Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1900-12-13
THE DEFENDANT TESTIF|ES.
1t is 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
number of statements made by wit
neSses for the state.
The deposition of ]. A. Morgan was
then 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 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 unit
Mrs. Castle said to her jess, come in
want to talk to YOU" Before he was
out of hearing he heard 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; he called on me from once
to three times q 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 ''I1l
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 mirror
and he said Clara would make q scene
if he told her about it. She denied
every statement made by Castle in his
testimony. She had never got a razor
at the Racket store and never tried to
do 80. 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 wns \ 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
she went In.
Niss 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 MIRA. 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 matter" re-
piled, ''she tried to kill me-" Mrs.
Spangler came in and asked the same
as Mrs. Moberly and replied, "Clara
am afraid I have killed her" 81
stopped down to take my skirt from
under Clara and to put on one of my
slippers. 81 Ibid not try to conceal any
thing in my skirts" l had two hat
pins in my hand when l was going
home from Castles, which had dropped;
had nothing else in my hands. p"
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 Olin Cas-
tie. There was no promise on either
side. Had no intention of going to
the Castle house when 1 left home.
When 1 dropped my handkerchief and
before she cut me I heard her Jump
toward the stand but 1 did not see her.
Mrs Castles first conversation com
menced with You know that 1 hate
you"
Judge Shinn's charge to the jury
was considered to be, in effect at least.
very lenient and favorable toward
Jessie Morrison.