Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-17
Mrs. Laura Pierce Witness in
.Rauen Murder Trial.
STATE OUTLINES ITS CASE
Assistant U. S. Attorney Proctor
Makes Opening Statement.
AL1EN1sTs WATCH PRISONER
Three in Court in Event insanity
Plea Is Made by Defense-Jury
Completed Today.

Mrs Laura Pierce. eighty-five years old.
residing at lois 9TH street southwest, and
an eyewitness of the double tragedy for
which Samuel zRauen, a former soldier.
twenty-five years old, is being tried in
criminal Court, No. !, before Justice
Stafford, was the first witness offered by
the prosecution today. Mrs. Pierce de-
tailed to the jury the circumstances sur,
rounding the death of Ozelah Rauen. the
highteen-year-old wife of the prisoner,
and of John Rauen, his brother, who was
tweHtythree years old. The witness lived
next door to the scene of the tragedies.
More than one hour was occupied this
morning in completing the jury. Assist
ant United States Attorney Proctor made
the opening statement to the jury, out
lining the proof to be offered by the
government to substantiate the view that
Rauen killed his wife and brother deiib-
erately and after generalization. The de-
Tense reserved its. opening statement.
In anticipation of a defense of in
sanity. United States Attorney Wilson
had present in court today DR.. T.. NJ.
Pratt Hospital near Baltimore. Md;
IsDr. D. Percy Hickling of the Washing
ton Asylum Hospital and DIR. George
of the Government Hospital for the In
sane. The alienists will closely observe
the prisoner during the trial.
p The jurors are: FoTman. r. norner,
John T. Crossley, Nathan Cowsill, Ed
ward II. Thompkins. Harry w. Bowling,
George . Wright, William w. Danen-
hover, Joseph II. Fiske, William l..
Cronnse and John NJ. Boyd.
Tells of Choking Wife.
In the course of his statement to the
jury Assistant United States Attorney
Prnpnr detailed no iod 70 Of ho
prisoner leading up to an assault made
by the prisoner on the wife nearly year
ago, when. he stated, Rauen attempted
to choke his wife Mrs Rauen had her
husband arrested and he was sentenced
to OccOquan. While there. Mr.. Proctor
stated, Rauen, in conversation with one
of the guards. threatened. revenge son his
wife and announced his intention to kill
his brother.
After the release of Rauen. the prose-
cutor said. he sought his wife and beg
ged her to take him back, declaring he
was without work and asking her for
mercy. The wife refused to renew their
married life and reminded Rauen that he
had shown scant mercy when he at
tempted to choke her. Other interviews
proved futile to the prisoners desire to
persuade his wife to return to him, Mr.
Proctor said. and Rauen determined to
kill his Wife
Mr.. Proctor detailed the killing of the
wife March 80 last and the shooting of
the brother, John Rauen, who had at
tempted to interfere with the assault on
the wife.
With his wife dead and the bleeding
form of his brother lying before him. Mr.
Proctor said, Rauen coolly lit and smoked
cigarette, and seemed soEcitous alone
for his own safety, asking the police to
Protect hint from being mobbed.
Gives Details of Shooting.
After. the. acting coroner. who per-
formed the aHtopsies on the dead bodies
had testified that death in each case was
due to gunshOt wounds. Mr. Proctor
called to the witness stand Mrs. Laura
Pierce.
Mrs. Pierce testified as to the details of
the shooting. telling Of conversation be-
tween the wife, her husband and his
brother on the step Of house No. 1915
9TH street southwest, next door to the
residence OF the witness. The subject of
the conversation. the witness did not hear
distinctly. She told how Rauen, getting
after a short interval. The accused shot
his wife and then when the brother arose
as if to interfere, the prisoner directed
his pistol toward the brother and fired
twice.
The witness was testifying late this
afternoon. She was cross-eXamined by
Attorney f. l.. Giles, who is aiding At
torney E. B. Frey in the defense.