New-York tribune., 1920-09-03
Wife Accused
AS Murderess
Near Collapse
Arraigned on, Fourteenth
w e d ding Anniversary
Mrs. Mott Has To Be Car
ried From Court Room
Identifies the Weapons
Wade, Confessed Slayer,
Rushes to the Aid of
Painting Woman Friend
Special Dispatch to The Tribune

SpcCt0I Ot6pGfCn TO IH0 tribune
BRIDGEPORT. Conn.,, Sept. Mrs.
Ethel Hutchins Mott. who is accused
with Elwood B. Wade and John E.
Johnston Of numbering her husband,
George E. Mott. and stufing his body
into trunk, was led into City Court
to-day, the fourteenth anniversary of
her marriage, for arraignment on
charge of murder in the first degree, an
offense which is punishable by hanfAng
in this state.
The woman was almost in state of
collapse and sank into I. chair, trem-
bling and pallid. In moment Wade,
the young milk peddler who is said to
have struck the first blow at Mott, was
at her side, bending over her until his
lips brushed her face.
"Here, get back!" commanded De-
tective Derrick, thrusting the young
man aside in the. belief that he was
kissing the woman whose husband he
has confessed he killed.
Mrs. Mott, to whom Wade is thought
into hystcricaf sobs and was carried
out Of the. courtroom. Later she was
rearraigned before Coroner John j.
Phelan. She testified that she had
known Wade about year and that he
and Johnston were at her home Sun
day, the day her husband was killed.
Coroner Phelan drew thin-bladed,
keen-edged knife from his table draw
er. 1t was the knife Wade says Mrs
Mott handed him while he was beating
Mott over the head with q length Of
pipe, telling him to "stop his holler-
ing" Mrs. Mott shivered as the blade
glinted in the sunshine, and closed her
eyes as the coroner extended it to her,
asking whether she ever had seen the
weapon, before.
She whispered that she had; that the
last time she had seen it the knife was
lying on the ice chest in her home.
Coroner Phelan asked no more ques-
tions about the knife, but produced, in
turn, the revolver which Mott had
bought and WHICH his wife had
given to Wade and the hatchct thet
Wade carried on the morning of the
murder "to protect himself" both of
which Mrs. Mott identified.
Wade to Plead Insanity
Almost fainting again after this or
deal, the woman was led back to her
cell. On advice of her counsel she de-
clined to testify concerning .he cir
cumstanccs under which her husband
met his death. Wade, who is expected
to plead insanity as a defense, has
made complete statement to the po-
lice. transcript Of which was entered
in the record at the hearing to-day.
"'You said you'd get me. but Pm
going to get you FIRST" Wade said
he told the man he had resolved to
kill continuing:
II thought he would get me first, for
he hit me several hard blows. We
struggled there on the second floor, and
then Mott slipped down the stairs lead
ing to the street. He was tough one
to finish; thought he had nine lives.
l laid him low with the pipe, shot him
on the stairway and finished him off at
the foot of the stairs.
Make him stop hollering!' Mrs.
Mott cried to me. Get me a knife and
I'll make the - keep still!' cried
out to her. She ran and got the knife
and stabbed him time and again. He
finally lay still at the foot of the
stairs, and we brought down the trunk
and put him in it,"