Evening star., 1933-01-07
STARTS
IN TRIPLE Staying
Survivors of Family Attacked
by Donaldson to Give
Story.

Presentation of evidence against
Charles C. Donaldson, 4S-year- -old night
fireman at police headquarters, who is
alleged to have shot and killed his
brother and the latter's son and daugh-
ter, was begun today at an inquest into
the three deaths
With three other inquests scheduled,
the morgue was thronged with witnesses,
newspaper representatives and the curl
Gus when Acting Coroner A, Magruder
Macdonald opened the inquiry.
The witnesses, under questioning by
both Dr. Macdonald and Deputy Coro-
ner Christopher ]. Murphy. were ex-
pected to tell the jury how Silas o.
Donaldson, Az George Donaldson, 10,
and Mary Donaldson, IA, were slain.
Charles Donaldson IS alleged to have
killed the three Thursday night during
a drunken rage in their home, 923
Maryland avenue southwest.
Survivors to Testify.
Among those expected to be called
to the stand were the dead mans
widow, Mrs. Agnes T. Donaldson, and
two of her children, Luttrell. II, and
Allen, 8, who narrowly escaped being
shot.
Charles Donaldson, who, when grilled
for more than two hours at headquar-
tiers yesterday, refused to make a de-
tailed statement regarding the killings,
was not expected to take the stand.
According to Detective Sergt. John C.
Dalglish, however, he told members of
the homicide squad, while being ques-
toned yesterday, that he hoped he
would be either electrocuted or hanged"
for the crimes.
The police version of the shootings,
based on the statements Of Mrs. Don
aldson, Luttrell and Allen, was as fol-
lows:
Charles Donaldson, with a gun in
each hand, went to Mary's bed room,
at the front of the second floor. The
rest of the household was awakened by
the girls screams, as she leaped from
bed and ran to the rear bed room,
occupied by George, Luttrell and Allen.
With her uncle close behind her, she
slammed and locked the door, then
climbed into bed with her brothers. A
moment later, her uncle threw his body
against the door, breaking it open.
Mumbling to himself, he stood in the
doorway for a few moments, then
turned and staggered out.
George rose and locked the door for
a second time He had hardly slipped
the bolt into place, however, when his
uncle broke open the door again, and
shouted:
If you're going TO move, you'd bet
ter do it now! AS for you"-and he
turned toward Mary. who cringed on
the bed-"you're going to die!"
Defender Shot Down.
George stepped forward. and his
uncle shot him down, then leveled one
of the guns at Mary, sending a bullet
into her abdomen. Another shot was
fired as Allen ducked behind the bed
and Luttrell climbed through an open
window, slid down the sloping roof of
a one-story shed and dropped to the
ground. Barefoot and clad only in his
night clothing, Luttren ran to the home
of neighbor.
Meanwhile, Allen, from his hiding
place behind the bed, saw his uncle
stoop and kiss Mary, who lay still on
the bed.
Awakened by the shots, Mrs. Donald
son, who had been asleep on the first
floor. started up the stairs Half way
up she met her brother-in-law, the
guns still in his hands Her husband,
who had been citing beside her bed,
trimming a corn with a penknife, was
close behind her.
She screamed, and her brother-in-
law demanded to know what "all the
was about. Then, catching
a glimpse of the knife in his brothers
hand, he fired once more, and his
brother, bullet hole through his head,
tumbled down the steps.
Charles Donaldson, according to
members Of the family, was fond Of his
niece, often buying her clothes. Re-
Gently, however, he burned her clothing
to prevent her going out with boys.
Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Donaldson told
him she was going to move as soon as
her husband, a Water Department en-
ploye. drew his next pay.
Silas Donaldson and his two children
will go to their graves together Mon
day morning. Burial-in Mount Oil
vet Cemetery-wil follow a requiem
mass at $3.50 o'clock in st. Dorninick's
Church, The bodies, meanwhile. are
in the P. A. Taltavul funeral home, ass
Seventh street southwest.