Wichita eagle., 1888-01-21
THE CORA LEE TRIAL.
THE COURT ROOM PACKED WITH
EAGER LISTENERS.
Charley Graham Takes the Stand
and Gives Some Exceedingly
Damaging Testimony
The Number of Victims of the Late Biz.
zard Now Number Two Hundred
and Thirty-Fiye
Another Terrible Storm Threatening TO
Cause Added and Continued Suffer-
ing Among People and
Live Stock.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Jan 20-The court
room was packed early this morning with
the curious who are unwilling to loose a
word of the Cora Lee case. Interest seems
fully as keen rs on the first day OF the first
trial. All available space near and INSIDE
the bar is occupied by women, while one is
fortunate to find standing room in the
rear. Charley Graham was the first wit
ness called to the witness stand. He test
fed substantially as follows: Was born in
TT. Wayne, Ind; lived there nine
years, and went to Elgin, Ills.
Saw Cora Lee soon after going to
Elgin. She stayed at their house week
and went to Laporte, Ind: afterwards saw
her again in Elgin. She lived with Mrs
Molloy. a few blocks from Graham home
Graham CHS father was boOkkeeper for a
publishing company. His father often
visited the Molloys: saw him kiss Cora
goodbye when leaving. Had seen Cora
and Mrs. Melloy sit in his lap frequently.
Lived at Elgin two years and went to
Washington, Kan. Saw Cora at Mrs
Molloy's house in Washington; lived there
from fall till spring. Graham was man
ager of the Morning and Day of
Reform, and Cora Lee worked
in the Office His mother. Sarah
Graham managed the household. Had
seen Graham and Cora in bed together
after Sarah had gone down stairs in the
morning. Saw Mrs Molloy in bed with
Graham twice. Saw the three in bed to-
gether at the Molloy farm. Sarah, Charley
and Rov went from Washington to TT.
Wayne Next saw Graham III st. Louis.
He had written to them to meet him
fn o.
field; arrived at dark, and witness and
Roy went to Fays, restaurant, and went
to bed Witness here identified the trunk
brought with them from Fit. Wayne. He
saw Graham next morning at the depot
when he tGrahaml took some things from
the trunk and said he was going to the
farm, and would return for them. He
came for them next morning. Some weeks
after arriving at the farm. Cora asked wit
ness about his mother and he told Cora she
came with them to Springfield. identified
letter written by O'Neal POSTMASTER at
Brooklinel and signed by him (witnessl.
Had told Cora of signing of letter, and she
became excited and she and Mrs. Molloy
went to Brookline to see O'Neal about it.
Mrs. Molloy read the letter and said it was
all right. Remembered seeing some men
going to the well February p.
Cora said something at that time
about having pistol. She said she
to take him and Roy away. She was eX-
cited and went down to the gate, carrying
the pistol under her apron. When the
body was found Cora went to the well but
did not want the children to 60. Witness
never saw the body. Saw Cora and Eta
Molloy burning letters written by Cora to
Graham.
Cross-examnation ELECTED nothing of
interest apart from the foregoing, save
that Graham had told witness on the night
OF arrival at Springfield from st. Louis
that he (Graham) and Sarah would walk to
the Molloy farm that night; that the trunk
was left at the residence of Rev. j. Plumb
of North Springfield: that when witness
and Roy Were being taken to the Molloy
farm. Graham told them to say they last
saw their mother in st. Louis: that he fur
Their told them this was not true, that she
was in Pierce City; that he owned half of
the Molloy farm and AS soon rs he could
get it all he would send for her and send
Cora and Mrs. Molloy away; that Graham
would often remind him not to tell where
his mother was: that he had told witness
of meeting Sarah in Springfield, and when
asked why the latter and Roy were not
taken to see her. said he did not know she
was going to be there.
John Bruuley testified to having worked
on the Molloy farm, from October II, 1885,
to the following February. Cut some
wood in the pasture. Cora had told him
not to cut wood around the we'll.
f. +. CannefaN was called. Saw Graham
and Cora looking in the well shortly after
the Springfield fair. He was hunting
Graham ordered him out of the pasture.
O'Neill WAS recalled. Saw bullet hole in
the right breast of the body ami wounds on
the head and neck. The wound on the
head was from gYu shots, on neck might
have been made by knife.
Adjourned till 40 p. IN.
Several witnesses were introduced to-
night, who testified with reference to the
blood on the garments found in the we'll
r. e. Williamson, a witness not before
known in the case. was called and testified
that he worked in the office of the Morn
ing and Day Reform in Washington. Kan :.
and at one time had caught Cora
in questionable attitude in "a room
adjoining the office: said he and other
printers bored a hole in the partition
and watched and made startling discuv-
cry Several pointed questions We're asked
witness tending TO throw suspicion of stain
on'hiS own character, all of which he
denied. - ... ...
Several other witness testified in regard
to minor matters. The marriage certiti-
Gates of George Graham and Cora Lee were
rnied out, hard fight being made over
the introduction of the last one. Adjourn
ed until tomorrow.