The Washington herald., 1912-01-25
Defendant on Grill.

The defendant was called to the wit
ness stand at about IL O'Clock and ad-
mitted on examination that his proper
name is George A. Gillette. and that he
was born in New York City, where he
first worked Macdonald testified he had
epileptic fits when a boy. He said he was
twenty-one years old when he first mar
ried. and that he had one child by this
marriage. He lived with his wife, he
said, until 1901, and had an epileptic ut
at home shortly after his marriage. In
1887. he testified. he was hit on the back
Of the head with a large stone. which
dropped from a high cliff, being seriously
injured He related his leaving his wife
and going to Denver in 1901 and returning
to New York a year later. He did not
live with his wife, having been informed
that she had obtained a divorce. She told
him she would have nothing TO do with
him. He traced his movements and re-
lated the events of his life: his enlist
ment in the army; his meeting his second
wife, and marrying her in Virginia in
1906, He admitted serving a term at Gov
ernorS Island, N. Y, for desertion.
Defendant denied ever leaving his wife
without her knowledge, but saId sne left
him against his will in January, 1911. He
said he wrote letters to his wife trying
to induce her to return to him and lead
q
chased the revolver in March, for when
he was discharged he contemplated sui
eide. He denied ever contemplating kill
ing his wife.
story of Tragedy.
Coming up to the tragedy in the Col
orado Building. Macdonald testified he
had been drinking since the first OF the
year. until the day of the shooting. He
said that he and his wrfe got on on
the fifth floor in the Colorado Building,
and that after she scornfully refused to
live in Washington, she opened her hand
bag, took out his revolver. and declared
she ought to kill him. AFTER that, Mac
Donald testified, he remembered nothing. |
He did not remember the shooting, ana
denied he had any intention Of killing her
when he met her that day.
He said she was well aware of the fact |
that he had been previously married, and
that he had been drinking since he was /
a young man.
Cross-examined by District Attorney |
Wilson, defendant testified that much OF |
the drinking he INDUCED in the two days l
previous to the homicide was at the in
vitation Of his wife, she drinking with
him. Macdonald admitted having been
arrested and arraigned in New York for
and unwillingly said that
his father and a brother and sister are
at present living in New York
First Wife Appears.
After the noon recess, defendants first
wife, Agnes Gillette, was called TO the
witness stand, causing quite a stir in
the court room. She testified as TO her
husband having an epileptic fit in 1899,
and said he had no recollection OF II
after he recovered. She corroborated L
as to his being struck on the /
back OF the head by a stone and said L
he used to take pictures and talk to
them, get up in the middle OF The night
and take long walks and otherwise act
peculiarly.
Mrs Gillette said on cross-examination
that she had never been divorced from
DIR. NJ. d. Magee testified he had been
called March q last, by Mrs. Billopp to
attend Macdonald, whom he found ex-
nervous.
The case viii be resumed this morning
at 10 o'clock.