Salt Lake Telegram | 1925-04-08 | Page 1 | Matricide Testifies as State Witness at Sanity Hearing

MA DE TESTIFIES AS' AS ASS AS'S S STATE TA TE WITNESS A T SANITY HEARING SAN FRANCISCO April 8 17 old ear Dorothy Dorothy Ellingson year old slayer of her moth mother r. r took the witness stand in superior court here today at ather ather ather her trial for sanity Judge Louderback satisfied himself that the defendant defendant defendant de de- de- de understood the nature of an n oath before he allowed herto her herto herto to bi bs sworn The Tho court then informed the girl that she would not be forced to answer any question might might incriminate her Assistant District At Attorney orney Harmon then began to interrogate the witness He asKea ner her categorical questions questions- where the county jail questions questions-I was the names of her attorneys where they were yore seated She gave her re reSponses responses responses re- re In low but clear voice answering answering answering an an- I every query tersely Are you charged with any criminal criminal crimi crimi- nal act inquired the prosecutor torI tor I am said the tho girl What Wha t is that charge Murder I The examination proceeded with witha a Q test of ot the girls girl's knowledge of ot th the legal procedure that culminated In the present sanity trial before a special jury She then gave the names of ot the alienists who examined examined exam exam- ined med her at the county Jail She showed no nervousness She was attired modishly In a tan tn t n gown With reference to the charge of ot murder she said it was the duty of the jury In such a case to find her guilty or not guilty and If the verdict were guilty she would goto go goto goto to prison I Sylvester J 3 J. J McAtee of defense counsel counsel- then put his client through I a stiff cross He asked her why she threw water at him in court yesterday and called him a liar I B Because cause she explained numerous numerous numerous nu things have been brought out in this court that are not true After the girl girt had been questioned questioned questioned ques ques- I about thirty minutes both sides rested anti and final arguments were begun When Mr McAtee went Into events following the death of her mother the girl responded calmly The prosecution objected to the wide scope of the cross examination examination nation but later withdrew the objection objection objection ob ob- ob- ob when the defense ex explained explained explained ex- ex that Its purpose was to I test the mental competence of the defendant d Under another rehearsal of the I oft repeated details surrounding the tragedy the girl was plat placid but she stood on her constitutional constitutional constitutional rights and refused to answer answer answer an an- several questions touching on the party she attended the night after atter she killed her mother Why do you not wish to answer answer an an- I these questions asked th the 4 x fiA If t bear on my ete d-ete defense se seto to the murder charge said the girl The court upheld her Mr McAtee said that in view of the fact that the court had 1 sided with the witness he could I II ask no further questions since she I might refuse to answer Judge Louderback then asked i the girl If she had any further statement to volunteer She said saidI I no and left the stand I