Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-11
LETTERS TO AID GIRL
iona Dunlap's Lawyers Have
Unearthed New EVi.
dence.
STRENGTH FOR SUICIDE THEORY
Love Affair With Frank Owens
Broken or by Miss Doors
Mother.

within the last year are destined to
play an important part in the trial
of iona Dunlap, now in progress. 1t
is the intention of the defense. when
the proper time arrives, to demand
these letters of Mrs. Dool, and if they
meet the expectations of the defense
they will be introduced as evidence
bearing on the suicide theory.
Owens was engaged to marry Miss
Dool until July of last year. The
young people had been plighted to
each other for over six years, when
the engagement was broken at Miss
DooTs request on account of Owens
drinking propensities and with the
approval of her parents. Miss Dool's
parents believed all relations had
ceased between the couple, but cor
respondence was maintained, not
withstanding, and without their
knowledge.
1t was Mrs. Dool who revealed the
fact while on the witness stand Mon
day that she had discovered two let
tiers written to her daughter by Ow-
ems. She was not asked To disclose
the contents of the letters. but the
defense learned from her that she
still had possession of the missives
and at once determined to gain pos
session of them.
Think Girl Was stIIl in Love.
1t is the theory of the defense that
Allie DooI still loved Owens and that
their correspondence was the best
evidence of the fact. Owens Will be
called as witness by the state and
the prospect is good that he will also
be used in that capacity by the de-
Tense 1t is understood that Owens
has a number of Allie DooIs letters,
written in reply to his, and that their
contents, if allowed to go to the jury,
will form strong substantiation of
the suicide theory.
Attorney j. II. Cornell, one of the
counsel for the defense, admitted last
night that demand would be made
for the letters. but would not state
the purpose behind the demand. Nei-
ther would he affirm nor deny that
the defense would attempt to estab-
lish the suicide theory.
Our plans will be governed entire
ly by the nature of the contents of
the letters" said Judge Council. I'VE
do not know what the letters con-
tain and after we find ont il may be
that the letters will be of no use to
the defense"
Dispute Over Dying Words
1t is still question whether the
words spoken by Allie Dool while she
was suffering from the effects of
poisoning will he admit
ted to the jury as her dying declara-
ton. All day the lawyers for the
prosecution and defense argued be-
fore Judge Ramsay on the PROPOSE
tion. The court will announce its de-
slider it's case practically won if the
decision is in its favor.
In summing UP the objection of the
defense to the admission of the dying
girls language Attorney Searle spoke
as follows while addressing the court:
The defense objects to the proof
rendered as dying declaration on
the ground that it atfirmatively APP
pears from the evidence that the
statements alleged by the witnesses
were not dying statements within the
meaning of the law. And we particu-
larry object to the competency of
that part of the alleged dying decla-
ration, wherein it is claimed by DR..
Reynolds that the deceased said in
substances: why did iona do this?'
or 4 wonder why iona gave me the
candy?'"
1t is the contention of the lawyers
of the defense that Miss Dool's words
were not inspired by the fear of inn
mediate death, and therefore her Ian
guage did not constitute u dying dec
laration. Attorney Cornell, for ex-
ample, called attention TO the fact
that the young woman left no mes
sage of farewell to her parents nor
to her sister, who was at her side
while she was suffering the agonies
of poisoning.
Attorney Censures Physician.
Attorney Searle, who is associated
with the defense, argued that Miss
Doofs language did not indicate any
fear of death, but was more of an in
quiry as to why iona Dunlap had
given her candy that was bitter. In
cidentally Attorney Searle made "A
savage attack ON DIR. Reynolds and
said by his own testimony that he
was incompetent and that he had
failed to give the young woman prop
or treatment