The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-23
SAYS MACDONALD
KILLED HIS WIFE
TO HIDE B|GAMY
Prosecutor Proctor Springs
Sensation at Murder Trial
Il This Morning.
Continued from First pase.)

It developed during the statement OF
assistant Prosecutor Proctor to the jury
that Gertrude 8. Macdonald deserted
her husband in February, 1911, about
three months before she was killed, and
went to New York city to live, conceal
ing her whereabouts from Macdonald,
VINO, however. continued to live at the
Home OF her sister, Mrs. Margaret e.
Sinopp. 26 street northwest. That
Macdonald lured his unlawful = wife
from New York for the premeditated
purpose OF killing her was the charge OF
tne prosecutor, who said letter was
kent to his victim by the un3uspecting
MRS. Billopp. who knew her address
Inc story told by Attorney Proctor
was that Macdonald, under his real
nsmWe. George A: Gillette. was married
is now living and who is his legal wife.
There was some disagreement between
tne couple and the husband deserted his
MI md1e and r child and Joined the army in
In January. 1911. while Macdonald was
q soldier at Fort Myer, Va, he was
married to Gertrude Shaw, an unsus-
pecsmg washington girl, asserted the
except for occasional separations Of
short periods until February, 1911. he
CANNED, when the young womans life
,c,ng to New York and concealing her
WHEREABOUTS w,n from everybody save her
s s,stsr. Mrs; Billopp. who helped her
uHanclally.
Learned Wife's Whereabouts,
During the wee', ~~ereding the homi
Macdonald found out that his
second wife was IA .,4y FORK city, the
nome OF his lawful wife, and from that
moment he set about to cause the girls
oeath' declared Attorney Proctor HE
sent letter, through Mrs. Billopp, tell
ing his unlawful wife that his father
had left him a large sum of money and
that 1t would be necessary for her to
meet him at the Office of Attorney
montague, In the Colorado building, in
order to get possession Of it. He urged
her to return to Washington.
The same day, May 20, four days be-
Sore the homicide, Macdonald went to
YER that he had 0 previ esSe pa veuei,
thus indicating premediation."
Mrs. Gertrude s.. Macdonald arrived
IN washington on May ~, and was met
at the station by Mrs Billopp and taken
Macdonald. whom she had not seen in
more than three months, according to
the story Of the prosecutor. However.
Donald called the appointment at the
lawyers office on that day. Macdonald
and his illegal wife went around to-
gether on May % and agreed to go to
the lawyer. the defendant saying that
the attorneys name was McNeill instead
OF Montague. Accordingly the couple
met BY appointment next dag, on the
soon afterwards the woman was shot
to death.
Attorney Proctor's description of the
shooting was another dramatic feature
OF his opening remarks to the jury. He
told how the couple engaged in earnest
conversation and apparently were at
odds over some suggestion made by
Macdonald. the young woman giving
"a scornful laugh and exclaiming You
bot l won't'-her last words.
! Tired Into Her Body.
Then that man raised a revolver and
SHOT her to the floor" declared the
prosecutor. pausing momentarily, while
the jurors glanced toward the prisoner.
"Then he stood over her and fired two
more bullets into her PROSTATE body as
she lay on the floor"
Mrs. Billopp was soon on the scene,
he said, and entered into a heated argu-
ment with the slayer of her sister, the
dialogue being given this way by At
torney Proctor:
"Oh, you've murdered my sister. and
her here
IT'S a pity it wasn't you"
you'll hang for this" .s.'
Yes. I'll hang for 1t but I'll get you
With this final exclamation MacDon-
hid Is alleged to have rushed at Mrs.
BiHopp, but he was restrained by men
who had rushed to the scene and wrest-
slayer refused to give any explanation,
aside from the statement that you'll
see I was justified when you hear my
side Of the story"
MacDonald's pockets when searched at
the Police Station. He had fired three
sents at his wife, all taking effect. and
there remained two good Cartridges in
the chambers of the gun.
This man did deliberately and with
subtle purpose, moved to deep resent
ment because she had concealed her
Whereabouts from him and had learned
OF his duplicity, lure Gertrude MacDon-
aid to Washington to kill her." con-
cluded Mr.. Proctor.
The element Of mystery In the case
Macdonald. whose reticence has not
only baffied the police and the prose-
cutors, but also worried his counsel.
He has steadfastly refused to open any
channels leading to his mysterious past,
and as consequence unusual interest
has been aroused. as the packed court
rooms attest.
All day yesterday was consumed in
the principal difficulty S it Try H the the task aSSps Se
ing that so many Of the taIesmen de-
clared they had prejudiced opinions.
Only comparatively few of the pros
pective. jurors stated they had any
scruples against the infection of capital
punishment, a frequent answer to the
query being a significant, mot In some
cases"
Members of Jury.
The jury obtained to decide the fate
of the accused comprises the following
men. most of whom were drawn from
the special venire summoned yesterday:
Walter ]. Taylor. barber 1913 Twelfth
street; William A. Cassidy. carpenter,
2O12 NJ street: Paul d. Frost, book
keeper. 434 Manor place; Harry Houser
dairyman, Grant road; James w, Mar
tin. bricklayer. 700 Maryland avenue
northeast; John II. keenan,, jr l46 u
street northwest; Patrick A. Ford,
horseshoer, 42O1h L street northwest;
James e. Wheatley, grocer 65 Myrtle
street northeast; Samuel Lowenthai, 400
East Capital street: Charles N Bennett
insurance agent, 2721 Thirteenth street
northwest; Charles G. Beckett, grocer,
$3.50 Dumbarton avenue.
United States Attorney Clarence r.
Wilson is personally prosecuting the
case assisted by James NJ. Proctor and
s. McComas Hawken, his assistants
Defending Macdonald are former United