The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-10-22
WOMAN ON TRIAL
FOR KILLING MAN.

Mrs. Mary Il. Lillian, charged
with first degree murder for the
killing OF Howard Borders, on july
20. took the stand In her own de
Tense Friday IN the trial which be
gan Thursday In Judge Smiths de
partment Of the superior court.
Difficulty was experienced Thurs
day In getting a jury.
To each Juror the deputy pros
ecuting attorney put the question
II II should be shown that this
woman killed the man because he
wronged her years ago. would you
feel that she was Justified"
More than half OF the Jurors eu
amlned were women. Most OF the
women and some OF the men re
piled. In effect, that n this were
shown. their symphthies would 20
out TO the defendant
The story OF the shooting and Of
the events that led no 10 It II
curiously morbid
According TO the story Mrs. Ii
liam told tho police. she first met
Borders in Butte. Mont. when she
was girl OF II She lH 30 now
Borders was. she said. the father
OF her first child. who died. An
other. also his. Was born. and then
Borders disappeared The second
child. now boy OF 10. is going q
school IN Seattle.
Didn't Tell OF Marriage
Borders drifted 10 Seattle and
married After many mlEadventureH
the woman also came to Seattle and
married. She and her husband sep.
arated
Last summer she and Borders
met again by chance. She forgayc
him for deserving her lie kept
from her the knowledge that he
was married. This knowledge came
10 her from another source They
quarreled Borders told her he
was through with her"
She pawned her watch for a re
volver and cartridges lie came
TO her again AZ the Byron hotel.
lie struck her. she Gays. and turned
away.
She leveled the revolver at him,
to Brighten him" then an YIN.
comfortable impulse seized her.
The memory OF an ancient wrong
burned her.
There was n sharp report. and
through a haze OF smoke she saw
the man she loved reel and fall life
cbs 10 the floor.
Mrs. Lillians defense will be that
she Was mentally irresponsible AT
the time OF the shooting.
Defendant Weeps
The state rested It's case at 10
o'clock Friday after Coroner Ma.
aon Dr Harvey OF the city hos
pital and Desk Sergeant Smith had
testified.
The defendant wept when Attor
nsy George u Tenant. associated
with Judge G r. Clnypool. outlined
what the defense would be
II developed that Mrs. Lillian
having had two children by Hor
ders. IL soon TO give birth TO a
third by the man she slew.
hFNa lA4llhu tFhhlAlfN III Nor WNU
behalf that her relations with Bor
ders began in boy.and-girl love
affair when she was high school
girl AZ Monticello. MINI Borders
persuaded her 10 elope with him "a
Fargo. ~. ID.
lie promised We would be mar
ried as soon as We reached Fargo.
tho defendant said. but when
there no put me off and put me Off
saying we were under age
A child was born More impor
tunities on her part that he marry
her. more cyasions on his Bor
ders disappeared before the second
child WAS born The first died. the
second lived, and will testify.
Mrs Lillian's father. hearing she
was abandoned and destitute
brought her To- his home in Ballard
IiroodinE over her trouble. he com
mi,ted suicide She was again
alone. with baby 10 support.
She went 10 Skagit county "a
work. and there met Lillian. who
married her. Borders second
child WAS born. and Lillian know
the baby WAS not his. lie went
away.
Then the chance meeting with
Borders az the Baden cafe. 10 years
after the old romance.