Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-25
MRS. EATON TELLS
HER LIFE STORY
Witness in Her Own Behalf
Against the Charge
of Murder.
ALLEGES HER HUSBAND
WAS ADDICTED TO DRINK
Defense Claims the Admiral Died
of Overdose Of Poison, Self
Administered.

appearance of the defendant on the stand
today brought to a climax the trial of
Jennie May Eaton, charged with causing
Joseph Giles Eaton. by giving him poison
Counsel for the defense had led up to her
testimony by calling during the past two
days numerous witnesses who described
Rear Admiral Eaton as having been fire.
auently under the influence of liquor or
drugs Today counsel sought to draw
from her own lips Mrs. Eaton's story of
her life with the admiral. 1t is the con-
tention of the defense that the man died
from an overdose of drug which he had
been accustomed to using.
Mrs Eaton was calm and self possessed
as she began her testimony. The jurors
gave close attention to her story, which
she told in clear, well modulated voice,
addressing herself always to her senior
counsel, William A. Morse Under the
questioning of the attorney Mrs. Eaton
described her early life.
Native of Alexandria, Va.
She was born at Alexandria. Va.
thirty nine years ago, she said. her fam
lily later removing to Michigan, and then
husband d. H. Ainsworth. Her life
with Ainsworth was unhappy. She said
that her husband lost two positions. and
that she was forced to aid in the sup
port of the family, selling books from
house to house. During her life with
Ainsworth she and her two children.
June and Dorothy, lived, successfully, at
Washington. Guthrie, Okla: st. Louis,
Chicago, and then returned to Washing
ton, where she bought house, paying
$1,000 down. Later she was forced to
sell the home.
daughters in school at Frederick, Nd.
and then took up nursing. In September.
1905. she went to Admiral Eaton, $
Washington home to attend the ad-
week later. but the witness remained
at the home to care for the admiral,
who had been drinking heavily.
Accompanies Admiral TO Boston.
Later she accompanied him to Bos-
ton, at his request, and because of his
pitiable condition" Before meeting Ad-
miral Eaton she had taken steps to OBJ
tain a divorce from AinswoTth, and
while attending the admiral she re-
ceived her final divorce papers from
Chicago.
During her stay in Washington she
said, she and ADMIRAL Eaton discussed
the possibility of their marriage, which
the admiral said would be best for both.
They were married at Boston July p,
1906. They began housekeeping on an
elaborate scale in Brookline, but because
of their debts land the admirars intern
perance Mrs. Eaton decided to buy place
in the country. She said she had to dis
home Lecause Of the admirars attention
to them. She added that herr husband
had insuJted her daughter June.
When the Assinippi place was bought
August 81, 1907. the family had only 500
in cash. with an Indebtedness of more
than $4,000. Mrs. Eaton studied agri-
culture and stocked the farm with live
stock.
Did All the Homework.
Il put my mind and strength into MAX
ing the home success and paying off our
debts" she said. Il did all the house
work. and the admirars retired pay, 1915
a month. was used in paying the debts.
Had the admiral lived another year we
would have been free and clear, with
money in the bank.
During all this time | tried to stop
his intemperance and 1 thought 1 sue
ceeded we'll"
Tells of Babes Death.
Mrs. Eaton lost her composure for the
first time when she described the death
of the infant which they secretly adopted
In 1900. The boy was left in the care
of the admiral at their cottage at Sand
Hills while Mrs. Eaton bathed in the
surf. When she returned to the cottage
the baby was i'll and died lew hours
later. At the time her husband appeared
to be under. the Influence of. a dr0p apd
the witness told the physician who was
summoned that 1.-THE admiral has done
something to this baby