Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-05-06
TRIED TO BR|BE ME-,
SAYS CARMAN MAID
Celia Coleman Throws Bomb
Shell Into the Defense at the
Murder Trial Today.
OFFERED $500, SHE SAYS
Mrs. Carman, Friends and
Lawyers Get Shock from
Testimony of Negro Maid.
OFFERED $500, SHE SAYS
Special bp United Press Wire.


Mineola, l.. l., May 6:-Celia Cole
man threw bomb shell in the de-
fense's camp at the Carman trial
here shortly before noon today when
she swore on redirect examination
that an attempt had been made to
bribe her. A man named Hicks, for
merly a Burns detective, visited her
at Charleston and offered her $500 If
, she would change her testimony in
the second trial, she swore.
The sworn statement of the negro
maid caused the beautiful defendant
to pale until her face was as white
as chalk. Her husband, sister, faith
er and a daughter sat with blanched
faces seemingly stunned and bewil-
dered Attorney Levy, the chief
counsel appeared thunder struck
with the testimony. He whispered
with a colleague before cross ques-
tioning the maid The charge was
only one OF the blows suffered by the
defense Another was dealt by
George Toomey, the Coleman girls
cousin He testified two days af-
ter the murder. Celia called on him
/ and told him what she later testified
on the witness stand of her seeing
Mrs. Carman coming into the kitchen
and carrying a revolver, exclaiming
I've shot him." The testimony was
held by the state to prove that the
girl was telling the truth at the muir
der trial and that she was prompted
| in her testimony at the coroner's in
quest. Toomey was on the stand
| being cross examined when court
adjourned for luncheon.
| Miss Coleman's charge of bribery
came after an hours grilling on the
stand by Attorney Levy. Mrs. Car
rlans attorney had been trying to
shake the maids story of events that
happened right after Mrs. Bailey was
shot, but had failed.
The girl told the same story, even to
| quoting Mrs Carman, that she told at
the first trial. In brief, it is that Celia
was In the kitchen the evening of the
murder when In came Mrs. Carman,
clad in lilac kfmono, with shawl
/ around her shoulders She kept her
hands under the shawl and ordered
Elizabeth to "stand back" Then she
went out the Kitchen door. Soon there
came the sounds of crashing glass and
a revolver shot; then Mrs. Carman re-
entered the kitchen by the rear door.
IT shot him." she said.
! The other strong point was that
when Mrs Carman entered the kitch-
| en- after the shot had been fired she
showed the girl revolver.
Mrs. May l. Black and her daughter
Ruth were two surprises furnished by
the prosecution, the only surprises af-
| forded so far. Mrs. Black and her
| family occupied the house to the west
| of the Carman residence last June.
| Her testimony may turn out to be Vt
| as much value to the defense as to the
prosecution, for she said that imma-
| diate1y after the shot she looked to
ward the Carman lawn and saw man
! walking toward the front of the Car
man house She could not describe
! this man closely. The state will con-
| tend that it was George Colder or
Frank Farrell, the tramp witness of
the first trial, but Levy Will try to
show that 1t was Rudolph Loew, who
| testified for Mrs. Carman at the first
| trial. Ruth Black corroborated her
| mother.