New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-06
Pushed Lay Figure to
Drop as Did Ballou,
Says Coroner.
TEST HEARD IN ROOM
THROUGH PARTITION
Bloody Footprints on Stairs and
in Apartment Described at
Murder Trial.
Bv EMMA BUGBEE.


Bridgeport. March 5.-The first
three days of the trial of Mrs. Helen
VI. Angle have developed the informa-
ton that Waldo K. Bsllou met his
death from a compound fracture OF
the skull. and that there were blood
stains leading to Mrs. Angles apart
ment on the morning after he died
Not a word has beer said about the
actions Of the dead man or the woman
who is accused Of having caused his
death
District Attorney Cummings is re-
sponsible for the cold, scientific pre-
cision with which the case is being
6eveloped In this. however, he rs be-
ing met point by point By Jacob Klein,
attorney for the defence.
To-day Mr.. Cummings took an hour
and a half 20 present plans OF the
building where Mrs. Angle lived. MY.
Klein occupied the afternoon in cross
examining Harold A. Parsons as TO the
exact measurements of the bloody
footprints which led from the spot
where Mr.. Ballous body was found to
Mrs. Angles apartment.
Testimony Wearies Woman.
Visitors who crowded the court
Yoom expecting 70 hear the story OF
the fatal night were RECALLED with the
dimensions Of an isometric diagram
OF the building These have an I'M
portant mathematical bearing on the
case. Their most obvious result, how
ever. is the wearying effect on Mrs
Angle. l.,
+be accused woman walked YEARLY
down the street. her face gray ana
drawn. Three days Of sitting IN
stuFv courtroom listening to the
wrancling of the attorneys have evi-
IDENTIFY been very hard for her.
Yes. I'm very tired" she said, but
] suppose il IL all necessary
The most important evidence OF the
dav was the statement Of Coroner John
! Phelan that dummy falling down
tho stairs i'm the Rippowam building
did not fall all the way to the bottom
but mt part way down.
When the dummy was pushed from
the head Of the stairs il dropped clear
10 the cement tagging on the landing
where Mr.. Ballou fractured his skull:
The dummy was the size and weight OF
the dead man.
Coroner Phelan and several assist
ants experimental with this dummy
for two purposes-to ascertain If It
would fall all the way TO the bottom
Of the fourteen stairs, and if the sound
Of lis falling could be heard in the
room Of Patrick Rabbit, on the other
side cf the partition.
Dummy Tests Made.
Owe look the dummy to the top step
and let ii fall said Mr. Phelan. at
struck four steps above the landing.
When they took il back 10 the top and
pushed IL il struck about the place
whore Rabbit said he heard the sound.
''l was i'm Rabbits room. The noise
Of the impact could be heard plainly.
then stood in Rabbits room and
the others called TO me from the top
Of the stairs. could hear the sound
Of voices, but ! could not distinguish
the words
Mr.. Phelan testified he did not re-
member what words were used. Upon
redirect examination. Mr.. Cummings
suggested that they might have been,
Jimmie. Jimmie, what's the matter?
Phelan said that he now remembered
those were the words.
The words caused a smile in the
courtroom, but few realized their sig
nifcauCc.
In Mrs. Angles first story She de-
cIared she went to the head of the
stairs when she heard the sound Of
Mr.. Ballous fall and cried, Jimmie
Jimmie. what's the natter
The repetition Of the pet name OF
her dead admirer did not bring even
shudder 10 Mrs. Angles stolid
shoulders Yesterday. She receives all
evidence. no matter how stirring 1t
must be to her memory, with the same
wooden composure.
Footprints Cause Quiz.
The afternoon was devoted to a
rross-examination of Mr.. Parsons, who
drew the diagram Of the blood stained
rooms and stairs Of the Eppowam
Building.
Mr.. Klein went into the measure
mcnts Of the barefoot marks with
supcrscicntihc management. The length
o. .he stain from the end Of the big
toe TO the heel, OF the mark at the
southwest corner Of the vestibule was
nine and fye-cighth inches. The same
distance on the footmark in Mrs
Angles front room was nine and three
eighth inches.
nm inch, ISN'T it," Mr.. Klein de
manded. ignoring the very audible
laughter Of Mr.. Cummings.
We're these marks made by the
same left foot >"
o.! don't know" said the witness.
well. You don't assume, do you,
that there we're two barefOoted people
walking around that room ~
Nr. Cummings objected to this, but
Judge Williams permitted the quiz TO
continue.
The state has several more wit
nesses 20 introduce when court opens
ngain Tuesday. 80 1t is doubtful II
The defence will begin before Wedncs-
day or Thursday.
Mrs. Angle a Samaritan,
An incident which occurred at noon
set every one about 'he courthou
naryelling at Mrs. Angles calmness.
In spite OF the fact that she is on tri
ror manslaughtcr, she went out OF her
yav to offer pills to young man with
headache. lie was lying IN the
Cberif's room when Mrs. Angle came
IN 10 get her cloak
VIVA, is the trouble? Can help
vou?" she asked lie confessed TO the
SICK headache. ~ have some ammonia
~ n HNEx 4Oth Street and