The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-01
ssThe Case of
Jennie BriCe''

fOre me, IL Is not nara TO give the
details of that sensational trial.
1t commenced on Monday, the
seventh of May, but it was late
Wednesday when the jury was
finally selected. / was at the
court house early on Thursday,
and so was Mr.. Reynolds.
The district attorney made a
short speech. I'VE propose, gen.
tlemen, to prove that the prisoner,
Philip Ladley, murdered his
wife," he said in part. I'VE
will show first that a crime was
committed; then we will show a
motive for this crime, and, final
ly. we expect to show that the
body washed ashore at Sewick-
ley is the body of the murdered
woman, and thus establish be-
yond doubt the prisoners guilt"
Mr.. Ladley listened with atten-
ton. He wore the brown suit,
and looked well and cheerful. He
was much more like a spectator
than a prisoner, and he was not
so nervous as | was.
OF that first day do not recall
much. | was called early in the
day. The district attorney ques-
toned me.
Your name?"
Elizabeth Marie Pitman."
Your occupation"
81 keep a boarding house at AZ
Union street"
you know the prisoner"
Yes. He was a boarder in
my house."
For how long?"
From December first. He
and his wife came at that time"
Was his wife the actress, Jen-
ME Brice?"
Yes, SIR"
Were they living together at
your house the night of March
fourth"
Yes, SIR"
"In what part of the house,"
"They rented the double par
lors down stairs;- but on account
of the flood | moved them up
stairs to the second floor front"
THAT was on Sunday? You
moved them on Sunday?
Yes, SIR"
"At wha. time did you retire
that night"
Not at all. The water was
very high. / lay down, dressed,
at one o'clock, and Dropped in
to a doze.'
"How long did you sleep?"
"An hour or so. Mr.. Reynolds,
a boarder, reused me to say Ire
heard some one rowing a boat in
tho lower hall"
do you keep a boat around
during flood times?"
Yes, SIR"
what did you do when Mr..
Reynolds reused your"
II went to the top Of the stairs.
My boat was gone"
Was the boat secured?"
Eyes, sir. Anyhow, there was
no current in the hall"
What did you do them"
81 waited a time and went
back to my room"
What examination of the
house did you make--if any?"
"Mr. Reynolds looked around"
What did he find
"He found Peter, the Ladley's
dog, shut in a room on the third
floor"
Was there anything unusual
about that"
81 had never known it to hap
pen before"
state what happened later"
II did not go to sleep again.
At a quarter after four, I heard
the boat come back. 1 took a
candle and went to the stairs. 1t
was Mr.. Ladley. He said he had
been out getting medicine for his
wife,"
did You see him tie up the
boat?"
Eyes"
Ibid you observe any stains
on the roper"
81 did not notice any,"
What was the prisoners man
ner at that timer"
II thought he was surly."
Now. Mrs. Pitman, tell us
about the following morning."
II saw Mr.. Ladley at q quarter
before seven. He said to bring
breakfast for one. His wife had
gone away. 1 asked IL she was
not i'll, and he said no; that she
had gone away early; that he had
rowed her to Federal street, and
that she would be back Saturday.
It Nas shortly after that that the
dog Peter brought in one of Mrs.
Ladley's slippers, water-soaked."
"You recognized the slipper?"
Positively. had seen 1t
often"