New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-12-01
ACCUSED May KNOW
FATE BY tonight
Mrs. DeSaunes' Tri(l Rapidly
Drawing to a Finish
PRESENTED TO QUEEN MARY

She Never Saw Mrs. DeSaulles Cry
While With Her Husband, But Tells
of Several Theatrical Parties.
A[ineoia, Dec. Tho testimony of
medica: experts called by the prose-
oution to rcfute the claim Of the de-
tense that Mrs. Blanca DeSaulles was
mentally irresponsible on the night Of
August 8 when she killed her husband
and for several days thereafter, was
expected to take up the entire time
CT today's session of Mrs. DeSaulles'
trial
One OF these experts Major Lewis
Gregory Cole, ny declaring yesterday
that the X-ray photograph of the
defendants skull showed it to be a
perfectly normal one, indicated the
line Of attack of the prosecution in its
effort to break down the contentious
on which Mrs. DeSaulles bases her
plea for acquittal.
A hypothetical question said to be
the defense, is being prepared by Dis
trict Attorney Weeks and alienists for
the state probably will testify today
or Monday.
d When the defense rested its case
yesterday afternoon the prosecution
recalled Mrs. Caroline Degener, the
sister of John L. DeSaulles and
, Leonard Thorne the constable who
made the arrest, in company, with
Sheriff Phineas Seaman. Each OF
these witnesses testified that the acts
Of Mrs. DeSaulles impressed them as
being rational.
The possibility of the case being
submitted to the jury some time this
evening or tonight seemed heightened
by statement of Justice Manning
just prior to the opening of court to-
day. He said If 1t seemed warranted
he would continue today's sessions
well into the night in an endeavor to
finish the trial.
There was an additional addition
that today would mark the, case OF
the case In a suggestion District At |
torney Weeks stated he would make !
sto the court in order to conclude the
taking ,of the expert testimony.
IF the court will permit it, I, will |
omit the reading of the first part o.
Attorney, Uterhart's Hypothetical!
question as our experts all heard it
recited in court yesterday" said
Weeks. IT will ask them to assume
the story Of Mrs. DeSaulles' life up
to the date Of the tragedy to be true
as told in this part of the question
put yesterday. The story Of the
tragedy incorporated in our question,
however, will be based on facts as
given by our witnesses. Our ques-
ton will not put it up to our alien-
lists to say whether, in their opinion,
the defendant was mentally sound
when she fired the revolver shots. They
will! merely be asked to say whether
they think she knew the nature and
the quality Of the act and that it was
wrong
) Weeks said he would require an
hour and a half in summing up.
Uterhart said he could finish the sum-
ming up for the defense in two
hours. Justice Manning's charge to
the jury is expected to take an addi-
tional two hours.
Walter R. Jones, the Justice Of the
. peace who presided at Mrs. DeSaulles'
preliminary hearing, was the first wit
ness recalled to the stand today.
Attorney Weeks drew from Jones
Mrs. DeSaulles following the shooting
gave him the impression that she was
rational
In answer to question from At
torney Uterhart however. Jones added
led that her calm manner, 1.-The un-
usual circumstances greatly surprised
him.
George H. Hoffman, keeper of the
Mineola Jail, reiterated Jones' opin-
ion regarding Mrs. DeSaulles' sanity
Of action and conversation during her
imprisonment.
Mrs. Anna Mooney, the nurse whom
= Iohn L. DeSaulles, Jr. called Boobie,
was the next witness. She told of
Mrs. DeSaulles' presentation to King
George and Queen Mary during a.
visit to England in 1914, an airplane
fight which the defendant took while
there, numerous shopping excursions
on which the witness said her mistress
) bought extravagantly and other de-
that her calm manner despite "the un-
of life during the time she was en-
ployed by the family.
This evidence was evidently intend
ed by the prosecution to offset that
given by other witnesses who said
DeSaulles neglected his wife while
they were touring in England.
Mrs. Mooney, according to the wit
nesses who have. testified in behalf Of
the defense, was the nurse retained
by DeSaulles through whom he is al
legged to have tried to ALLEVIATE his SON. s
affections from his mother.
Regarding the automobile accident
during a visit to Chile In which Mrs.
DeSaulles claims she sustained seri-
GUS injuries to her head, Mrs. Mooney
& said doctor took three stitches" In
Mrs. DeSaulles chin following the ac-
cident and that her nistr ress attended