Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-08
JESSIE MORRISON TELLS
Of KILLING MRS. CASTLE.
DECLARES THE TAKING OF HER
ENEMY'S LIFE WAS AN ACT OF
SELF DEFENSE.
SHE MADE A GOOD WITNESS.
TOLD HER STORY IN A STRAIGHT
FORWARD MANNER AND WAS
NOT CONFUSED.

EDDORADO, Kans., December Z.
Jessie Morrison to-day took the stand
in her own defense, and in quiet man
ner told minutely of her relations with
Olin Castle before his marriage and
calmly pictured the scene at the Castle
house during the Bloody rough and
tumble fight with Mrs. Castle.
She proved an Unexpectedly strong
witness. She denied most OF the dam
aging testimony addueed by the prose-
cution. She fatty denied many OF the
statements made on the stand by DIN
Castle, declared that he had tried to
make Mrs. Castle jealous and that Mrs.
Castle had Haunted her husbands acts
in her face. On the day of the tragedy
she declared Mrs. Castle had called her
into her house as she was passing, had
accused Miss Morrison OF trying to sep
arate her and Castle, and when she
denied it, called her liar. Mrs. Castle
had, the witness declared emphatically,
begun the fight, slashing her with the
razor again and again and compelling
the defendant to attack her antagonist
in self defense.
During the thrilling recital Of the
two women rolling over one another
on the floor in their combat, the spec
tators riveted their eyes upon Miss
Morrison. In all her testimony, Miss
Morrison was direct and positive,
never once did she finch and only once
during the cross-examination, did she
shed a tear. 1t had been feared, even
by the defense, that she would break
down during the cross-eXamination.
The State did not succeed in making
her contradict any material point in
her testimony.
The court room was damned with
spectators, two-thlrds Of whom were
women. Miss Morrison's testimony
was designed by the defense TO Offset
that of DIN Castle, whom the witness
faced as she gave her evidence. Mem
bers of the families of all concerned in
the case occupied front seats.
Miss Morrison related all the occur
rences Of the day Of the fatal quarrel
with Mrs Castle. She had visited Mrs.
Davis and on her way home passed the
Castle house. She carried a letter in her
hand, but had no knife or razor. Mrs.
Castle opened her door and called her
to come in. Witness said she turned
and entered the house. Mrs. Castle
fastened the screen door behind them.
clara sat down in front OF me, she
continued. "and asked: What do you
mean by following Olin around?' /
said | was not Then she said You
know you hate me and | hate you, and
I'm no friend Of yours. You know you
wrote Olin from Excelsior Springs about
a low scheme Don't 60 yet, Olin Is
coming in minute | said: Isn't he
here now, and she said It's too bad for
you 10 run after that poor boy / told
her that he was the one VINO had caused
her to be 80 bitter 70 me She said; 4
know better You tried 10 separate us.
| said | had not. and she said; You
are a liar l said, Don't call me liar
Then We both raised up together Jes-
sic Morrison paused.
What was dOne?" asked Attorney
Redden.
My handkerchief dropped and l
stopped To pick it up. Then she jump
ed up. moved quickly in the same dlrec-
ton. and then she cut me with the
razor. She cut me twice with the razor
across my throat. I grabbed at her
and screamed. Then Clara and | rush
ed together and she threw me and /
raised my knees TO protect myself and
she kept striking at me all the time
She fell over on me. and then we both
rolled OF the lounge. We both strug-
gled, and ! got the razor away from
her. After that We rolled over On the
floor"
Miss Morrison hesitated a moment
and the words which the spectators
knew we're about TO come caused sup
pressed excitement in the court. Not
a sound vas heard, however, as At
torney Redden asked:
Then what did you dor
Il cut her answered the witness in
a conventional tone
DO you know how many times?"
no, sir
EDO you know what became Of the
razor?"
She may have knocked It from my
hand. or may hayefdropped It.
Then Miss Morrison told Of Mrs. No
berry and Mrs. Spangler entering the
house. She denied much Of the eyi-
dence given by these two women.
Capt Waters then began the cross
examination OF Miss Morrison.
Continued on Sixth Page.