* , > "tfrv. ! ?
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : WEDNESDAY ; MARCH 10 , 1887.
I "HO" OR "I DON'T ' REMEMBER"
t ,
I , Apparent Avenues of Escape For John
Laucr , the
HE TRIES TO USE THEM BOTH ,
But Is Qlillo 1-JITrctuatly " llcnclcil
Off" Cowln's ItiKld Cross lOxnin-
[ f Inntlon Latter Denounces Mrs.
I3cll as a 1'crjiircr.
The Iiaticr Trlnl.
It was nearly a quarter of 10 o'clock
when Judge Neville opened court yester
day morning. Laucr was already sitting
in Ins usual place by his counsel. Miss
Lauer occupied a scat directly back of
Ju/lize Savage. The crowd in the lobby
outside the railing was larger than on
any morning previous. Many wcro
standing up.
John Lauer , the defendant , was the
first witness , and was immediately sub
jected to Iho cross-examination of Gen
eral Cowin. Ills answers wcro made In a
low tone , and General Cowin frequently
had lo suggest to him lo speak up.
THE CUOSS-KXAJIINATION.
"Was your engagement broken off at
that time ? " asked General Cowin.
[ Objected to as an improper cross-ox-
animation and not concerning any other
mailer drawn oul in chief , and calling
for evidence lending lo make out the ease
of the prosecution in chief. Overruled.
Defendant except . ]
"I did not consider it so at that timo. "
"Did she ask you that it bo broken off
before the marriage. "
Objected to all queslions upon cross-
examination , calling or asking for testi
mony concerning transactions between
the defendant and his deceased wife
upon any other time , or at any other
place than the occasions to which ho has
testified on his examination in chief , for
the reason thai Iho same is an improper
cross-oxaminalion , and is a part of an ef
fort by the prosecution to secure from
this witness for the defense , testimony
tending to support its case in chief , and
for the further reason that all such testi
mony , showing previous trouble belwccn
the defondont and his deceased wife is
too remote , irrelevant and immaterial.
Overruled. Defendant cxcepts.
The defendant asks that this objection
be considered as interposed to each
question calling for this class of tcsii-
, mony and an exception.
The court " ! will say to counsel that
where mailers are to bn objected to I
would like to have it objected to when
the question is put ; ns I might be misled
in considering the question carefully. "
Lauer then answered :
"No , sir. "
"She didn't say anything to you about
"No , sir ; she did not ask that it bo
broken off. "
"Didn't she say anything to you about
breaking it off ? "
"No. sir. "
"Didn't she it had
say better be broken
off ? "
"No , sir. "
"You wore with respect to her a ralhcr
jealous disposition , were you nol ? "
[ Objected the same as last aforesaid ;
overruled , defendant oxcopts. ]
" 1 think it is likely that at that time
and possibly a lilllo laler lhal my feel
ings tended that way. "
"And sometimes you got very indig-
nam at her , did you not ? "
"I became angry at times. "
"You were very quick to get angry
with respect to her , wore you not ? "
"I do not know that 1 am any quicker
to anger on these occasions than 1 would
be on any other where that feeling would
bo brought forth. "
"Wereyou not quicker to anger against
your wife , or against Sallie Lauor or Sal
lie ( iootschius , before your marriage ? "
"Well , I was. "
"And sometimes used rather hard lan
guage towards her , did you not ? "
THE TORN DRESS.
"That is the only reason that I know
of. "
"After you wcro married I believe yon
went up to the Dougherty house lo live ,
did you not ? "
"Yes , sir. "
"How long did you live there ? "
"About four months ; possibly three. "
"It was all pleasant during all the time
that you lived theroV"
"There was sonic difficulty. "
"Do you remember one limo when
your wife came in wearing a Mother
Hubburd there nt the Dougherty house ? "
"My wife did wear a Mother llublwrd. "
"Did you take it off'from her one day ? "
"No " sir. "
"Did" yon tear it off from her ? "
"No * sir. "
"Did you tear the dress11
"I dirt. "
"Did you strike her11
'No. sir. "
"Did not abuse her ? "
HI : DIDN'T ACCUSE HER.
"I don't know ns to the harsh Ian-
gunge ; I know there were sometimes
words between us and they wore not
confined to one person , they were ou
both Hides. "
"You accused her before marriage of
bem intimate with some one , did you
"No , sir. "
"You never said anything of the
kind ? "
"I never accused my wife either before
or after marriage of any infidelity , of
.any unchaste conduct of any kind. "
r "You staled lo her just bcforo marriage
ago , did you not , that she was intimate
with somebody ? "
"I did not. "
"You had no such eonversalion as that
with Mrs. Gootsehius ? "
"I never did. "
"Anything about anything of that
character11
"Not a word.11
"Sho didn't say to you , 'Is that what
gave you my child for to accuse her in
that way1"
"I am positive lhal she did not use that
language nt all. "
"Did she say to you , 'Don't you think
Sallie is a virtuous girl ? '
"Sho did not. "
THE SEPARATION.
"Did she say to you I would rather see
my child in a coflin than to put on the
bridal veil to you ? "
"She did not. "
"Nothing of that kind ? "
"Sho diiPuot.11
' At the time that you separated and
wont away from her , 1 boliovo. "
"Idld. "
"After that separation how long was it
before you wont away ? "
"About ton raonlhs. "
"Aflor the separation ? "
"Aftertho marriage. "
"How long after the separation bcforo
you went away ? "
"iieforo I loft there ; I think it was
about three days. "
"You left then ou account of a lilllo excitement -
citomont about the dilllculty , did you
not ? "
"No , sir , I did not leave on account of
Ibe excitement , "
"Or on account of the comments thai
wore made on account of your conduct ?
Oh , nothing of that kind ? "
"No , slr.r'
"You knew there wcro such com-
aents ? "
"Idld.11 , ,
"You saw the account ? In the paper
about it ? "
A PARTIAL ADMISSION.
! 'No , sir. " _ ,
'You dldn1 ! say jm unkind word to
"i don't recollect of uuy uuklud word , "
"You just got out of bed and took the
dress and tore it ? "
" 1 objected to the style of dress at that
times 1 didn't like it. "
"That was the .only occasion that
brought the action ? "
"That was the motive , "
"And vote didn't say an unkind word
to her ? ' '
I don't recollect ; I may hayc , but'l
don't recollect of any. "
"You didn't strike her ? "
"No , sir. "
"Tho fact is , you never struck her in
your life , did yon ? "
"I cannot say that 1 have not. "
"You couldn't say that you cvcrstru ck
her in you life ? "
"I can't say that I have not. "
"You can't say that you have not ? "
"No. sir. "
"Did you leave her that morning you
tore up tiic Mother Hubburd dross cry
ing ? "
"My Impression is that I did not. "
"Did site cry that morning ? " *
" 1 wasn't present to sec. "
"Did you see horcryingthat morning ? "
"I did not see her crying that morn
ing. "
"Did you strike her with a pistol ? "
"I did not. "
"Do you remember one day that she
had a bruise across her nose ? "
"No , sir ; I don't reeolleet'of that. "
"No recollection of anything like
that ? "
"No sir. "
"What did you strike her with ? "
Mr. Savage "I will call the attention of
the court to remark of the state's attorney
in regard to delaying the examination in
order to give the witness time to answer
and wish to take an oxcfptihn on it. "
Mr. Cowin "If the shoe fits you
take it and wear it. It didn't make a
swelling or embrasure across the bridge
of tin ) nose , did it ? "
"No , sir.1 '
"You never saw her then at the
D ougherty house with her nose injured
with the skin broken and swollen or
black and blue on either side ? "
"Not on the nosi1. "
"What did you ship her for ? "
"We had had company that evening
n gentleman and his wife , and two or
three oilier ccntlcmnn I think were
present , and I got angry at some little
familiarity that I thought at the time was
not proper ; I fell ungcrcd at seine little
familiarity ; it wasn't anything serious ;
it was perfectly proper , looking nt it
afterwards. "
"Was it after they wcntaway ? "
"Yes , sir. "
"That you blackened her eye ? "
"It ' . It
wasn't blackened the next day.
was discolored slightly , possibly u day or
two afterwards. "
TICK BLACK nVK.
"Do you remember her there during
that time with two black eyes ? "
"No , sir. "
"Did you take her out riding witli a
veil over her face and keep her out up till
evening so people wouldn't sco her at the
house ? "
" 1 did not. "
"Will you swear that you didn't ? "
"I will. "
"You didn't take her out riding with a
veil over her face so anyone wouldn't see
her black eyes ? "
"No. sir. "
"Did you hayo a revolver at this
mite ? "
"I did. "
"Where did yon keep it ? "
" 1 kept it under my pillow at night. "
"Did you strike her with it ? "
"I never did. "
"Did you strike her across the ondgn
of the nose and say , 'Damn you , I wish I
had killed yon ? ' "
"No , sir ; I did not. "
"Do you know that your wifn told Mrs.
Her about that ? "
"I did not. "
"Do you know that she told her mother
about that ? "
THE HEVOLVKK EPISODE.
"I do not. "
"Never heafd of that ? "
"I do know it now. "
"You don't know that there was an ac
count of it in the "paper ? "
" 1 do not. "
"Never heard of it before ? "
" 1 hayo heard it before ; 1 have heard it
in my case. "
"You never heard it until you heard
ttio evidence in this case ? "
"That is the first I heard of it. "
"Yes sir. "
"Of striking her with a pistol ? "
"Yes. sir. "
"Never heard it rumored at the time
of the separation ? "
"I didn't , "
"Did you have a great many friends
visit yon ? "
"My wife's friends used to como there
occasionally. "
"Did you have Mr. Williams there at
thanks givine dinner ? "
"Not that 1 remember. "
"You don't recollect that you did ? "
"No. sir. "
"Did you have him there at any thanks
giving dinner ? "
"Not that I know at present. Mr.
Williams has called at the housn. "
"Do you remember after dinner of
hitching up and taking him homo ? "
"No. "
"Do yon remember of sitting down on
the lounge and your wife sitting between
Mr. Williams and yourself ? "
"Ican't say that I recollect that. "
"And you got up and hitched your horse
and took Mr. Williams homo. Do you
remember that ? "
"I do not. "
"Anil Ihon'coniing back and abusing
your wife for having talked to Mr. Wil
liams ? "
"I don't recollect that. "
"And struck her ? "
"No. sir. "
"Nothing of that kind took place ? "
"No , sir. "
"It was not all pleasant between 'vou
then ? "
SAYS sin : STIUJCK iiur.
"It was not all onthely pleasant be
tween us. "
"You used to quarrel with her some
times at the table , didn't you ? "
"Wo did use to , some. "
"It was confined to either one in inir-
tlcular ? "
"I think it was on the part ot both. "
"Sho was as bad as you wore as far as
that is concerned ? "
"I couldn't say that it was as bad ; I
havn no complaint to make against my
wife. "
"Sho never used to strike you ? "
[ Mr. Savage That is going u little too
far ; answer it , though ] ,
"Well 1 don't care about answering
that question. I nm taking care of my
self and not matcing any complaint
against my wife. "
{ Mr. Savage Answer it.l
' 1 want to know whether she used to
strike you ? " reported General Cowiu.
"Sho has struck mo. "
"You would have regular lights , would
yon not ? "
"No I don't think wo had any regular
fights. "
"What did she strike yon with ? "
"Sho would strike mo with her open
hand. That is all. "
A SWKEl'INO DENIAL.
"Do you remember one morning when
you sat down to breakfast and knocking
your wife off the clwir ? "
"No , sir ; that never occurred. "
"Ami aftoryou knocked her off the
chair you asked her to out breakfast and
him would not ? "
"No , sir. "
"Ami yon throw her on the floor and
tried to puneh the bcof down her
throat ? "
"That is not so. "
. .Do von know that she told that to
Mrs. E. 1 . Her ? " .
" 1 don't. "
"Nothing of the kind took place what
ever ! "
"It did not. "
"Do you remember the first Christmas
in that house ? "
"I do. "
A rilHISTMAS HAY.
"Did you strike her at the table at
breakfast that morning ? "
"No , sir ; wo didn't have any break
fast. "
"What was the matter ? "
"I don't know what the matter was ; I
have never found out what the matter
was. "
"Your wife didn't say anything to you
why she didn't got breakfast ? "
"She didn't say anything that I recol
lect that morning at all. "
"Sio ! never spoke to you that morn
ing ? "
"Not that I know of. "
"You didn't speak to her ? "
"I did speak to her that 1 know of. "
"What did you say to her ? "
" 1 wished her u 'Merry Christinas' the
first thing in the morning. "
"What did she say ? "
"Nothing. "
Lauer then went on to tell of the time
when ho throw the Christmas turkey at
his wifo. Ho admitted having thrown it
at her but said it did not strike her. Ho
afterwards took it up and threw it into
the street.
"Do you remember one evening that
you commenced beating her and she ran
iiito the bed room and .shut the door and
tore the wire screen out of the bay win
dow in the bed room and ran for her
mother's ? And you wont after her and
caught hnr down nearly at her mother's
hotiFo ? "
"No. sir. "
"Did not she got out out of that window
and tear this wire screen celling out ? "
"No , .sir , she did not. "
"She did not jump out of that bay
window ? "
"No , sir. "
"You knew that she told that , did not
you ? "
"No. sir. "
"Did you not stop her several times
going down towards her mother's in the
night , and persuade her lo como back ? "
"No , sir. "
"Whon filio went back to you she said
she would go back and live with you if
she knew that you would kill her , uul
not she ? "
"Notthat I ever hoard. "
"Did not Dr. CoH'man say to you , she
says lhafslio will go back and live with
you even if yon kill her ? "
"The doctor may bo honest in his im
pression , but he did not say that to me. "
HUB OKXTLV.MKN FItir.NDS.
"Do you remember after your sister
came of being over to Mrs. Savage's one
day when your sister was there and Mr.
Havens was coming , and you said ,
'Sally there friend " "
, comes your ?
"I do not recollect of it. "
"And yon said he is no gentlemen1
" 1 do not recollect of it. "
"And she said he is a gunticman and a
friend of mine ? "
"That is beyond my recollcclion. "
"And yon said , 'Well , you had bolter
get him , and send for Mr. Crowoll ,
too ? ' "
"lam positive now. "
"That you did not say so ? "
"Then did she say to you , 'I will sneak
i any gentleman when I pleaseand if vou
do not like it there is the door ? ' "
" 1 do not recollect of any conversation
of that kind. "
THE EXAMINATION IN CHIEF.
Shortly before eleven o'clock Lauer
was closely examined upon the subject of
the first burglary. He was forced to an
admission that on that occasion ho did
sec the head of the burglar distinctly ,
though the only light in the room was
such as was thrown by a street lamp , 150
feet distant.
'What kind of a night was it outside ? "
asked General Cowin.
"It was dark and drizzling.1
"And you saw the burglars head and
the slouch hat ? "
"Yes , " replied Lauer , shifting uneasily ,
" 1 saw something of the sort. "
HOT COFFEE FOR ONH.
"You were the very essence of kind
ness ? "
"I have never claimed that at that par-
tjcular time ; ! do claim it for a later
timo. "
"You got home about 2 o'clock Christ
mas day ; where was your wife when you
went in ? "
"She was in the bed room lying ou the
bed. "
"Crying ? "
"No. sir. "
"Did you speak to her ? "
" 1 don't think 1 did ; 1 know I didn't. "
"Whero did you go ? "
"I went and laid down on the sofa. "
"How long did you lie down on the
sofa ? "
"Until about bed timo. "
"Sho remained on the bed all the after
noon ? "
"Sho did. "
"Did you throw the coffee pot on her
while she was in the bed ? "
"No , sir. "
"And fill her hair with coffee
grounds j"
"No. sir. "
"Did you strike her ? "
"No , sir. "
"You didn't touch her ? "
"No , sir ; 1 didn't strike her. "
"You didn't touch her ? "
" 1 couldn't say that I did after I got up
out of bed that morning. "
"lleforo you got out of bed. Did you
strike her before you got out of bed ? ' '
"No , sir. "
MOKE ABOUT THE TURKKY.
"Did you go and get a lurkoy and como
in and pound her with a turkey ? "
"No , sir. "
"Nothing of the kind ? "
"No. sir. "
"There was no dilllculty between vou
after that ? "
"No , sir. "
"So that the Christmas passed off ex
actly as you have described il now. "
"I have not described it. "
"Was there anything else took place
than the fact that you got up in the
morning and she wouldn't speak to you ,
you went off without your breakfast , that
you came back at U o'clock and found
her in bed , that you thereupon let her
alone and wont to the sofa and laid down
till 8 o'clock : was there anything else
took place in tiio house ? "
"Yes , sir. "
"What was it ? "
"In the morning I told my wife that 1
didn't think that was the proper way to
start in Christmas , and she wouldn't say
anything to mo , I asked her what was
the matter ; 1 had told her before Christ
mas I don't think that this is in connec
tion with it at all. "
"Stale what took place Ihero ? "
"I says , 'well Sallie , I told you
before that wo would not make
each other nny presents , I don't know
whether you are angry whether we have
made no presents or not ; wo have built
the house , that has strained me consider
able to do that. ' I told her that I didn't
think that that was the right way to
start in Christmas ; she didn't say any-
think to it. I asked her if she would got
breakfast ; she didn't say anything ; ]
didn't euro about making breakfast my
self and eating it alone. My wife had
aot up and she was sitting in the room by
the base burner , and the turkey was lay
ing there that wo had got the day before
I says , 'Well , if wo don't have any break
fast I don'tsuuposo wo want this turkoy.
I threw the turkey in the other room. "
"Whore did you throw it ? "
"There by the stove , where she was
sitting. "
" \ \ here did the turkey go , where did it
lie ? "
"It lay on the floor.1
"Didn't you take that turkey out ot
purpose to bury it after you hud poundei
your wife in the bed with it ? "
"No. sir. "
"Didn't you throw it in the street J"
"Yes , sir. " "
. "WttutHtreetl1'
"Douglas street. I proposed to my wife
wo wore laughing about it the next
evening ; I said what will wo do with
this : It isn't fit to cat , there has been no
care taken of It ; mv wife said 1 halo to
hrow it away ; take It out In the street
and lay It down somowhoros , maybe
omebody will pick It up , thinking It is a
tirkey out of a grocery wagon ; I took It
lown the hall ami throw it in the street.
Wo wore both all right the next morn
ng. "
THI : SIAMSTJIESS. :
"Didn't your wife say to you next
norning , 'you had bettor stop that sow-
ng woman that is going to come hero
o-day , I don't want her to sco mo all
joun'ded up like this' ? "
"No. sir.1' '
"Didn't you go down and sco Miss
ircnncn who was coming up to sow and
ell her your wife was sick ? and not to
come for a week. "
"I didn't. "
"Did yon meet Miss Hrcnnen the next
norning ? "
"I have met her ; 1 don't recollect as to
hat. "
"Didn't you meet Miss llronnon
ho day after Christmas and toll
lor that yotir wife was siok and not to
; o up for a week ? "
"It is likely that I did. "
"Will you swear that you didn't tell
icr that ? "
"I have said that I didn't recollect of
elllng her. "
"Didn't you saddle your horse to go
ind see her and meet nor roming up the
icxt morning after Christinas , and ston
mr and tell her that your wife was sick
ind not to come for a week ? "
"I don't recollect If Idld. "
"So far as you know there was no oc
casion for telling Miss Uronncn not to
como for a week on account of the sick-
less of your wife ? "
"I don't roinembnr of there being any
occasion of that kind. "
iti'iNiNc. unit iin.u'TV. '
"Will you .swear your wife never told
you , 'If you don't treat mo belter 1 will
lave to leave you ? ' "
"I will swear 1 don't think she over
told mo anything of that kind. "
'Did you tell her , 'If you ever leave
no 1 will throw vilrol or something else
n your face so your own mother won't
inow you ? ' "
"Did you say , 'I will spoil your beauty
so you won't have anv friends ? ' "
"I never did. "
"Never anything of that kind ? "
"No , sir. "
ni : STRUCK unit.
"Wore you at the theater on the night
which brought about the final separa
tion ? "
"I "
was.
"Did you go with Mr. Gockcn ? "
"Yes , sir. "
"Where was Mrs. Laucr when you got
ionic ? "
"She was in the dining room , I think ,
or sitting room. " .
"Did you commence speaking ugly to
her ? "
"I don't think I did. "
"Did she "
to you ?
"She didn't spc-ik exactly ugly to begin
with , she had spoken of my going to the
theater and not taking the ladies. "
"State what you said and what she
said ? "
"I said , If I thought you would have
hoard about it I would prefer to go with
out her , I said no , if I thought she would
have cared about it ; she gave mo to un
derstand that I lied about it ; 1 was angry
and slapped her face. "
"Did you have your list closed ? "
"No , sir. "
"Just a gentle , lovmsrtap ? "
"It wasn't intended for love.1
"Did you pull her hair ? "
"No. sir. "
"Did you tear her dress ? "
If her dress was torn it must have been
in a latcr'precceding. "
A LATER PROCEEDING.
Continuing Lauor said that ho went
into the other room atid laid down on the
sofa. He said , "My wife commenced
pulling the sofa away from the wall , and
she screamed at the same time , and with
that scream Mr. and Mrs. Goeken came
down stairs , "
"Sho didn't scream because she was
pulling on your feet ? "
" 1 didn't say so. "
"What made her scream ? "
" 1 don't know. She may have boon
angry or something. I don't know what
she screamed for. "
"Mr. and Mrs. Goekon came down and
came in ? "
"Yes , sir. "
"Don't you know that when they came
down there the whole front of her dress
was torn ? "
"I don't know. "
"And her hair was all down ? "
"I don't know it was a fact. "
"About what time was that ? "
" 1 should judge In the neighborhood of
11 or half past _ 11 or possibly 12 , I don't
know , I think in the neighborhood of 11
or half past 11. "
"Then what did you do ? "
HE WALKED THE bTUEETS.
" 1 said , Sallie toll these people what
has occurred. She didn't say anything ;
she kept her hands over her ifaco partly.
She was not crying , she was not hurt in
anyway. Mr. Geokcn said : 'Well , if 1
am causing you folks any trouble ho said
1 will leave : ' I said : 'No , there is no par
ticular trouble and rather than have any
guests of mine leave I will leave myself :
but you shall not leave the house , ' !
asked Sallie if she wanted mo to leave ;
she didn't say anything ; I said : "If
you don't care whether I go or
stay I will go. I went and dressed
1 turned and went towards the kitchen
door and I said "good-bye , Sallie , " as I
was going through the kitchen. She
didn't say anything ; I wont out and
wont down town. 1 walkirl about the
streets until about 4 or 5 o'clock that
morning. I went to the Coz/.ins house
and took a room. "
"Didn't you pound her that night until
the pounding was heard tip-stairs ? "
"I did not. "
"You didn't pound her until Goeken
came down and knocked at the door and
threatened to break it in if you didn't
open it ? "
" 1 opened the door myself without any
threats. "
"The door was fastened ? "
"Yes sir. "
"Was it your wife that fastened it ? "
" 1 don't know. "
THE NHHIT OF THE TRAGEDY.
It was well into the afternoon when
General Cowin commenced his cross-ox-
amlnation of Lauor on the immediate cir
cumstances of shooting hia wife.
"On that night before the shooting you
say when you came home you went in to
get the supper , did you ? "
"I say that wo botli wont in , and I got
the supper. "
"And you got the supper while she was
taking off her wraps ? "
"Yes , sir. "
"And it was your provided supper that
that you both sat down to , was it nut ? "
"I provided for all the meals. "
"It was your prepared ( supper that you
and your wife sat down to ? "
"Yes , sir. "
"Sho took no part in the getting of the
supper ? "
"I would not bo positive that she did
not take part in it. "
"And then you wont and placed your
self on the lounge and lay there lo read ,
did you uol ? "
"I wont to lie on the loungo. "
"Did she road to you a while11
"Yes , sir. "
"Did she say she wanted to go to bed ? '
"No , that is not my recollection. * '
HIS WIKK IILUMIED.
"And then after being prepared for bin
she came to the sofa and wanlcd lo Ho
down by your side , did she ? "
' 'Yes , sir. "
"Sho blushed ? "
"After lying down by my sidn. "
"You hud been U'wricduow 'j '
"About two years and a half and a lit-
lo over. "
"When she came and placed herself on
ho lounge besldo you you say llml she
ilushcd , tlo you ? "
'
"Yes , sir.1' '
"Sho lay Ihero and rested a few mo-
nonts and said her heart beat rapidly ,
did she ? "
" 1 do not know whether she rested or
lot ; she lay there by my side ; wo wcro
alking lo each other. "
"Do you know what you were talking
ibout ? "
"I do not know what we wore talking
about. "
"What else do you remember of taking
) lace that nighl ? "
"I recoiled my wife had ordered some
sweet elder that day and she brought the
111 : otil or 1 did , she got it at Little it
iVilliam's and she or i wont and got it In
ho kitchen , and brought the jug in lo
mvo seine of it , and L recollect that wo
lid not either of us like it because it was
too sweet ; it was too much like molasses ;
and the jug sat on the table all night. "
"Do you know anything else thai look
place ? "
"Nothing thai occurs to me now. "
"It was the usual way of spending your
evenings ? "
"YesYsir. "
"Why did .you answer in reply to Mr.
i'hurston's question then that it was the
nippiest evening that you ever spout in
your life ? "
"I do not think that that was my re
ply. "
Do you recollect anything of the
"I said it was one of the happiest
< ! ghts in my life that evening. "
"Was il that your wife came and
ilaccd herself on the sofa beside you
was that what made it one of the picas-
uitest nights * "
"I think everything connected with the
evening , the manner of our going homo
ind the manner lhat wo spent the oven-
ng ; 1 think that everything connected ;
L do not think that any particular thine
made it more pleasant than any other
evening. "
"Your wife did not get the supper that
night , did she ? "
"I do not think she did. "
"Was that one reason to make the hap-
l > lncss of tiio night , because she loft 5011
lired to get your supper ? "
"I did not complain of being tired. "
" 1 know you did not , but you wcro
lired , were you not ? "
"That was nothing unusual. "
"You were , as a matter of fact , were
you not ? "
" 1 was just ordinarily tired. "
"On a certain evening in July , did your
wife say to you just as you were going to
bed , 'Look there , towards Gallagher's
barn and Mr. McShanc'show ; hot it must
bo up there for those hostlers ? ' "
I don't recollect that. "
Did you make a reply to her , 'Damn
it , you think more of them than you think
of ' "
mo ?
"No , sir. "
"And have a fuss with her right there ? "
"I did not. "
"Nothing of thai kind ? "
"No. sir. "
"This oalmcal your wife put on the
stove , did she ? "
"Yes , sir. "
"It was intended to be cooked for the
moining , was it ? "
"It was. "
"VY as there fire enough in the stove for
lhat purpose ? "
"Well , there was lire enough 1 presume
for lhat purpose. "
"A pretty good fire when you went to
bed , wasn't there ? "
"If there had been a good fire the oat
meal might have got dried out and not
been in good shape for breakfast ; it was
simply put on during the night. "
"Was there a prelly good tire when you
went to bed ? "
I don't recollect as to the condition of
the fire particularly. "
"Now , Mr. Laucr , did you notice how
much light there was lhat night bcforo
you wont lo sloop , after the lump was put
out ? "
Idid not. "
You didn't notice anythidg of that
kind ? "
"No , sir. "
HE HEARD THE NOISE.
"When you woke up in the night you
woke up from hearing a noise , did
you ? "
"It was a noise of some kind that woke
me UP. "
"Was it a kind of rustling that you first
heard ? "
" 1 think it was a rustling noise. No.
I can't say that it was a rustling. I hoard
the rustling after ; wiiat it was that woke
mo up 1 don't know. "
"Somo noise woke you up , and the
nest thing you heard after you woke was
a Kind of rustling ? "
"Well , 1 was awake and heard the rust
ling noise. "
"You distinctly remember lhat ? "
"I am not positive as to that ; that is
my impression. "
"WhAt kind of rustling was ii ? "
"I don't know. "
, 'You first heard the noise , then the
rustling ? "
"The same. "
"And then you heard the voices ? "
"Tho yoicu was almost simultaneous
with the rustling about the same time. "
"Didn't you swear the last time it was
after you got the pistol that you heard
the voice ? "
"It might be I did swear to that. "
"After you heard the voice , in what
direction did you look ? "
"I looked over Iho loot board. "
"Whero was the voice in your judment
nt thai lime ? "
"in my judgment I located it in the
ncxl room , in Iho other room. "
"Can yoirtcll llien whether there was
more than one voice ? "
"lean not , I have never been able to
toll , I couldn't say as to what my impres
sion was then ; 1 should imagine that
there was more than one person. "
"You distinctly remember hearing
somebody say something ? "
"As for saying something I don't know
as to that ; 1 should imagine that there
was sonic-thing said. "
"You didn't recognize what was said ? "
"JSo , sir. "
THE TWO nURRLARS.
"Whon you heard that voice you
thought it was a burglar ? "
"J supposed it was a burglar. "
"And you thought there was two of
them ? "
"I did. "
"And you thought one was talking to
the other ? "
"That is exactly as 1 thought.11
"You looked to your right , isn't it a
fact that when you fust tooic your pislol
in your hand you looked over Iho foot
board into the sitling room and didn't
see anybody , you then looked to the
ri ht and then looked up in fronl again
and saw Ihis body appro ichiug ? "
"My Impression is that 1 looked while
I was turning. "
"Didn't you swear the last time like
this : ' 1 looked after getting my pistol
and didn't sec anything and then I
looked to the right , thinking there might
bo somebody in my room ? ' "
" 1 don't know as to whether I did or
"Will you swear that you din't so
swear before ? "
"Well , I wont so swear now. "
"Then you saw a head ? "
"I saw what 1 supposed to bo a head. "
"Did you swear before that you saw ,
not what you supposed to be a head , but
a head ? "
"I presume I may have sworn thai way ;
lliero may bo a difference , bat il is very
slight. " . . . .
O"And when vou saw a head , you fired
at the head , didn't you ? "
" 1 lired in the direction of the Jicad as
I SllDDOSCll
' "Did you answer in the last trial of this
two , to the question , "You JireU at tuo
head , didn't you1 'Of course I did ; I
didn't lire the other way.1"
" 1 used the words that you used right
now. "
"You fired at the head ? "
"This is the fact , that I fired at what I
supposed was a head , "
f'Wcro you looking to see a body fall ,
or crawl around the fool of Iho bed with
a view of firing again ? "
"Thai is rigli . "
You expected to sco thai body fall be
tween the foot of the bed and the dress
ing case , didn't you ? "
"I don't know that I expected to sco
the body fall. 1 expected thai there might
possibly something of that kind hap.
pen. "
"You looked down to see it fall' across
the foot of the bed , did you or nol ? "
" 1 expected lo see il fall along side the
fool of Ihe bed ; lhal is what 1 expected. "
"Why did you expect lo see the body
fall along the foot of the bed ? "
"Although firing very hastily I ex
pected possibly 1 might hit. "
"Why did you expect to see the body
fall acoss Iho foot of the bed ? "
"Thai Is jusl it exactly , 1 expected that
if a person was coming towards Iho side
of Iho bed , and 1 supposed if I had hit it
would naturally fall that way. "
"Dunne this time you did not look
over nor glance your eyes In Iho dircc-
lion that your wife should have been on
the other side of the bed ? "
"I did not. "
TOOK NO NOTICi : OP IIP.R.
"And although yon had lired a shot ,
made a yell and was watching to sco the
body to lire at it again , you did not throw
your eyes over lo see if your wife was
llierc ; did you or did you nol ? "
" 1 did nol. "
"And lliero was nothing indicating to
yon that she was there was tliero ? "
"It did not occur to mo. "
"You never thouglil of her at all did
you ? "
"I did not. "
"Then after failing to sec anyone como
around the foot of the bed , it was then
you felt it proper to see if your wito was
there. "
"Il was just that interval that nothing
transpired , and 1 did turn around and
lelt. "
"Why did you not look and sco if she
was there ? "
"it was not light enough lo sco if she
had been there. '
"And if your wife had been lying be
side you , il was not light enough for you
to see , whether she was there or not ? "
" 1 will swear it was not light. "
"It was light enough for you to wait for
a head to show and shoot at it again in
the rear of the bed ? "
"I cannot answer that question put as
it is ; because I did not watcli lor the
head. "
"Did you not watcli to see whether the
form would fall ? Did you not look for
if ? "
"I looked. "
"And expected to sco it ? "
"Idid sco it. "
"And you waited to shoot at it again ? "
"I don't know how long I waited ; it
was momentarily.11
"How did you expect to see the body
between the bed and the drcssingcase
on the lloor and not expecting to see
your wife beside you in the bed ? "
"I cannot explain as to how I exp'nctcd
to see ; I suppose I would hayc to prepare
myself. "
"When you put your hand over , and
found your wife was not there , did you
give another yell ? "
"I did not yell , no , sir. "
"You then got out of bed , did you not ? "
"I jumped out of bed and ran around
to the foot of the bed. "
"When you did that , you then" saw the
body , did you not ? "
" 1 could not say that I saw the body. I
felt down on the floor tor my I pre
sumed it was my wife and felt down on
the llpor and felt my wife laying there. "
"Did you not tell somebody that you
saw her breathing before you lit the
lamp ? "
"No. sir. "
"Then , when you got around the foot
of the bed you saw nothinc ? "
"That is my impression. "
"Then you shook the body did you ? "
" 1 did not shake the body right then ; I
called to my wife , but I didn't get any
answer. "
"Was there any evidences of life when
you touched her ? "
"Nono that I over knew of. "
"At that time ? "
"At that time.11
"When you got up did you put your
pislol away ? "
" 1 don't recollect as to thai. "
"You lit the lamp , did you ? "
"Yes. "
IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE nr.it.
"That tliew a complete light on the
bodv , did it ? "
"Yes , sir. "
"You looked over and saw it was the
body of your wife ? "
"I know it was my wife. "
"It did not look like her ? "
"It did not. "
"What was there about it that did not
look like her ? "
"Tho fr.ce did not. "
"Tho face did not look like her ? "
"What was tliero about the face that
didn't look like your wife ? "
"I couldn't say as to that. "
"The hair looked like vour wife ? "
"Yes "
' sir.
"Did'yon feel of her breast ? "
" 1 did. "
HER HEART WAS HEATINO.
"And you felt her heart beat ? "
"My Impression is that I did feel her
heartbeat.11
"And heard her breathing ? "
"Yes , sir. Excuse mo I was not think
ing , 1 did not hear hur breathing. "
Didn't you swear that you heard her
brealho ? "
"I am positive lhat I didn't swear ; that
would bo my best recollection. "
" \ou felt Ihe boating of her heart at
that time ? "
" 1 don't recollect the beating of her
heart.11
"You chafed he hands ? "
"I did. "
"You called to her ? "
" 1 called to her again. "
"What did you say to her ? "
"I called her by name , 1 begged to her
and called to her. "
IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO HIM.
"When you lit the lamp and saw it was
the body of your wife didn't you pick her
UP and put her ou the bed ? "
"It didn't occur to mo to do that. "
"You didn't know when you lit the
lamp whether life was exlinct or nol ? "
"When I lit tnat lamp or bcforo I lit
it ? "
"Immediately after you had lit it didn't
you know whether Jifo was extinct or
not ? "
"I did not know , and 1 certainly hoped
thai il was not. " .
"And vou wailed around hoping she
might speak lo you ? "
rl did so. "
"And you didn't go after the doctor
because you wanted to bo there if she re
vived Mifliclontly enough lo speak ? "
"I did waul lo slay and hear her
speak. "
With a few more questions , the cross-
examination was concluded. Laucr ap
peared very much relieved , despite Iho
fad that ho had coutradicled himself in
more than one instance.
KP.-DIItl'.Cr EXAMINATION.
On re-direct examination Laucr stated
that ho Irul never struck his wife but
twice on the occasions mentioned. Then
ho struck her wilh Iho open palm of his
hand. Witness never heard of or saw
Emma Hell , and her story of the cran
berry sauoo was entirely false. Witness
did not talk to his wife about their past
troubles after the reconciliaton , nor waa
the matter over brought up again.
The state making no objection Mr.
Tliurston read the testimony of Captain
T. W. T. Richards ' 6n the subject of the
sloy'e which was in , Luuer's room on the
night of the tragedy. This was Intro
duced for tins purpose of showing Hint
when "shaken down" for Iho night the
stove gave out little or no light. The lat-
tur part of the testimony told of the ex-
pertinents which had been made by the
eomnillteo of gentlemen for the purpose
of determining the amount of light
thrown out by tno stovo.
The cross-examination part of the testi
mony was read by Mr. Simoral for the
state.
The testimony of Mrs. Hen Gallagher ,
another absent witness , was also read.
Shu testified to the pleasant rel.Uions
which existed between Mr. and Mrs.
Lauer before the hitter's death.
WITNESSES RECALLED.
Mr. Chas. Savage was recalled and tes
tified that the Lauer house extended
about eleven feel back ot his house which
was next door.
Matt Gahlon was also recalled. Ho
testified to having gone into the kitchen
the morning alter the tragedy , ami
found the supper dishes unwashed. Ho
also saw signs of cooked sausages and
several uncooked sausages.
" \Miatdoyoueallasignof a cooked
sausage ? " asked General Cowin.
The little Irishman scratched hix head
contemplatively and replied : "Tho
rind. '
Mr. S. A. Orchard testified to the dale
of the purchase of Lauer's carpets , on
October 10 , 1S83.
LAl'Elt'S M ! T.1I.
Miss Minerva Laui-r , the sister , testified ,
next. She is a bright , nervous litlle lady
and told what she had to say with no hnsita
tion. She was not so dramatic as on the
occasion of Iho last trial. She said that
she was Iwcnly-four years of ago and
had resided in Omaha since Juno , 1S > .
"I saw nearly all of their daily life , " she
said "with the exception of a few days.
Their conduct toward each oilier was
most pleasant. Nothing other than of a
pleasant character occurred between
them. Mr. Lauer always spent his evenings -
ingst homo , except when he was called
away out of the city. They worn always
reading and singing together , chatting
logolher , or something of Iho sort. I
could hear distinctly from my room on
the second story wurything that went on
below and 1 never heard them quarrel
ing logelher. [ Hero Iho counsel for the
defence asked Iho witness to idcnlify Iwo
loiters written by Mrs. Lauor to her hus
band. They wcro then read in evidence
and ruled out by Iho court , ]
"On the afternoon before the tragedy
I went out walking with a friend
as it was a very pleasant day. I came
homo that evening about ? o'clock and
retired early. I could hear Mr. and Mrs.
Lauer reading , talking and singing to
gether. Then I heard them reliro , I
should say about 0 o'clock. Then I heard
my brother's heavy breathing. The next
thine I heard was the report of a pistol
and loud yell. Heard my brother utter
exclaimations of despair. 1 rushed down
stairs wanting lo get out of doors bcforo
the burglars , as I supposed they were ,
could reach mo. I succeeded in reaching
the front door and was just about to go
out when my brother came to the door.
I saw the look of despair on his face. Ho
shouted , 'Oh , my ( .oil , Minerva , I've
mistaken Sallie for a burglar and shot
her ! Oh , come to Sallie ! Come , quick ! '
" 1 rushed out to get help and aroused
the neighbors. ( Here Iho witness detailed
how she had succeeded in arousing Iho
neighborhood. She was dressed only In
her night clothes , and was taken to Mrs.
Savage's house , where additional cloth
ing was furnished her. )
General Cowin cross-examined Hie wit
ness closely.
"My brother and sister throw open their
homo to mo , and I came to them as a
visitor , and , " said Miss Lauer. "they
were always affectionate , i have seen
them embrace eacli oilier and kiss each
other. "
"Did you see thorn romp about like lit
tle children ? " asked General Cowin.
"No , " replied the witness quickly ,
"they wore not silly. " This little side
play caused a ripple of laughter through
out the court room.
LAUER'S VIRTUES.
" } ou never saw a kinder husband , did
yon ? "
"No , sir. "
"Thoro was no defect in his conduct
toward her , was there ? "
"No , ho was kindness itself. "
"Ho wasn't a quick tempered man
was lie ? "
"I don't think ho was , " replied Miss
Laucr.
"Yon have seen him out of temper ,
haven't you ? "
"Yes , but never with his wife. "
Miss Joiner ihcn told how she spent a
week at Mrs. Savage's house next door ,
when she was sick.
"You went thorp , because you couldn't
get proper treatment at Lauer's house ,
didn't "
you ?
"No , sir. "
"Didn't yon over say to Mrs. J. W.
Her in substance as follows : 'Some tin ) i
after 1 came here a certain man callol
at Lauer's liouso whom Lauor said wan
no gentleman and instructed Sallie no * ;
to speak to him. And she replied Til
sneak to him when I please and if you
don't like it , there's Iho door. And did
you say lhat you thought that was pretty
harsh troalmont for Sallie to give John ,
but when you found out how ho trealed
her you thought that it was the only way
she could get along with him ?
"No , I don't remember any such con
versation. "
The witness went on to remark that
she rather regarded herself as an intruder
in this household , "because John and
Sallie wcro so wrapt up in each other. "
While being cross-examined on this
branch of the subject , Judge Noiville ab
ruptly broke in and adjourned court
until 0:80 : this morning.
Electric Lustre Starch is hailed with
delight by eveiy housekeeper and hum
dress.
Marshal Tom Lynch , of South Omaha ,
received yesterday a letter from his
mother who is iu Ireland. In Ihe letlor
was a largo bunch of shamrocks which
"leaved" all .
are four over.
'OWDEB '
Absolutely Pure-
Tlilspowdcr ncvervarlen. A marvel ol
purity.strengtli anil wliolcsoinenew. More
economic thnn the ordinary kinds nd
cannot be sold In coin Petition wi'h the mul
titude ; of low test , short weight alum or
phosphate powder * . Sold only in cam.
Hoval IlaVinj Powder Col06 Wal | meet ,
New York.
