Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-03-08
Woman Charged With
Murder to Plead Self
Defense
MANY TESTIFY
Large Crowd Present at
Trial Case Probably
Will be Concluded Late
Tomorrow

Charging that Bernard A. Ehr
mantraut had broken up her
home by his enforced attentions
following her meeting with him
in a Washington Market, Mrs.
Elizabeth CordeS took the stand
in Corporation Court this after
non in her own defense during
the course of the trial for the
shooting and wounding him at
her home here, December 81,
which resulted in his death in
Washington January Is.
Mrs. Cordes said that when she
first became acquainted with Ehr
mantraut, he had borrowed mon
ey from her and that there had
followed many disputes and mis-
understandings.
She also said that he had had
several other affinities.
Mrs. CordeS was still on the
stand as The Gazette goes to
press.
The work of securing jury
occupied only half an hour and
the testimony was proceeded
with after the opening statement
to the court by the common
wealth's attorney.
The jury sitting in the case is
composed of the following: Cart
er II. Smith, Robert w. Schnei-
der. Fred f, Cornell, r. X. Clark
son. Boyd J. Richards, David n.
Hul6sh, Cameron Roberts, Will
mer Scott, Harry w. Wade, A.
NJ. Sherwood, William j. Schuler
Harry Fedder.
The first witness called was Pc
liceman Leo Magner whose testi-
mony was regarding the hole
made by the bullet in the wall at
the home of Mrs Cordes.
C-Pwith woiomdd mod ON do ON
Teddy Wailson, clored, of
Washington. testified that the
night of December 81, 1922,
Ehrmantaraut came to his home
in a taxicab and told witness ne
was shot. He had his hand to
his hip witness said. However,
Ehrmantraut only remand long
enough to telephone a woman
who came later and took him
away in a taXicab.
Lee Outlaw, colored, of Wash
ington. formerly employed as a
taxicab driver, testified that the
afternoon of December 81, 1922,
he brought Ehrmantraut to the
home of Mrs. Cordes, and he had
brought him to the same place
on previous occasions as often as
three or four times a week. He
left Washington with his charge
that afternoon about o'clock
and Ehrmantraut went in the
house by the back way. a man
being standing beside the front
door when they arrived at the
house. Witness said Ehrman-
traut told him if he did not come
out of the house in five minutes
to return toWaShington and he
did this. Later witness said that
he received a call from his COM
pany to return to Ale, or
Ehrmantraut. When cr-
cd he found Ehrmantr'
square and a half fro
des home and he was lI. .1D
bleeding. EhrmantraC, at
had been drinking, hav ssA.
drinks from a hal ro c.t
coming over in the nocr0s 0..
also on his return tri0 tt.,' .-
Sergt. Edward A. Kelly .c1 ID
having on January lo come
Alexandria at the Request ~ n
sector Grant and O. having 20 e
20 the home of Mr. CordeS n
Chief of Police c. 1 Gools. T.
ter questioning Mrs. C0ries he
said the woman tod HIM hhrmar
traut had broken uu her nome II
Washington and on Chr stma'
day Ehrmanraut came % ne
home and she tc'd witness tha'
she advised him - 20 home Il
his mother and it would h'
best to keep a, sro,u hey a
she expected I, e a reconcil
iation with her D5rf she hav
ing showed the to Ehrman
tarut. Further tifiet tina
Mrs. Fhrmam t1 hSm sh'
was i'll in be- v5s. .ae, tinG
Ehrmai traut ve Nsy Year
Eve and that b. aat-8.v undres
sed and got la r5 sri hat HI
was drinking ,s, sing anc
vary a oh,,eive -r. H.. Al,