The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-09-05

Minneapolis, Aug, .S1.-Jostling, Gu
rious crowds again. I he days Of the
Hayward trial were brought to mind
ny the throngs Of people " no gathered
| around the doors Of the municipal
| court to be present at the examination
| OF Mrs. Lora Perkins. charged with
numbering Mrs. Lola Hawkins. Mrs.
Perkins was very late, by reason of
the weakness resultant upon her sick
ness.
At 2:3O hush fell upon the gossip
ing crowd, and a figure attired in
black and deeply yelled entered, sup
ported by Mr.. Hall and Sheriff Holm
berg. 1t was Mrs. Perkins. Her steps
were slow and tottering. She was
soon escorted to chair to the attor-
neys' table, and her friends, Mrs.
Hood and Mrs AXtell, took seats on
either side of the accused woman, who
sank limp and almost fainting into
| her chair.
The time was occupied by the testi-
mony or 1lremen who eXtinguShed the
fire. Nothing sensational was deyel-
Oped.
Minneapolis, Sept. l. - The dingy
hallway leading to tie criminal court
room, where Mrs. Perkins trial is
held, was we'll filled with the morbid
~ curious long before the doors We're
opened, and when opened the crowd
pressed in, soon filling every available
seat. Before the door opened there
was a sound Of heavy tramping on
the stairs, and those near the stair
railing saw the slight but closely
yelled form Of Mrs. Perkins borne up
the steps by Sheriff Holmberg and his
deputy and carried into the clerks
room. When the court had been
called to order, there was a wait Of
some minutes till Mrs. Perkins came
in. Before she was brought in her
friend. Mrs. Axtell, came and ar
ranged rocking chair for her, plac-
ing in it a cushion and pillow. a
moment later Mrs. Perkins, clad from
head to foot in deep black, and lean
ing heavily on the arm of Attorney
Hall, walked slowly up the aisle Of the
room. Following her came Mr.. and
Mrs. Axtell and Mrs. Perkins little
son frankie. Mrs. Perkins sat heavi-
ly into the chair, and throwing back
her heavy black veil, was vigorously
famed by Mrs. Axtell Mrs. Perkins
was very pale and quite nervous, and
during the forenoon took frequent
doses Of nerve tonic.
Hoban's tiasco was the principal
feature of the examina ton. The po-
lice officer who was first to work up
the case against Mrs. Perkins has
gone around with such an air of con-
centrated mystery and an appearance
OF knowing so much, that many peo-
pie have been convinced that when he
took the stand it would be all over
with the defense. If he really pos
sesses any very damaging evidence
against Mrs. Perkins, ne was so con-
fused by Mr.. Halls cross-examina-
ton that he didn't know how to tell
it, or else he has been instructed by
the state to guard his knowledge for
the trial. At any rate, Bert Hall
made him the laughing stock Of the
court room when he pressed him to-
explain the source of the information
that made him suspicious. 1t was Il
most embarrassing moment for TIoban
when he was finally forced to confess
that his source was ''My wife first,
and myself next"
The woman in the case has appeared
again. Is the whole tragedy to he re-
ducCd to a neighborhood jealousy?
Attorney Hall believes that the crime
originated in Hobans mind. and he
stated to the court just before adj
journment, that the whole bubble was
there, in the witness stand, ready to
be prickcd.
Though court adjourned in a burst
OF merrlment. occasioned by Mr..
Halls sallies at the expense Of Officer
Hoban. it was not until the state had
brought out, through a number of
women in the neighborhood. one or
two suspicious matters in connection
with the insurance. Mrs. Minnie
Virgins, who lives at 2916 Tenth av-
enue south, and Mrs. Annie Cloutler,
of 1887, on the same avenue. stated
without qualification that on the day
Mrs. Hawkins was burned and died,
Mrs. Perkins declared that her sister
had no life Insurance. The next morn
ing she told them that "Charlie" Kist-
Ter had made search through the
dead woman's papers and found two
insurance policies-one an accident
policy for $1,000, and the other a
straight life for $4,000 Now. there is
mass of evidence to show that Mrs.
Perkins knew of her sisters insur-
ance and that she was even instrll-
mental in getting it and keeping it in
force. That was the point made by
the state. Each side scored. but the
defense seems to have chalked down
the larger number.
The Armor Is All Right.
Bethlehem, Pa, Sept. 4.-The Beth
lehem Iron company was advised by
cable to-day Of another successful
armOr plate test in Russia. The plate