The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-07
is BRAvELY TOLD.
Miss Morrison on the Stand in
Her Own Behalf.
Climax of Interest Is Reached
i'm the Ell Dorado Case.
EXCELLENT WITNESS.
Positively Declares That Mrs.
Castle Was the AggressOr
And That the Dead Woman
Called Her to the House.
WAS BUT ONE RAZOR.
The First Blow Not Struck by
the Defendant.
Rough and Tumble Fight
Which Ended in Death.
Prisoner Relates Her Story in
And That the Dead Woman
Called Her to the House.
WAS BUT ONE RAZOR.
The First Blow Not Struck by
the Defendant.
Rough and Tumble Fight
Which Ended in Death.
Prisoner Relates Her Story in
DispassiOnate Manner.

Kansas City, Dec. IA special to the
Star from Ell Dorado. Kan. says:
Jessie Morrison, pale and weak, her
eyes red from crying, took the stand to-
day, and told her version of
the story of the quarrel that ended
in Mrs. Castle being mortally wounded.
Today when court was called, her fam
lily grouped themselves about Miss Nor
rison and buoyed her up with words Of
cheer.
Every inch of space in the court room,
which has been crowded daily for the
past three weeks, was filled with people
long before the case was begun Every
day two-thirds of the audience has been
made up Of women and girls and today
was no exception to the rule.
An air of expectancy pervaded the
room and the drop of a pin could have
been heard when Judge Shinn called
Jessie Morrison" and she made her
way toward the witness chair. Olin
Castle widower of the murdered wo-
man, had earlier in the trial told how
Miss Morrison had forced her attentions
upon him, and he was considered the
states strongest witness. Miss Morri-
its most telling evidence, and as she
testified she faced Castle,who, surround
ed by Mrs. Wiley, mother of the muir
dered woman, Mrs. Castle, his mother,
and other members of the Castle and
Wiley families, occupied a. front seat in
the court room.
The first part of Miss Morrison's tes-
timony contradicted much that Castle
had said on the stand. Tt disclosed,
however, nothing sensational. At first
her voice was harsh, but it afterwards
became more soft and was very low.
Witness said she had known Castle
since July, 1897, when she began to work
in the Racket store where he was en-
ployed and that she had known Mrs.
Castle for about six years before her
death. During the summer of 1899, Cas-
tie had come to see her at her brother
in-law's house from one to three times
a week, and had taken her riding fre-
quently. He had written her a letter
while he was at Whitewater, and she
had answered it. She told about going
to Excelsior Springs last January and of
Castles asking to come to see her on the
night befGre she went away
'Just before he left did you tell him
you would fix him?" was asked.
I did not" replied Miss Morrison
firmly.
Il did not
She told of the interview in the Rack
ct store with Castle, who said on the
witness stand that she had threatened
him
She said she had asked him TO return
her letters and things, and he had re-
piled: " You needn't worry; nobody has
ever seen your letters and guess I'll
return them. -
Were either OF you angry?"
Il was not"
Did you use any expression or make
any threatening movement, or say, If
you don't, you'll wish you had?'
Witness told that while at Excelsior
from him.
He asked me to write to him He
wrote the last letter.
She denied urging him to keep his
promise to come and see her, or that she
had told him she was in trouble
Did you write any letter in which you
spoke of any kind of a low vulgar
scheme in which you wanted Olin to
participate?''
I did not.''
Mrs. Push yesterday testified that
Mrs. Castle had told her that Miss Nor
rison had written such letter
Miss Morrison told Of Mrs Castle
wearing tie that she 6witness) had
made for Castle, and of Haunting it into
the prisoners face, and of Castle giving |
her mirror, fact that Castle denied |
on the stand She also told of Castle |
taking her riding and proposing that
they drive past Clara's house, ITO make
her Jealous. Witness denied that she |
had met Castle in front Of his house one
night at IL o'clock as he had testified, |
and had demanded an interview. Her |
brother had, she said, taken her from |
a friends house at 10 o'clock, and she
was in bed at IL. She denied having |
taken any razors from the Racket |
store.
Then in reply to questions Miss Nor |
rison related all the occurrences the day |
of the fatal quarrel with Mrs. Castle. |
She had visited Mrs. Davis, and ON her |
way home had passed the Castle house |
She carried a. letter in her hand, but had |
no knife or razor. Mrs. Castle opened |
her door and called to her to come in.
Miss Morrison said She turned and en- /
tered the house. Mrs Castle fastened /
the screen door behind her. Witness
seated herself upon the lounge and Mrs.
Castle sat near her in a chair.
CLARA sat down in front Of me, ,"esaid |
the witness, ~and asked. What do you /
mean by following Olin around?' I
said I was not Then she said You