The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1914-02-20
MURDER TRIAL
OPENED TODAY
WEALTHY HARNESS MANUFACT.
URER MUST ANSWER FOR MUIR
DER OF WIFE.
Alleged Unfaithfullness on Her Part,
He Wined and Dined Her GIOr-
iOusIy Then Committed Crime.


CHICAGO, Feb. 20.-William Cheney
Ellis, who played the leading role in
a domestic tragedy more gripping than
any of the seasons problem plays,
went to trial here today for the mur-
der of his wife, Eleanore, whom he
shot and then cruelty slashed in the
fashionable Hotel Sherman on October
16, 1913. Ellis, wealthy harness man.
ufacturer, formerly of Cincinnati, was
represented today by Attorney George
Remus. The defense will be emotion
al insanity A livid scar across his
throat and two jagged, white marks
upon his wrists, he said, were the only
evidence he had to recall what happen
ed in the hotel suite the morning of the
killing.
Il wouldn't care what happened to
me if it weren't for the children" has
been his constant statement since he
was transferred from hospital to the
county jail. There are two little
girls, and l want to live long enough
to make some provision for them
Plead EmatiOnal Insanity.
Two lines of evidence, both tending
to support the emotional insanity de-
fense, will be offered by the defense,
was indicated when court opened to-
day. One will be Ellis own statement
that he discovered his wife was in love
with another man and that this know
ledge so crazed fim that he planned !
her murder. The other, perhaps used |
for the first time in murder trial |
in this country will seek to show the
probable effect witnessing the power.
full eugenics play, Damaged Goods"
would have upon the brain of a man,
who according to physicians is diseas-
ed as was the principal figure in the
Brioux drama.
Mrs. Ellis came to Chicago from
Cincinnati several days preceding the
murder and went to the home of
friends Ellis arrived two days later,
'ather Unexpectedly. They then made
rips down town to cafes and to the
heatres. On the night of October IA
hey saw Damaged Goods" then in
is first weeks run in Chicago and the
opic of universal comment.
AS if to naturalize its terrifying I
Genes they went the next night to see
performace of "The Road to Hap,.
less," a rural drama that epitomized l
omestic happiness. t
Woman Was Dead.
On the following morning, a house =
elective hurried to the Ellis suite at .
he Hotel Sherman, overlooking the
ity hall. He went in response to a
rightened voice over the telephone S
nd bursting in the door discovered u
Ills, haff-conscious, leaning against t
chair, with blood gushing from c
,ould in his neck and two slashes
cross his wrists Mrs. Ellis lay dead
bed, gaping wound in her neck
nd two bullet holes in her breast. :,
The first police theory was that It :
as a suicide pact and Ellis unintelli- =
mt answers to questions supported 1t.
ater, confronted with evidence show u
e that his wife could not have killed y
,rself from the nature of the wounds, u
His confessed and in broken voice y
led out that his wife had been un- 81
ithful to him, that she came to Chi .
go to meet lover from a Canadian Ell
ty and that when he obtained evil q
nee of her unfaithfulness he follow of
her to Chicago feted her like a of
idegroom on honeymoon, and then ST
liberately killed her. ar
Created Sensation. III
At the coroners inquest. Ellis
used a sensation by springing to his
IT and dramatically declaring that sa
lied when he accused his wife lit
She was the sweetest, purest wom- w
in the world" he cried. 81 don't tb
ow why l did it." nj,
rhe jury found Ellis guilty and he Of
S subsequently indicted Following of
Indictment, he suddenly repudiated ~,
statement at the inquest and again IL
lounced that he killed his wife be- !.
lse she was unfaithful to him. Near
100 witnesses, many of them from
Icinnati were in court today when ~
ection of the jury began. 'e5