19 May 1914 - Seattle Star (Seattle, Washington)
Page 1, Column 1,2
"I want my little baby girl. Can't I have her with me in the trial?" was the plea Mrs. Magdalena Werner made to State's Attorney J. Edward Wright, before the opening of the second day of the woman's trial today. She stopped the prosecutor in the hallway before going to Judge Mackintosh's court room to again face the jury. "She would be such a comfort to me, I think. Can't I have her?" pleaded the mother, tears in her eyes. The prosecutor told her she might see the little girl in private. The mother's face lighted up at his words. Mrs. Werner seemed refreshed as she entered the court room. She smiled faintly as her three attorneys took their places and the grind of the day was on.
The court room was crowded to its capacity, and bailiffs and court officials found difficulty in controlling the mob of men and women and many young girls who could not gain admittance. The court room, except for the serious looks on the faces of the jury and judge, resembled a school scene as Assistant County Engineer W. H. Nelson pointed out locations on a map of the Werner ranch and the vicinity of Issaquah. Mrs. Werner brightened as she talked with Counsel Poe about pictures of the ranch. Mrs. Mary Sutter, a sister of the accused, appeared in court for a moment, to identity certain locations on the map.
There was a noticeable tension in the silent room as the bloody mattock used in the crime was placed in evidence by the state. Mrs. Werner closed her eyes. Women in the audience shuddered. One jurywoman seemed faint, but regained her composure. Attorney George H. Rummens, for defense, objected strenuously to photographs of Werner's body being admitted. He was overruled by the court.
The state was annoyed in the failure of several important men witnesses to show up when called. A suspicion of a smile went over the room as a court bailiff reported that "two of them went off together some place" Attorney Rummens enlivened the proceedings yesterday afternoon, when he accused deputy sheriffs of "sticking their bills into his business" every attempt he made to see various witnesses. He demanded the right to interview Henry Werner, the 8-year-old son of Mrs. Werner. The court assured him he could see the boy at any time.
There are six men and six women on the jury which was chosen and sworn as the session closed yesterday. Mrs. Sophie Hall, mother of Mrs. Werner, is a constant companion of the accused woman during recesses, when she is permitted to be with her daughter. The affection shown by the two women is one of the features of the trial.