The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-20
BAD FOR Defendant.
State Making Stronger Case
Than in First Trial.

Kansas City, June 20.-A special to
the Star from FL Dorado, Kan, says:
Thus far the second trial of Jessie Nor
rison on the charge of murder is very
much against her The defense has not
introduced evidence of any consequence
to support its claim of self-defense. The
keen interest which the accused woman
takes in all the rulings of the court
and the testimony of witnesses shows
her anxiety. What is considered a very
important point was gained by the
state this morning in the refusal of
Judge Aikman to admit as evidence
the clothing worn by Jessie Morrison
on the cay that she gave the mortal
wounds to Clara Castle. This clothing
is cut and biOod-Stained. At the first
trial it was all admitted to the jury
while the clothing of Mrs. Castle was
excluded. At this trial the situation is
the reverse By nearly all of their wit
nesses so far introduced the attorneys
for Miss Morrison have sought to bring
out two facts, that Miss Morrison show
ed no unusual emotion on the morning
of June % before she killed Clara Cas-
tie, and that none of the members of
her family had ever seen the razor with
which Miss Morrison is supposed to
have killed Olin Cas- tie's bride. Judge
Aikman ruled continually that Ques-
tions in an effort to bring out testimo-
ny of this kind We're Objectionable.
Miss Morrison was in tears frequent
ly this morning. Her old father, her
step-mother and brothers were on the
stand and while they testified the pris-
oner often wiped her eyes.
While he was on the stand this morn
ing, Judge H. H. Morrison, a venerable
old man, described the injuries which
Jessie Morrison received during her IA
tai struggle with Mrs. Castle. There
were, he said, two long cuts on her
neck, deepest on the left side, one on
the breast, cutting through to the col
lar bone and three cuts on the arm
between the shoulder and elbow. Miss
Morrison's attorney asked Judge Morri-
son what statement his daughter had
made when she returned to her home
after the fatal visit to the home of Olin
Castle Counsel for the state objected
and the objection was sustained.
After days of testimony the state
in tie case o. Jessie Morrison, on trial
for the murder of Mrs. Olin Castle
defense will, it is said. spring a sur
prise in the Introduction of new evi-
dence not adduced at the first trial.
When Miss Morrison took the stand iE
December last to tell in her own de-
fense of the fatal quarrel with her
rival. she testified that Mrs. Castle had
called her to the house and started the
trouble. At that time an affidavit of a
J. Morgan. a peddler, who sWOre that
he heard Mrs. Castle rap on the door
as Miss Morrison was passing her
house, and call her in. was presented 4
Morgan could not be found but it is
now said the defense has located him
and will put him on the stand. Other
new witnesses may be introduced by
the defense to sustain the plea OF self
defense.
One of the great surprises of the trial
was the action of the state in resting
it's case without putting Olin Castle on
the stand. Olin was one of the prin-
cipaI witnesses in the case at the first
trial, but for some reason he was not
called this time
Olin Castle does not seem to bear any
i'll viii now toward the Morrisons on ac-
count of the tragedy in which his wife
lost her life. He is quite chummy with
Morrison. the favOrite
brother of Jessie. The two play in the
same band, and are often in each 9TH
er's company.
Tt is a strange coincidence that the
fate of Jessie Morrison viii be placed
in the hands of a jury of twelve men
on the first anniversary of the Morri-
SON Castle tragedy. One year ago next
Saturday morning. June p, Jessie Nor
rison went to the home of clara Wiley
Castle, then a bride of a few days, and
slew her. Next Saturday the case
against her will be given to the jury, 1t
Se fh071o7f