The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-12-11
DONOVAN ADMITS
BITTER FEELING
From Tuesdays Daily.

Crushing evidence was to be heaped
on Mrs. Charlotte Sharpless. on trial
for the killing Of her husband Lean.
ing Sharpless with a ieweled lodge
In the final testimony by the
states witnesses late today. Matthias
Baldwin, prosecuting the case, said he
would tear aside the presumption OF in
nocense today. Mrs. Sharpless may
take the stand tomorrow. A foretaste
of the denunciation that is in store
for the silent woman in black was
given by James Donovan. life long
friend OF the dead man. Anna Wit
mere and Phoebe Casey, who the
state says, saw a woman throw the
sword pierced underwear Of Lean,
ing Sharpless from the window to
the lawn, fully twenty minutes be.
fore the police were called to the
death room, were to follow.
Point For The Defense.
The defense obtained the admis-
sion from occupants of the apart.
ment house that the main door to
the apartment building was not al
ways locked. indicating that a per.
son might have entered while Mrs.
Sharpless was out OF her apartment
the night Of the crime. Testimony
by Mrs. Myrtle Knight and her sister.
Miss Ada Willis, occupants of the
fiat Immediately above the death
room. that they heard noises indi-
eating a struggle was the chief point
in the states case to-day.
Spoke of Threatening Letter.
Efforts by the defense to bring
out In the cross-examination of
James Donovan that five years ago
the dead man received a threatening
letter and that it's contents was dis
cussed, were unavailing. The letter
was unsigned, according to the de-
PENDANTS attorneys. It's contents put
Leaning Sharpless in grave fear,
the defense said. II will be shown by
Mrs. Sharpless when she takes the
stand. That she will testify I'm her
own behalf tomorrow seemed prob
able with the progress made today.
For a year and a half after Lean.
ing Sharpless married the defend
ant, Donovan roomed with the couple
In Mankato. He was a frequent Wis
itor ut their home i'm Minneapolis.
after Mrs. Sharpless was arrested"
said Donovan, 81 called on her at
police headquarters, and had long
talk with her"
Told Her TO Throw Up Hands.
In II he said he accused her. of
the murder, but she denied her
guilt. '"You may as we'll throw up
your hands and admit you are guilty.
! said TO her. told her knew that
last February she tried TO burn the
eyes out Of her husbands head,
told her OF the time | called at the
fat. and Lean was laid up. |
told her Lean told me I'm her pres.
ence that she had dashed a pot OF
boiling coffee on his head, when lie
upbraided her for being intoxicated
She only laughed. That was the
beginning of the end. Then there
! were other men that caused estrange,
ment between husband and wife.
told her that her husband had told
me just week before he was killed
that he came home early and was
not admitted to his apartments, until
another man was let out the win.
dow. That the man jumped out and
his coat and vest were thrown out
after him, that he did not pick
them up, but Lean did and found
name on papers in the pocket,
You are bitter against this WON
an?' Yes. you bet | am bitter. Al
first ! was sorry for her Then
was sorry for her husband. when
began to find her out. Now I am
bitter against her.. advised her
husband to leave her. advised him
| TO have her sent TO the workhousc
for ninety days when she scalded
him." ......
Woman Who Could Not Weep.
The woman who could not weep"
Is the term used during the trial OF
Mrs. Charlotte Sharpless by detect.
ives who were called to the Sharp
less home after the murder was dis.
covered. Testimony in the case
went on yesterday afternoon and
through this morning. taking up the
home life Of Sharpless and his wife,
and the circumstances surrounding
the investigation following the muir,
der.
Fred ,Crisman, janitor of the
apartments at 1929 Yale Place,
where the murder took place, and
his wife were on the witness stand
yesterday afternoon. Crisman testi
fed that he was an "old friend OF
the family" and told of asking Mr..
Sharpless TO go down town with him
on the night of the latter's death.
Crisman said he went to the Sharp
less fiat at about eight o'clock at
night to find that Lean" was lying
down, clad in his underclothing,
Crisman said he joshed him about
going TO bed so early and that
Lean" replied that he had just re.
turned from his run and was very
, tired. ..r-.
Urged sharpIess TO Go.
Continuing In his testimony MIR.
Crisman said that Mrs. Sharpless