Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1900-12-29
THE DEFENDANT TESTIFIES.
1t is a Question Of Which Woman
Told the Truth.
MoRGAN's DEPOSITION REED.

FL Dorado, Dec 1O.-When Jessie
Morrison took the witness stand, she
was weak but she met the crisis with
firmness- As usual the spectators were
mostly women. Witnesses for the de-
tense first testified contradicting a
number of statements made by wit
nesses for the state.
The deposition OF ]. a. Morgan was
chen introduced Is a canvassing agent;
was canvassing Ell Dorado on June %;
on that morning visited the house of
the deceased, Mrs Castle; after leaving
heard a knocking on the inside of the
door screen; thought he was being
called back and looked that way; saw
Mrs. Castle was not looking at him but
at small lady who did not stop until
Mrs. Castle said to her ''Jess, come in.
/ want to talk to you" Before he was
out of hearing he heard a scream, and
started back, and saw the small lady
brought out of the house. He then
left and the next morning left the
town.
Olin Castle; ne called on me from once
to three times a week; often took me
buggy riding, and took me to parties
He always furnished the conveyance
She went to Excelsior Springs TO visit
her sister. Never said to Castle 'tI1l
fix you" Did not make any threat
when she asked Castle for her letters.
Never wrote Castle an anonymous let
ter; never wrote him that she was in
trouble and for him to remember his
promise. Never wrote him about any
scheme" Castle gave me a mirror
and he said Clara would make a scene
if he told her about it. She denied
every statement made by Castle in his
testimony. She had never got razor
at the Racket store and never tried to
do so. Had no razor or knife in her
possession the fatal morning. When she
left Mrs. Davis with the collar pattern
she started home, had no thought of
stopping at Castles Mrs. Castle called
her in. There was a man on the side
walk. Said nothing to Clara about
any letter. Was shown the razor; said
she had never seen it at that time; had
no sharp instrument in her pocket; had
no thought of trouble with Clara when
4. she went IN.
Miss Morrison then related the story
of the fight.
During quarrel had dropped her
handkerchief and while picking it up
Clara had cut her throat. Then the
fight commenced, during which the
witness had taken the razor away from
Mrs. Castle and while Mrs Castle was
on top of her, both on the lounge and
on the floor, Mrs. Castle received the
slashes from the razor in the hands of
the witness. She saw only one razor
Mrs Moberly was the first one to enter,
she asked What is the NATTER" I re-
piled, ''she tried to kill me-" Mrs.
Spangler came in and asked the same
as Mrs Moberly and 1 replied, ''Clara
called me in and tried to kill me and 1
am afraid 1 have killed her. 81
stopped down to take my skirt from
under Clara and to put on one of my
thing in my skirts" I had two hat
pins in my hand when I was going
home from Castles, which had dropped;
had nothing else in my hands. "
Q. At the time you used the razor
on Mrs. Castle did you believe your life
was in danger? A. did. There was
nothing said about a letter by either
of us when l went into the house. Did
not ask Mrs. Castle if there was any
! one about the house" 1 did not cut
myself"
In answer to cross examination she
said: Was never engaged to DIN Cas-
tie. There was no promise on either
side. Had no intention of going to
the Castle house when 1 left home
When I dropped my handkerchief and
before she cut me l heard her jump
toward the stand but I did not see her.
/ Mrs. Castles first conversation com
menced with You know that I hate
you"
= T,5oa cI,i1a-S obo--a ~ +La 49,,
was considered to be, in effect at least.
very 1enient and favorable toward
Jessie Morrison.