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Show WOWS HEARING ON MURDER CHARGE BEGUN; VICTIM'S WIFE ON STAND Th preliminary hearing of Frank Womack, charged with murder in the first degree for the shooting of Joseph Matthews on the night of October 22. was begun before Judge C. B. Dlehl this morning. The hearing will continue for two or three days, as there are many witnesses to be examined. The State has not yet been able to locate John McHugh, who is a material witness in the case, and who disappeared from sight a few days after the killing. The only witness examined was Mrs. Bessie Matthews, the widow of the man who was killed. The examination for the prosecution was conducted by Deputy Dep-uty Prosecutor Job P. Lyon, and for the defense by Attorney M. M. Kalghn. The testimony given by Mrs. Mathews was apparently in favor of the accused. ac-cused. Widow on the Stand. Mr3. Matthews told much of the family fami-ly history, and of the habits of herself, the roomers and boarders and her husband. hus-band. On the night of the killing of her husband, he returned to the house after several hours' absence and was under the influence of liquor. He stated that there was a matter that he wanted to settle with Wonw.-k, but his wife urged him to put it off until morning. Matthews, Mat-thews, she said, was terribly excited. He called Womack out of his room and told him to put Ms clothes on. Womack sat down at the table and had his knees under the table, when Matthews grabbed him by the hair and said he would "pull his block off." The men struggled for some time, and the witness seized the lamp, which was on the table, and left the room, and the men struggled In the darkness. Three Shots Fired. In a few minutes three shots were fired, and Womack then telephoned to the police that he had killed a man. and aske3 the policemen to bring a physician to the house when they came after him. On cross-examination Mrs. Matthews said that there was blood on Womack's face after the shooting, which had been caused by a blow delivered by, Matthews Mat-thews In" the'scuffle. When Mrs." Mat- thews was asked as to Womack's demeanor de-meanor In the house, she replied: "Mr. Womack was always a perfect gentleman. gentle-man. There had never been anything improper or indelicate in his conduct toward pie. or toward any other woman who lived in the house." Had to Support Family. Mrs. Matthews said that it was necessary ne-cessary for her to keep boarders and do washing to support the family. She had no servant, and Matthews never objected ob-jected to her helping to make the living. liv-ing. Matthews was Jealous of every one I who was kind to her. she said, and threatened two or three times to do Womack harm. Matthews frequently carried his razor In his inside pocket and indirectly threatened to do harm to Womack with the razor. "Did he ever threaten you with the razor?" she was asked. "Do I have to answer that question?" appealed Mrs. Matthews to tne court. "You must answer the question," said the court. "Yes, sir. M.. Matthews had threatened threat-ened me with the razor." The razor, she said, had disappeared since the shooting. |