The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-30
EXAMINATION. OPENS.
Mrs Bette MOberly First Wit
ness in Morrison Case.

Ell Dorado, Nov. 30-The trial OF
Jessie Morrison for the murder of Mrs
Castle began in earnest this morning,
when at the opening of court Prosecut-
ing Attorney Brumback stated the case
for the state The court room was lit
orally jammed with spectators. every
seat having its occupant and the avail
able space around the walls being
crowded with men and women. Women
were in the majority.
The Morrison family, the Castles and
the Wileys were all present. There were
not seats enough for them all and Olin
Castle, the man in the case, was COM
PEELED to stand. The entrance of the
prisoner caused a buzz of whispers that
brought from the bailiff a demand for
order. Miss Morrison, unchanged in ap-
pearance, was conducted to her seat by
her father, and he and her two married
sisters and a brother grouped them
selves near by. During Attorney Brum-
backs recital of the case the prisoner
watched him closely with her fingers
to her lips, while Roland Wiley, father
of the murdered woman, covered his
eyes with his hand and was unable to
refrain from crying
Attorney Brumback said: I'VE expect
the evidence to show that Jessie Nor
rison went by a. circuitous route to Mr..
Castles house prepared to kill and muir
der Clara Wiley Castle" They would
show. he said, that the prisoner went
d
a knife, and that she attacked Mrs
Castle, inf1icting eighteen wounds. The
crime it would be shown, was COM
nitted through passion, jealousy and
anger. malice and hatred against Mrs
castle and her husband, and the state
would ask for a. verdict of murder in
the first degree.
A. It. Kramer stated the case for the
defense and said they would show that
Miss Morrison had cut Mrs Castle IN
elf-defense, after the latter had attack
ed her. They would show, he said, that
Olin Castle continued to pay Miss Nor
Tison attention after he became engaged
to Miss Wiley, and that he continued TO
make her presents and send her love
letters. The evidence would show that
Castle showed all of the defendant's 8
notes and letters to Miss Wiley and that
the latter became extremely jealous
and unfriendly toward Miss Morrison:
that Miss Wiley after she had become
Mrs. Castle, called Miss Morrison into
her house, and after accusing her of be-
ing too intimate with Castle attacked
her with a razor. After that Miss Nor
rison cut Mrs. Castle in self defense
what she did, said Attorney Kramer,
'.was done because she thought it was
necessary to save her own life; the other
woman was pressing the fight and Jessie
Morrison did what she did in order to
keep the other woman in her anger and
frenzy from killing her"
It was announced that the state and
defense would present a total of 115 wit
nesSes to be examined. The taking of
testimony was then begun, the state
calling Mrs. Bette Moberly, the first per-
son who entered the Castle home in re-
sponse to Mrs. Castles cries for help
Mrs. Moberly told of breaking into the
house and finding Mrs. Castle lying on
the floor with her throat cut and Jessie
Morrison bending over her. She pushed
Miss Morrison back. she said and as she
did so the latter tried to get something
from her shoe. She held Miss Morrison
so she could not move and demanded an
explanation of the situation
She tried to kill me, said Miss Nor
risOn -