The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-08
Says Mrs. Castle Attacked Her First.
and that She Used the Razor
i'm Self-Defense.
BOTH ROLLED ON THE FLOOR
AND SLASHED EACH OTHER IN
THEIR FIERCE, JEALOUS RAGE.
Witness Cool and Collected in Recit-
ing Her Story-Tcstimony Unshak-
en- by CrOss-Examinati0n.

ELDORADO, Kan. Dec. 7.-Jessie Morri-
son took the stand in her own defense
to-day, and in a quiet, self-possessed way
told minutely of her relations with Olin
Castle before his marriage. and then pic
tured the scene at the Castle house during
the bloody rough and tumble fight with
Mrs. Castle. She proved an Unexpectedly
strong witness Miss Morrison approached
the witness chair pale and trembling and
began her testimony with an effort. AS
she proceeded she gained confidence. AMI
related her story without hesitation. She
denied most of the damaging testimony
adduced by the prosecution. She fatly de-
MED many of the statements made on the
stand by Olin Castle. declared that he had
tried TO make Mrs Castle jealous, and
that Mrs. Castle had Haunted her hus-
bands acts in her face. On the day of the
tragedy, she declared. Mrs. Castle had
called her into the house as she was pass
ing, had accused her of trying to sepa-
rate her and Castle, and when she denied
it. called her liar. Mrs Castle had, the
witness declared emphatically, begun the
fight. siashing her with the razor again
and again, and compelling witness to at
tack her i'm self-defense. In all her testi-
mony Miss Morrison was direct and posi-
tive; never once did she finch and only
once during the cross-examination did she
shed 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 ner contradict
any material point in her testimony
Yesterday Judge Morrison. the pris-
oner's aged father. her stepmother and
her sister, as Well as many friends of both
herself and the murdered woman. testified
for the defense. The day was considered
a good one for Miss Morrison, the witness
contradicting some of the strongest evil
dence put forth by the State. To-day, when
court was called. the members of her fam
lily grouped themselves about Miss Morri
son and buoyed her UP with words of
cheer The crowded courtroom was in
tensely quiet when Judge Shinn called
Jessie Morrison and she made her way
toward tho witness chair. Olin Castle,
i'm the trial told how Miss Morrison had
forced her attentions upon him, and he
was considered the States strongest wit
ness Miss Morrison was reserved by the
defense to give its most telling evidence,
with Mrs Wiley his mother r-in-law, Mrs
Castle. his mother, and other members
OF the Castle and Wiley families, occupied
front, seats in the courtroom. {
NEVER THREATENED CASTLE.
The first part of Miss Morrison's testi-
mony contradicted much that Castle had
said on the stand. 1t disclosed, however,
nothing sensational Witness said she had
known Castle since July 1897, when she
began to work in the store where he was
employed and that she had known Mrs.
Castle for about six years before her death.
During the summer OF 1899 Castle had come
to see her at the home of her brother-in-
law from one to three times a week and
had taken her riding frequently. He had
written her a letter while he was at White
Water and she had answered il. She told
about going to Excelsior Springs last jan
uary and of Castles asking to come to see
her on the night before she went away.
did you ever tell him you would fix him,
or use words of similar import?''
81 did not" she replied firmly.
She told of the interview in the store
with Castle, who said on the witness stand
that she had threatened him. She said she
had replied: You needn't worry; nobody
has ever seen your letters, and L guess I'll
return them" Witness said she was not
angry at the time. and did not make any
threats. She told that while at Excelsior
Springs she had received several letters
from Castle. She denied urging him to
come and see her.
Witness denied that she had ever written
letter 10 Castle asking him to participate
in vulgar scheme. She told of seeing
Mr.. Castle wearing tie that she (witness)
had made for Castle. and of Mrs. Castle
Haunting IL in the prisoners face, and of
Castle giving her a mirror an incident that
Castle denied 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 met Castle in front of the house and
demanded an interview one night at II
O'Clock, as he had testified. Her brother.
she testified. had taken her from friends
house and she e'was abeG at IL o'clock She
denied having taken the razors from the
Bracket store.
Then. in reply 10 questions. Miss Morri-
son related all the occurrences of 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 10 come in Miss
Morrison said she turned and entered the
house Mrs Castle fastened the screen
door behind them. Witness seated herself
upon the lounge and Mrs. Castle sat near
her In "a chair.
THE DEADLY STRUGGLE
Clara down ia front OF me-" said
witness. "and demanded. What do you