Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-24
First Wife Testifies in Mac
Donald Murder Case.
Defendant ALSO HEARD
Says He Has Always Been Subjec;
to Epileptic Fits.
DOES NOT RECALL SHOOTING
Other Witnesses Declare on Stand
That He Drank Heavily While
In the Army.

A genuine surprise was sprung today by
counsel for the defense in the trial oS
Edward J. Macdonald. alias George A.
Giiette. when Agnes Gillette first wife %
the defendant, was called to the witness
stand to testify Immediately after ths
government had concluded it's cross-ex-
ANIMATION of Macdonald himself
mere were few In the crowded court.
room VINO had any intimation that Mrs
eiette would be subpoenaed, the governs
hheht prosecutors having announced they
would not call on her. and IL being sup
posed the defense surely would not
MIS- Gillette told of her marriage TO
the defendant and corroborated testimony
ne had given regarding being struck on
the head and severely injured while
walking In New York with her shortly
atter their marriage. and also that he
was subject to epileptic fits and was ad-
dicted to drink
The theory of the defense was clearly
outlined by Attorney James A. OShea
In an address TO the jury this morning..
Following the further examination OF
Mrs. Margaret Billopp. sister OF the
slain woman.
Government Rests.
The government rested its case at lo:15
O'Clock. Mr. O'Shea. in addressing the
jury, declared the defense expected to
show that when only nine years old the
defendant had been stricken with an epi-
leptic fit In church while serving as an
altar boy and that subsequently he had
often had such attacks. one OF them
while i'm school. He said the defense
expected to show he had been struck on
the head with a stone while walking in
New York with Mrs. Gillette shortly
after their marriage and that his suffer-
ings. by reason of his Illness, led him to
the use OF intoxicating drinks: tl.It he
had LED life OF dissipation, and had many
times been treated for deIirium tremens.
He said h0 also expected to show that at
the time he married Gertrude Shaw. HIS
second wife. he believed he had been
divorced from his first wife.
Counsel said the defense expected 10
prove that Mrs. Macdonald the second
wife. left him. and that it was for the
purpose Of getting her to give up the life
| she was leading in New York that Mac
Donald wrote her the letter which In
duced her to return to Washington the
last time: that he met her at the Colu-
| RADIO building and that she scornfully
laughed at him when he tried to persuade
her to give up her manner of living and
return to him, and that while in a frenzy
he did something of which he had no
knowledge.
Called irresponsible.
I'VE expect to show" said Mr. O'Shea
that the defendant was mentally ire
sponsible. and il this is shown. we expect
| a verdict in accordance"
Mr.. OShea further said il would be
brought out that at the Jail, where Mac.
fulxo
shooting. he was treated for alcoholic
poisoning and given bromides, morp inc
and other such medicines.
Before adjournment for luncheon the
defense announced 1t also would call
Henry Gillette, brother of the defendan.
to the witness stand.
Sister Is Recalled.
Mrs. Margaret A. Billopp. sister of the
deceased, was recalled by the govern
fment, and was the first witness at the
| resumption of the trial this morning.
Mrs. Biropp was recalled to amplify her
testimony regarding a minor detail On
cross-examina ton Mrs. Billopp testified
that Macdonald was drunk in February
and sick as result for several days
afterward. She testified that on the day
of the tragedy he was sober and that
there was no smell of liquor on his
breath
Frank Fullerton, bartender. residing
at 7s6 Sth street northwest, was the first
witness called by the defense. He testi-
fled that Macdonald entered the place OF
his employment the Monday preceding ths
tragedy and that Wednesday. the day OF
the shooting. he also was In the saloon,
and that when he left the saloon. about
o'clock, he was intoxicated. Witness ad-
mitted he was friend OF MacDonaldss
and that he visited the station house after
| Thomas Hope. 3Oth and Division streets
northeast. employed at the District jail.
testified that when Macdonald arrived at
the Jail he seemed morose and that he
failed to speak when spoken to. Witness
further declared that from two months
observation of him he formed the opin-
ion that he was not as sane as q great
many men he had seen.
Says He Drank Heavily.
James Elligheusen testified he knew
Macdonald at Fort Myer when witness
was in the Hospital Corps of the army
in 1904 He said he had known him FROM
that time on up to the time of the hom:-
eide. Elligheusen testified Macdonald
drank heavily while stationed at Forr
Myer, and that while in this condition he
acted queerly and sought TO provoke
fights
Victor H. Patterson. also an employe
OF the f1OSpllal 1OTpS dl oTI hyeT, lSstl-
fled he knew Macdonald at the fort ia
1898. He testified Macdonald was muc:s
addicted to drink that penalties fo:.
drunkenness failed to deter his continues
drinking, and that he was quite ugly II.
disposition during these periods OF in
toxication.
Edward ]. Macdonald. the defendant.
was called to the stand q few minutes
before IL o'clock. He testified, ek-
animation by Attorney d. w. Baker, this.
his proper name Is George A. Gillette.
that he was born I'm New York, ATTENDED
school In New York city and first worked
in that city. He testified he had hal
epileptic fits when q boy. once while 4
altar boy in q church and At other
times. M
He testified he married frst whea
twenty lone years old and that he had one
child by this marriage. He lived with
his wife until 1901. he said. and had an
epileptic fit at home shortly after his
marriage. In 1897, he testified. while
walking with his wife on the speedway
at New York he was hit on the back OF.
the head by q large stone which dropped
from a high cliff. being seriously injured.
He said he left his wife and went to
Denver in 1901. remained away a year
and returned to New York. He averred
he did not live with his wife. as he was
informed she had obtained divorce.