Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-03-14
} THE GUILTY ONE,
lot Me- > SAYS GIRL
Badgered by Slaughter'S At
tOrneyS Girl Directly AC-
causes Minister

/ OrOville, Cal, Mar. l4.-Irembllng
and apparently on the verge of a break
down, Gertrude Lamson, Is years old,
began her fourth session on the witness
stand today in Rev. Madison Slaugh-
ter S trial on charge or attacking her.
Led by interrogations of the district at
torney, the girl described what the
prosecution claims Nvic attempts on
the part of defense supporters to make
her retract her allegations against the
pastor
She asserted defense attorneys visit
ed her frequently, urging her to say
the charges were false. AS a result of
their visits the prosecution says she
wrote two letters declaring all the ac-
cusatiOns were untrue. On the witness
stand the girl said she wrote these
notes under the impression that by so
doing she would save her mothers life
She had been told ner mother would
die if the letters were not written. The
missives, admitted Gertrude, were die
tated to her
While, she testified, Slaughter viewed
her steadfastly and listened eagerly to
every syllable. At times he gripped
the arms of his chair and glanced at
the clock.
Defense lawyers took voluminous
notes. preparatory to an attempt to i'm
peach the girls testimony.
One of the most dramatic moments
of the trial was when Gertrude bad
gered for hours by crOss-examina
tion of sharp questions from defense
/ lawyers, looked wearily toward Slaugh-
/ ter and made a direct accusation
against him. The defense had been en-
deavOring to show ner in some way
culpable. Turning toward the pastor
she said in a low voice:
"LoOk what that man has done He
is the guilty one, and not myself. "
The words produced a small sensa-
ton. Slaughter took tight hold on the
arms of his chair, but maintained his
composure. His daughters looked un-
concerned.
Rev Madison Slaughter, accused of
attacking Gertrude Lamson, aged Is
controlled her parents so they refused
to believe her story, according to tn
girls testimony in Slaughter's trial to-
/ day.
She declared her father at first be-
/ lieved all she said but later was won
| over to the other side and refused to
credit her assertions. In this cOnnec
tion Gertrude cried with cOnsiderab.
/ dramatic emphasis.
~ told him he must believe me, be-
cause what told him was the truth. -
Defense Counsel Kennedy instantly
complained that the girl was indulg-
ing in irregular dramatic poses under
the direction of the prosecution. Assist
ant District Attorney Davids hotly de
MED it. but Judge Gregory ruled out
her last statement.
Telling of a mock trial staged at her
home by defense attorneys so they
could practice. Gertrude Lamson. Is
years old, continued testifying this af-
ternoon in the trial of Rev Madison
Slaughter on a charge of attacking
her.
She said her mother suggested every
thing that went into her letter in
which she denied all her accusarlons
against the pastor
On the stand today the girl could not
define the words used in the affidavit
which she signed, saying the charges
were false.
She claimed her parents made efforts
to frighten her by the power of Guy r.
Kennedy, Slaughter attorney.
They were said to nave told her he
was "terrible man" who could get
anybody out Of trouble or put anybody