Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-11-23
MRS. DESAULLES
TO GO ON STAND
EARLY IN WEEK
Visitors to Courtroom Are
Carefully Scrutinized by
Special Officers
BY Associated Prcss

Mineola, n. Y, Nov. 23.-Through
Marshall Ward, dinner guest at the
De Saulles home the evening of Au-
Alst 3. last, when the former Yale
TTotball star was killed, the prosecu-
ton to-day in the trial of Mrs.
Blanca De Saulles for the murder of
her former husband. offered the first
eyewitness evidence of the shoot
ing.
The submission of testimony on
behalf of the prosecution was cX-
pected to be completed before the
close of the afternoon session, and
there was a possibility that Mrs. De
Saulles would begin her story of the
events on the night of the tragedy
before adjournment for the day.
IenrJ 4. ITterhart. of counsel for
the defense, has announced Mrs. De
Saulles will be the first witness in
her own behalf.
Indications to-day were the case
would not be given to the jury until
late next week. A mass of expert
testimony, which counsel for both
sides say will consume much time,
is yet to be heard. This will have
to do with the defense's claim that
Mrs. De Saulles was mentally ire
sponsible at the time of the shoot
ing.
Two court officers to-day scrutin-
lied persons seeking admission even
more closely than was the case yes
terday.
Since the opening of the trial, JUS
tice Manning has received threat
ening letters, ostenSibly from cranks.
One of these advised the justice to
prepare to meet thy God" in the
event of the jury returning YER
diet of guilty, it was stated.
Special officers met Justice Man
ming at the railroad station to-day
and escorted him to the courthouse.
Twice the number of persons the
courtroom could accommodate, prin-
cipally women, had gathered by the
time the trial was resumed.
Mr.. Uterhart said that he did not
wish to place the defendant on the
witness stand to-day on account of
his clients physical condition and
he did not wish to have Mrs. De
Saulles begin her testimony unless
she could tell her whole story with
out interruption. She will, there
fore. not take the witness stand un-
til Monday when the trial will be
resumed at the conclusion of to-
days session.
By Associated P"sw
Mineola, n. Y, Nov. 23.-When
Ward took the stand he told of 1
dinner at the De Saulles home, The
Box" near Westburs, Long Island,
the evening of the tragedy.
AS Mrs. De Saulles entered the liV-
ingroom of the home a few minutes
before the shooting, Ward testified,
De Saulles arose from a couch and
extending his hand, greeted her with
the words: How are you, Blan-
quita' This was a nickname De
Saulles frequently used in addressing
his wife.
Other questions brought from
Ward admissions that Mrs. De Saul
les made inquiry Immediately after
entering the room for little jack
lsr son.
She said she had come to take
the boy with her, Ward testified. A
conversation ensued, the witness con-
tinued, in which both parties con-
tended they were legally entitled to
custody of the boy during August.
ard said he heard De Saulles make
positive refusal to yield custody of
the youngster whereupon, he de-
clared. Mrs. De Saulles said: Then
there is only one thing to do"
Then l saw the flash of the shots
from Mrs. De Saulles' revolver" said
the witness.
LAS soon as could collect myself
7 rushed over to Mrs. De Saulles and
grasped her arm. She said: 1t had
to be done.
Mrs. Caroline Degener, a sister
of De Saulles, who was at her broth
cr's home when the shooting occur
red. testified that Mrs. De Saulles
said she wished to speak with her
husband, when she entered the
home.
This was in contradiction with the
testimony OF other witnesses who de-
clared the defendants first inquiry
on entering the home was about her
son.
Major Arthur 3. DeSaulles, of
South Bethlehem, Pa, father of the
slain man, testified Mrs. De Saulles
said, there, take that" as she fired
the revolver shots. A controversy
over possession of the boy had i'm
mediately preceded this remark, he