Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-21
MRS. CARAVANS MAID
SWEARS MISTRESS
SAID, "1SHOT HIM"
Sensational Testimony in
Murder Trial Met by De-
fense's Charge That Negro
Girl Is a Perjurer.

Around these three wOrds-uttercd &C
cordins to Celia Coleman, Negro maid
; by Mrs Florence Carman on the nigh
: Mrs. Louise Bailey was shot to death II
Doctor Carmans ofIice-hinges the whole
case OF the state against the Doctor
wife, now on trial for her life.
The Coleman maid took the stand TO-
day and swore that Mrs Carman made
that statement when she entered the
kitchen with a revolver in her hand n
minute or two after the fatal shot was
fred. It is apparent the States conten-
ton is that the wife shot at her husband.
While Mrs. Carman sat rigid and i'm
mobile few feet away the maid told
how the doctors wife, after entering the
kitchen. walked into the physicians Of
fee where the dead woman was lying
! on tha floor Mrs. Carman sttll held a
| revolver in her hand. the girl insisted.
| She had 1t concealed under white shawl
! she wore over a kmono. according to
| the maid
! Mrs. Carman looked at Doctor Carman
| kneeing over the body Of the slain wom-
| an the girl said The doctors Wife
! stIl grasptnG the revolver. STAYED in the
! room but minute, going out by the way
| " the waiting room.
| Mrs. Carman did not say anything
| more to her the girl said when she
| entered the kitchen. Asked by District
| Attorney Smith whether she thought Mrs
Sarman had killed her husband when she
said II shot him" the maid answered that
she didn't know whom she had shot She
! SAID that neither Mrs. Carman nor Doctor
! 'arman said n word while she was in the
office where the dead woman was lying.
Nj Graham attorney for Mrs. Carrnar
a
he introduced a statement made by the
Coleman C!rl in a private Investigation
on July lS, in which she contradicted
nearly everything she testified to today.
Graham read the statement just before
adjournment for lunch.
On the night Of the murder. the gIrI
swore. Mrs. Carman came downstairs
and walked out Of the house through the
Kitchen. y minute or two later, the Wit
ness asserted. she heard the sound Of
breaking glass and the report of a re-
volver
Mrs Carman entered the kitchen a min
uto later, she said
Il have shot him" she said. according
- the maid
REVOLVER IN HER HAND.
Did Mrs. Carman have anything in
her hand?" asked the District Attorney.
Yes, replied the witness. she had a
Ions blue revolver. l was standing in
the pantry door when she rushed back
into the room and she came right over
- me. touched her arm and said:
What are you going TO do now?'
said >'''''e' S'''
Il went into the Office then and she
went with me. saw the body of a
woman on the floor, and Doctor Carman
and a short man were in there. Mrs.
CarmaR had gone in there with me The
body Of the woman was living on the
floor near the operating table. stayed
in there but about half a minute,
going back to the kitchen"
ASKED NOT TO TELL.
Where did Mrs. Carman go2" asked |
the prosecutor.
81 don't know" was the reply She !
went out the door Of the office toward |
the waiting room and l didn't see her |
again until the next morning She came |
70 my room before time for me to get
up. She told me that she hoped God |
would forgive her. She told me she would |
take care OF my little boy as long as
he lived If anything ever happened 10
me-. Then she asked me not TO say any
thing about what had happened"
SIGNED FALSE STATEMENT.
Disrrio. Attorney Smith asked the Cole
man girl about Attorney Levy. Of the
defense. calling at the house on the morn
ing after the murder
He came 10 see me in the kitchen the
next morning" the maid said He
asked me- II I had seen any one pass
through the kitchen the night before, and
said no.
Did he come back later?"
he
old him again that | hadn't seen any one
n the kitchen before l heard the shot
ired. Later Mrs Carman wrote on
piece of paper, saying didn't see any one
pass through the kitchen and 7 signed It,"
But it wasn't so, was it?" asked Smith.
No, was the reply
why didn't YOU tell the truth ar
the Noroner's inquest" Smith continued.
Attorney Graham objected 70 this ques-
ton and was sustained
BURNED LETTERS.
Didn't Mrs. Carman ask you 10 build
! FIRE a few days after the murder"
skod Smith.
Yes was rhe answer, "she said
he wanted TO burn some letters.
}uilt the fire and she did burn some
hIuCS"
DID Mrs Csrman send you after her
meg at''l NHF HlI't'lEE
Yes two weeks after She said she
wanted no see her father. as she must
'.r rid NJ the revolver"
WITNESS UNDER CROss-FIRE.
when he took the witness on cross !
examination, Attorney Graham asked ,
ler what Mrs Carman meant when she !
aid she would take care Of her boy.
T don't know" was the reply :
Mrs Carman carried the revolver IN r
er hand. hut hidden under her shawl. I
hen -ne went into rhs Office where the (
cad woman was living, said the witness T
answer 10 one of Graham's questions I
She didn't say a word when she was q
. the Once, nor the doctor didn't say
nything, either He was kneeling over {
lie w0rnan's body when we went In the s
fice. E
1lr Graham bitterly alta cked the Negro ]
laid on the basis Of the various conflict O
lg statements she has made since IN" c
lurde~ He also laid great stress on her
-rsi0u Of the manner IN which the re- a
Oliver vas disposed Of c
When YOU knew II vas a woman in $
lead of a man why didn't sou say some a
aingg' asked Graham. 5
The maid said she did not want 10 tell a
bout the shooting.
DO you think God will forgive you for
eriury7'' asked Graham.