St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-23
ALICE AND LII FLIRTS.
Freda Wards Brother-in-LaW
Shows the Murderess in
a New Light.
Misses Mitchell and Johnson
We're Partial to TrouS-
cred Humanity.
MIR. VOlkmar Tells of the At
tempted Elopement by
the Girls.
Sensational and Mysterious
Death Of a Young Lady
at Omaha.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, july 22.-There is
no abatemeiIt, Notwithstanding the in
tense heat, in the attenda nee upon and
Interest manifested in the Alice Mitchell
case. The first witness called today
was Miss Addie Mitchell. She seemed
to feel her sisters position very keenlv
and to realize the humiliation inevitably
attendant upon it. Her testimony was
in the main purely cumulative of that
offered previously as to Alice's DISPOSE
ton: Penchant for boyish sports, head
aches, nose bleedings and her demeanor
at the time of and since the tragedy.
The cigar box frequently referred to,
which contained Alice's letters and love
by witness. She knew of the intimacy
between Alice and Freda Ward, and
had read the letters from Mrs. Volkmar
-Freda's sister-to her mother break
ing off the two girls friendship. The
remainder of her testimony was merely
corroborative of that previously given
by members of the Mitchell family.
James johnson, brother of Lille, tes-
tilted that he had known Alice for two
years, and as far as he could Judge she
had always displayed most decided
aversion to the society of gentlemen.
That Off. Color EIOpement.
The testimony of William Fl. Volk-
mar, brOther-in-law of the victim, was
next called for by the defense, and
proved the most sensational of the day.
He said that up to the time of his NOV
ing to Golddust, Ark. he had never sus-
pected anything gushing in the friend
ship of the two girls, and considered it
only the friendship usual between girls.
Coming to the day of the proposed
elopement. which was planned for and
was to be conSummated while Alice
and Lille johnson were visiting the
Misses Ward last summer, he said that
Freda's actions denoted something UNI
usual-she insisting upon sleeping in
different room from that usually occu-
pied by her. and on leaving the window
open.
He kept watch outside. expecting
man to show up. Just before the boat
whistled he entered the room suddenly.
He heard Freda push her valise under
the bed. She was dressed, but as he
entered the room she jumped into bed,
pulled the sheet over her as though she
was undressed and professed ignorance
at the intrusion. Witness was pretty
mad. He called his wife and demanded
of Freda what this all meant. She said
she was going to run off with Alice.
They were to marry and Alice was to
work to support her.
Questionable Flfrtatfons.
Witness at the time he intercepted
the letters was not aware of any infatu-
alton between the girls. He intercepted
them because he had come to the con-
clusion that Alice was not fit COM
panion for her. On the discovery of
the plan of elOpement, ne promised
Freda that he would never mention the
matter to her again. He was ashamed
of it and of her for wanting to leave a
good home, and said if she wonld not
refer to the matter again that he would
keep it dead secret.
Mir. VOlkmar told how Alice Mitchell
and Lille johnson flirted with every
body in the neighborhood who wore
mans apparel, having no regard as to
whether the men were married or sim
gle. They also engaged In positions
that not infreQuently revealed their I'M
derclOthlng. Finally he expressed to
his wife an opinion that they should be
invited to leave, as he did not consider
them fit associates for his sister-in-Iaw.
Witness saw nothing to lead him to be-
lieve Alice mentally unsound. After
the examination of Miss 10 Ward, sister
of Freda, in whose testimony there were
no new developments, the court All
journed until tomorrow.