The Washington herald., 1912-01-24
YOU BET | DID, !"
SAID MACDONALD
Sister of Slain Woman Re-
Iates Story of Shooting
in Office Building.
"PITY IT WASN'T YOU"
Mrs, N. A. BillOpp Testifes Alleged
Bigamous Brother-in-law Ae-
cused Her of Causing Crime.

With tears in her eyes and her voice
unsteady with emotion. Mrs. NJ. A. Bill
lopp. of s2S 1 street northwest, yesterday
afternoon told jury in Justice Barnard's
court the story Of how Edward ]. Mac
Donald. on May . last, shot and killed
his wife, Gertrude Macdonald, in the
Colorado Building.
Mrs. Billopp, who is a sister OF the
slain woman, was attired in deep mourn
ing, setting on her pale face. When her
name was called, Macdonald quickly
glanced toward the door. When Mrs.
BiIlopp took the witness stand, the man
who is charged with having taken her
sisters life stared before him with down.
cast eye, trying to avoid her sight All
through her testimony Macdonald either
intently looked at the floor or restlessly
and quickly glanced at his attorneys.
"PIty 1t Wasn't You"
Mrs. Bnlopp testified as TO the shoot
ing Of her sister. and as to the conversa-
ton which took place between herself
and Macdonald right after the shooting
occurred. when Macdonald is alleged to
have admitted the crime and told Mrs
Billopp it was a pity it wasn't her.
Another feature brought out during the
day was the fact that Macdonald was
known in New York and among his
soldier friends and others as George A.
Gillette. and that he had a wife and child
living in New York.
Mrs. Billopp was the last witness yes
terday afternoon. practically closing the
side for the government. She related
the circumstances connected with the
family life of her sister and the de-
tendant: how he deserted her a number
Of times, and how she took care OF her
sister during the absence of her husband.
whose whereabouts she never knew Mrs.
Billopp also testified that on January IS
1911, Mrs. Macdonald left her husband,
being afraid OF him, as he had threat
ened her.
Witness related the circumstances re-
wrote to his wife. and which he got
Mrs. BilIopp to mail for him. In this
letter. which was read to the jury, Mac
Donald explained to his wife how sorry
he was for his past conduct and prom
ised to reform. He also referred to his
father, saying he was getting old, and.
feeling that he had not treated him
Macdonald asked his wife in the letter
to return to him, which she did.
Rushed to Fifth Floor.
Telling the story or the shooting in the
Colorado Building, Mrs. Billopp said that
as she heard shots she rushed to the
fifth floor, where Al number Of persons
had collected around her sister, who was
lying PROSTATE on the floor. Mrs. Bill
lopp called her sisters name, and in a
faint voice she asked to be forgiven.
Mrs. BiIlopp testified she then turned to
Macdonald, saying:
You killed her"
To which he said: You bet I did. I
wish I'd got you, too"
Mrs Billopp then told him that he
woVld hang for it, to which he replied:
You bet I will," adding that she CMrs.
Billopp was the cause of II.
Counsel for the defense did not cross
examine Mrs. Billopp upon any of her
statements. She also identified Mac
Donald's signature OF George A. Gill
ette" as being his own.
Detective Sergeant Grant, attached to
the office of the District attorney, testI-
fled to seeing Macdonald in jail; that he
went there with Mary F'itzmaurice, a sis
ter OF the murdered woman. Witness said
Mrs. Fitzmaurice asked Macdonald
whether he was George A. Gillette, to
which he answered, II am" also ad-
mitting that he had married her sister,
Winslow Parker. a New York. lawyer.
identified Macdonald as being George A.
Gillette. whom he had seen at the Fifty
seventh Street Court in New York, about
six years ago, where he was a defendant
in complaint brought by Agnes q.
Gillette
Edmund Leigh, a New York detective,
testified that he had seen the defendant
before as a man under parole in the
Harlem Police Court. He also said he
knew Mrs. Gillette, who has child.
Knew Him at Fort Myer.
John NJ. Raeder, formerly a member of
the army. said he knew Macdonald from
1902 to 1905. when the latter was stationed
at Fort Myer as clerk Witness said
that in a conversation he had with de-
fendant in 1905 he told him his name was
Gillette and that he had a wife and child
in New York. Raeder also testified that
he knew OF Macdonald being married in
this city, and that he introduced his
wife to witness at Fort Myer. Raeder
said he received a note from defendant
while the latter was In jail. asking him
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