The times., 1901-06-18
MORTIMER'S TRIAL BEGUN
Mrs. Starring Testifies and the At
t0rneys Have a Tilt.

PLAINTIFF Says She Did Not Regard
the Defendant ns Her Social Equal
Her Letters to Him Termed IRE
levnnt to the Issue-Thc Jury
The trial of Lewis Francis Mortimer,
| who is charged with the larceny of S,OVJ
worth of diamonds from Mrs. Olivia 9.
Starring on May last, attracted a large
crowd yesterday to Criminal Court
No. /. Although it was generally known
that the trial would not begin until 1888
Il. m, long before that time every seat
in the room was occupied and by the
time the proceedings were commenced
a hundred or more people were standing
| outside the railings. Among the spccta-
tors were many of the younger members
of the bar, who anticipated lively legal
fight between District Attorney Gould,
| who represented the Government and
! Andrew A. Lpscomb, of counsel for the
defence. In This the spectators were not
disappointed. for hardly had the trial
been begun when 1t became apparent that
every minute of the time would be inter-
esting and that a sensation was liable to
| develop at any moment.
1t was not, however, until after the
| recess hour that coursel for the Govern
ment ana for the defendant clashed in a
war of words 1t was while Mrs. Starring
was under cross-examination by Mr..
Lipscomb that the occasion arose which
afforded the attorneys an opportunity to
show their aptness at repartee.
After some preliminary questions Mr..
Lipscomb said to Mrs. Starring;
Madame. what is your age?" Without
the slightest hesitancy the witness re-
plicd: Il refuse to tell you" At the
same moment District Attorney Gould
objected to the witness Being compelled
to answer the question. Mr.. Lipscomb
explained that the object of the ques-
tion was to test the memory of the wit
ness.
Mr.. Gould was on his feet in an instant
and said: Il don't pose as being chival-
rous, but l am a gentleman. l commend
that policy to counsel on the other side"
This angered MIR. Lipscomh, who
promptly replied: II am as thoroughly a
gentleman as TIE District Attorney, ard
l don't propose to have the rights of my
client frittered away through false eti-
quette.'
in reply to this Mr. Gould said: This
case viii be tired here legally and not
according to any feeling the defendant or
his counsel may have against the wit
ness on the stand"
Justice Anderson, who presided, ruled
that Mrs. Starring would not be obliged
to answer the question. She said, how
ever. without stating her age. that she
is a grandmother and proud of it.
When the court convened the work OF
selecting a jury was begun Immediately
but it was not until nearly II O'Clock that
a panel was agreed upon. Those chosen
to pass upon the guilt or Innocence of
the accused are: John c. Rogers, Herbert
w. Kline. John ]. Garrison. Thomas
Leonard, Robert Low. Frederick ]. Spind-
Ter, Thomas Williamson, c. w. JohHscn
Charles 1. Denham, b. Frank Meyers,
Charles J. Allen, and II. Clyde Grimes.
District Attorney Gould in his opening
statement to the jury reviewed the cir
cumstances surrounding the loss of the
Jewels by Mrs. Starring. substantially as
was told at the time the robbery was
committed. He stated that on May 7
last Mrs. Starring went bicycle riding
with the defendant. both leaving her resi-
dence, 1855 Massac achusetts Avenue about
5 p. m. When they were about to
start on the RE it is said Mortimer re-
turned to the house TO get his gloves
which he stated he left in the studio.
The ride extended through the Zoologi-
cal Park grounds. While I'm the grounds
the party stopped to take a rest and IL
is said Mortimer left Mrs. Starring for
about half an hour. on her return to
the house about 1880 p. m, Mrs. Starring
discovered that she had been robbed OF
her jewelry which she kept in 4 cabinet
in the studio. The drawer in the cabinet
in which the jewelry was kept IT was
found had been broken open and the dia-
monds and $400 in money stolen The loss
of the jewelry vas reported to the police
and ON the da' following Mortimer was
arrested on the charge OF stealing the
diamonds.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Gould's state
ment. counsel for the defence announced
that the defendant would reserve making
a statement of defence at that time. Mrs.
Starring was then called to the witness
stand and related the story of the loss of
her jewelry and money, substantially as
told by the District Attorney.
While testifying Mrs. Starring stated
that she did not look upon Mortimer as
her social equal and that he used very
bad English An effort was made by
counsel for the defence TO introduce let
ters said to have been written 20 Morti-
mer by Mrs Starring to show that she
court refused to admit them, as the sub
iect was one only collateral to the one at
issue.
Mr. Lipscomb also asked Mrs. Starring
that if while travelling abroad she did not
renounCe Christianity and espouse Budd-
hism. This question was also considered
to be irrelevant to the subject.
The trial will be resumed this morning
at 1890 O'Clock. Messrs. a. s. Colyar and
Richard Z. Evans also appear as counsel
for the defendant.