged. induced her to come back
to Washington by writing her a letter.
in which he represented that his father
had deposited money with a local attor-
ney to be delivered to them on her sig
nature.
Mrs. Macdonald returned TO this city
in answer to the letter and met her hus-
band at her sisters house. Excuses were
made by Macdonald and no steps were
taken to see the attorney for two days.
On the day OF the homicide the accused,
according to the prosecution. made a
definite engagement at the Colorado
Building. The accused got his revolver
out of pawn on the day he wrote the
letter to his wife, decoying her back to
the city, according to the government.
Accused SIster-In-IaW.
Miss Margaret Moore. a stenographer
on the NTH floor of the Colorado Build
ing. identified the defendant and testi-
fed she saw Mrs. Macdonald lying on
the floor face upward. and her husband
standing near talking loudly to a woman
who she afterward learned was Mrs. Bill
lopp.. Miss Moore testified she heard
Macdonald accusing Mrs. Billopp OF be-
ing the cause OF all his trouble.
George II. Poske. of 22l3 X street
northwest. employed in an Office on the
fifth floor. told OF seeing and hearing the
first shot fired, and of seeing Macdonald
firing the second and third shots while
standing over the body OF the woman.
He also telephoned for the police and an
ambulance. he testified.
Alexander II. Weber, a civil engineer.
who had Offices in the Colorado Building
told Of seeing Macdonald and his wife
talking and Of hearing three shots short
ly after entering his room. He said he
left his room and accosted- Macdonald.
who appeared in daZed condition, ad-
mitting to Mr.. Baker under cross-eXsm-
ination that Macdonald might be just
getting over the effect OF a spree
DR.. Walter Price testified to answering
the call for an ambulance from Elmer
gency Hospital. He said he found Mrs
Macdonald unconscious in the Colorado
Building; that she was removed TO the
EaI N.N
hour after reaching there. He said her
death no doubt was brought about by the
bullet which entered the base of her
brain.
gave Him Revolver.
Lemuel Fugitt. an attorney. with Offices
In the Colorado Building. testified that
he saw Macdonald standing over his
wife's body. Witness said he touched
Macdonald on the arm, saying: Give me
that revolver" defendant complying. Mr.
Fugitt examined IT before giving It to a
policeman. Mr.. FugItt identified the re-
volver, and testified that he smelIed
liquor on MacDonald's breath.
Gordon r. Cowie, employed in the same
building, corroborated the testimony Of
the preceding witnesses, and Frederic NJ.
Smith, who was in the building at the
time Of the shooting, told Of the de-
fendant's actions following the shooting,
adding that Macdonald appeared quite
calm. but had the appearance of having
drank to excess.
Carlton S. Proctor testified that Mrs.
Billopp said to Macdonald after the
shooting. You've killed my sister; you've
killed my sister, and I'll see you hang
for IT," Proctor said Macdonald re-
FLIED: You bet did, old girl. and I
may hang, but I'll get you first"
Other witnesses who corroborated the
preceding witnesses were Charles J. Col
Inns, H. H. Warner, and W. J. Creamer,
the crossing policeman at Fourteenth
and streets, who arrested Macdonald
and identified the revolver as the one
turned over to him by Attorney LemueI
Fugitt, who got the weapon from Mac
Donald. Creamer said that the defen-
dant told him. upon being locked I'D in
q cell: Officer, you wouldn't blame me
IL you knew about this" Witness said
Macdonald appeared nervous when ar
rested, but did not snow any evidence
OF having been drinking.
The case Will be continued this morn
ing at 10 o'clock. when the government
will close its side and the defense will
present its case. The case may 20 to the
jury tomorrow.