The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-18
Attempt to Get Her to Admit That
Family Tried TO Conceal Her
Brothers Address Failed.
STATES WITNESSES ATTACKED.
Mrs. Richardson Recalled to Testi-
fy Concerning Details of Her
Visit TO st. Charles Hotel
Incidents of the Trial.
BY . STAFF CORRESPONDENT

BY \ STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
Savannah. Mo. March lI.-By patiently
attacking each detail OF the evidence pro-
duced by the State. by producing witness
after witness TO prove a point. the i've law
yers defending Stewart Fife are laying their
case before the jury. In turn. the question
of Flies alleged attempt to conceal his
address. when he left his home for the far
West in June. 1850. the matter OF his al
legged attentions TO Mrs. Richardson. and of
the alleged quarrels with Richa rdson, have
been taken Up.
The question OF ;he Owl Club alibi is
reserved for the last day,
The examination Of witnesses was again
begun early this afternoon. Miss Edith
| Fife. darli-haired young woman of strik-
/ ing appearance. who was called late in the
day. was the first of the Fife family to
take the stand.
Her answers during direct examination
were brief and concise: during cross-exami-
nation. their b-iefness approached acerbity
States Witness Attacked.
Prosecuting Attorney Booher attempted.
without success, to wiring from her an ad-
mission that a disposition had existed In
the Fife family to withhold from Andrew
County authorities Stewart Fife's address
during the period that he lived in North
Yakima. Wash
The balance OF her testimony had TO do
with the visit to Lake Contrary when
Stewart Fife and Mrs Richardson were
seen at that place. She said that she Mr.
Richardson and young Howells Richardson
had accompanied Stewart and Mrs. Rich
ardson at this time
A determined attack was made upon the
character OF +. A. Norris. the States wit
ness. who testified TO an alleged coEversa-
tion between himself and Fife. in which
the latter uttered threats again Richard
son.
Enos Craig and John Broden. former
Chiefs of Police at ST. Joseph. and other
"Incers. +rated that Norris's general repu-
tatio" for morality was bad.
George Easton, Char McAhan. Mrs
Mary Whir-nsai and several Others, were
called. and '":.i that there vas no secrecy
about Flies departure from 81. Joseph for
Rosebers. oIe. McAhsn sail that he had
received letters from rh. defendant, post
mark Il RoseSerG ar.i. Ncril Yaki:ni. 1t was
at the later :iac" that Ei'e was arrested.
Mrs. Rtc!,nrdson Recalled.
During the n'-ht session of court Mrs
H:chardso'' was again rl:ccd on the stand
Attorney Boyd asked he, il she had seen
Stewart 81 the night OF December g. the
Light beio-c le. husband was killed A..
tcrney Booher clJsyte,'. and BOYD ex-
I,.ained TO the Court that the State had
produced evidence implying that Fife had,
been with her at this tine. The question
vas admitted. End a r'sative answer re-
turned.
Boyd questioned her further as to her
movements on the night of the tragedy.
Then cross-eXamining. Eoohar endeavored
to gain further Information Il. to the note
she had written George Crowley at the
time that Mrs. Richardson took her hu.-
band. intoxicated. from the St. Charles Ho-
tel at midnight
Asked her reasons for writing the note
she said that one reason was that she
wished for Crowley TO know that she had
taken her husbsnd home. Questioned as to
what was her other reason. she said tha:
she could not think OF another.
Booher continued the cross-axamination
at length. until n note of impatlence en-
tered her answers. the frs time that sle
became angry or disposed to argue n point.
Mrs. Blum Speaks Out I'm Court.
Finally. Booher precip;tated an exciting
episode by asking Mrs. Richardson il her
sil.er-in-law, Mrs William Blum, had not
taken notes of the testimony at this trial
and shown them to her before size testified.
Mrs. Blum. out in the center of the
crowded courtroom. jumped up. and cried:
Il did notr'
1t had been stated by witnesses that Mrs.
Blum had taken notes.
But ] didn'tr' exclaimed Mrs. Blum.
Judge Burnes warned the lady against q
repetition of such a scene
Whether the witnessing Of play in
which a murder is committed would infiu-
ence the minds of the jurymen was the in
teresting point which Judge Burnes mega
lively decided at the close Of to-night's ses-
sion. The twelve turymen. accordingly.
were granted a respite from their long con-
fnement They forgot the case Of Stewart
Fife and followed the fortunes OF an 'inno-
cent maid" her handsome lover. and the
numbering. scheming villain-characters ex-
plotted by a .'one-light-stand'' company
which has zig-zaggeI its way here cross
lots" from Chicago.
Judge Burnes did NOT fully express HIM
self as to his reasons for this decision,
save to say that II was q matter OF humani-
" 10 the Jury, and to lay II down aS q
principle that stage murder has nothing to