Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-25
YOUNG WIFE DEFENDS
ASHBRDGE, CONFESSED
CHORUS GIRL s SLAYER
Testifies in Trial at Camden
That Father of Dead Woman,
Her Rival, Had Threat
ened Her Husband
sELF-DEFENsE THE PLEA

Mrs. Marion Ashbridge. young wife Of
Wilson Ashbridge, today took the witness
stand In defense Of her husband. who is on
trial before Supreme Court Justice Gar
rison In Camden for the murder OF Eliza
beth Dunbar a chorus girl, and the alleged
rival OF Mrs Ashbridge In her husbands
affections
Mrs. AshbrIdEe withstood the ordeal well
and her testimony, in the opinion OF per
sons In the crowded courtroom, materially
aided her husband. She betrayed some ner-
vousness at the outset. but steadily gazed at
the prisoner. who sat beside his counsel
Assembiyman Charles A. Wolverton
once Ashbridge looked at his wife, then
dropped his eyes Mrs. Ashbridge told her
story with directness and frankness and
corroborated the argument OF self.defense
that earlier In the day had been outlined
as the prisoners plea to Justify the shoot
ing.
ALLEGED THREATS
According 20 Mrs. Ashbridge, Charles
Dunbar, father OF the young woman, called
at her home early in the fall and asked
to see her husband, who was living with her
at the time. Ashbridge was not at home.
ats lucky for him he isn't here. II he
was I'd have got him" Mrs. Ashbridge
testified, was Dunbars comment When her
husband returned. she told him OF Dunbars
visit Ashbridge replied, 81 have had moth
ing to do with the girl ] will go and tell
him 30 now"
Mrs. Ashbridge said she and her husband
went TO the house of Mrs. Meredith, a
lived. There her husband repeated his dis
avowal Of any wrong in his conduct to-
ward the chorus girl.
In the presence of herself and Mrs
Meredith the witness said, Dunbar re-
marked, I'm n night watchman and carry
a gun. It's lucky he makes this plain, for
ia have fixed him. I'd have fixed him this
morning II had seen him at the house"
Dunbar then showed the party revolver
which was lying on couch In another
room
Prior to the testimony OF Mrs. Ashbridge
Assemblyman Wolverton opened the defense
by discaiming any intention TO show in
sanity. He said he would attempt TO prove
the shooting was the result OF impulse and
neither premeditated nor wilful as charged
I'm the indictment.
RELATIONS WITH GIRL
Ashbridge and his wife, who had been
married two years, had separated at times
because of his acquaintance with Elizabeth
Dunbar, whom he met from time to time.
When told by Ashbridge that he was mar
ried, the young woman went to the wife
and promised TO leave Ashbrldge, although
their acquaintance continued
On the day before the shooting, counsel
said the elder Dunbar had threatened 10
shoot Ashbridge although Mrs. Ashbrldge
had gone to Dunbar and had explained that
there was nothing wrong in her husband q
relations with the girl. The father was not
satisfied and again produced q revolver
and threatened TO shoot Ashbridge. on the
night OF the murder the attorney argued
Ashbridge had arranged to escort the girl
to her fathers home.
Because of the threats, and fearing ar
encounter with the elder Dunbar he pur-
chased and carried a revolver to protect
| himself. As he left the girl at the car
| Ashbridge contends, her father again ac
| cused him OF improper conduct. An argu
ment ensued and Ashbridge drew his re
| volver He did not intend to kill the girl
| but to protect his own life, fearing the
| father also was armed and would shoot
How the woman was shot he could moi
| explain.