The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-26
State Seeks TO Prove First Decree Murder i'm Cat0r Tragedy

a statement. by Mr.. Handlan that nurses
interfered and prevented the early re-
moval from the hospital Of Mrs. Clator.
Mr.. Mckee said he had requested a
capias after Mrs. Clator was indicted.
but that he had instructed the sheriff
not to remove her to jail until her doc
tor said that she was fit to 80 to Jail.
Mr. Handlan and Mr.. Mckee argued
at length and. Mr. .Handlan expressed
anger because he had to so upstairs in
the jail and confer with Mrs Clator in
the presence Of other women since she
was too weak 10 come down to confer
with him in the private conference
room.
woman's Story VIII vindieats Her.
In closing, Mr. Handlan said to the
Jury: Gentlemen, before this case has
gone very far you will wonder why you
were ever called to try it. After this
woman tells her story as best she can
in her condition We will all wonder why
she is here"
Mr.. Mckee, in addressing the jury.
said that great conflict in testimony
had developed and urged the jurors not
to reach conclusions until they have
heard all the testimony from the wit
ness stand.
He said that the state had not been
inhuman in its treatment Of Mrs. Ga
tor, and that under the law the woman
could have been walked straight to Jail
on the day Of her crime, and that tue
sheriff took a chance on her escape or
suicide when he permitted her to 40 TO
a hospital. Mr.. Mckee said the de-
Tense had demanded an early ana
speedy trial and he had granted their
request.
When court reconvened for the after
noon session Mrs. Clator appeared ter
ribly affected by the memories Of her
visit Of two hours earlier TO the scene
of her crime She was paler and seemed
weaker than since the beginning Of the
trial.
The lists of witnesses for state and
defense were called and Prosecutor
Mckee asked for rules for witnesses
who failed 10 answer, to their names.
Prosecutor Mckee opened the case for
the state.
First witness Called
Edward Bachman was the states first
witness. He told of going to the Clator
home and of removing John Gators
body TO the Mcndel morguc. The wit
ness identified blood soaked! clothing
shown to him as those Of the slain
man.
These were Offered in evidence Wit
ness told of the autopsy. lie was not
examined by the defense.
DR.. Carl Ulfert was next called. Dr.
Ulfcrt told of performing the autopsy
on John Gators body with DR.. J. T.
Marschncr as County Surgeons. DR.. Cl-
fert described the cuts on Clator 8 neck,
face and shoulder and the fatal outlet
wound over his breast that severed the
aorta.
DR.. Ulfert said bullet wound such
as VS. described would cause death n
80 seconds to one minute. He said CA
tor could not walk after having been
shot.
The doctor identified the bullet re-
moved from Gators body: .: DR.. Ulfert
nointcd out the bullet wound and cuts
in Gators shirt and undershirt.
On cross examination by Mr.. Hand|an.
DR.. Ulfcrt was reminded Of the shooting
of officer John Nolte by Albert Altman.
Nolte was shot through the heart and
walked fifty feet aftcrward.; The doctor
said there are exceptions to ALL rules.
The doctor said he would not undertake
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