The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-14

4 jury. The greatest difficulty was expert
enced from the start. a week ago last Mon
day, in finding veniremen who had not dis
cussed the case with their friends. or VIII"
had not formed fixed opinions concerning
the guilt or innocence Of iona Dunlap.
Before the twelfth juror had been secured
3c venlrenent had been examined. Then
began the actual trial with the hearing of
evidence.
Two white-haired and feeble women be
came central figures of the trial from the
opening day. dividing public interest with
thu. fair defendant. one is Mrs. j. G. Dooi.
mother of the dead girl. 4 little. motheriy
pair Of kindly blue eyes. The other is Mrs.
Mary Dunlap, mother of iona Dunlap. Il
grief and care. Both women sit IN rock
ing chairs. Mrs. Dool by the side o.: her
husband and Mrs. Dunlap by the side OF her
accused daughter. and their chairs are ever
rocking. Miss Bessie DuDlap sits on the
other side Of her sister. and il IS rarely that
the Defendants hands are not in the clasp
of the hands OF her mother and sister.
vt no time since the evidence began has
the courtroom been large enough 10 hold all
who wanted to hear the testimony; The
III. Courthouse all week. White-ha:rei
srtrimothers. staid matr9ns and s,mper-
aitir" ami put aside their social cares for
tho privilege of attending the trial.
Three shrewd and able lawyers are con-
is G. J. Scarf. former State Attorney of
Rock island County. Another is J. G Con-
nell. former County Judge of Mercer Coun-
Y, and the third is l. u. Thonason. former
States Attorney of Mercer County.
Asainst his trio are Plited the present
t. Scott. Mayor of Aledo. both OF whom
are lawyers of recognized ability.
states Attorney Graham has prepared his
case with unusual caution. His precautions
against SURPRISES have been successful thus
far IN the Trial. but the defense has been dill
iSsmt as We'll; ana i, has a5;d mamased to inject
raise the Reasonable doubt upon which 50
muc: depends when a jury ~retires.
Mrs. DoCl was the first witness called by
evidence around iona Dunlap. After teSti-
flying to the death of her daughter. lIrs.
a visit made b. Mrs. Dunlap and Tcna 70
the Dool residence. five days after Allie
Donl'S death.
Mrs. Dunlap said to AIR. Dool: You don't
blame iona for Allies death. do you. Mr..
Doo!?'
it was almost impossible for one to believe
that any one would be wicked enough to
cause Allies death, and that I didn't see
how Allie could have got 50 much poison
and nobody else any.
Then iona asked If We had heard the
rumor that she wanted Allies place In the
store. She said it was a mistake, rs she
Mrs. Dooi told the story of her daughters
engagement to Frank Owens. which was
broken 4 year ago.
An admission considered highly s.gnifi-
taInt DN the dCleES" was mace ny MIS-
Dcol when she admitted that her daughter
had CorreSDonded with Owens durin" the
past year without her knowledge. Mrs.
Dool sail she had discovered two letters
since her daughters death which had been
written by Owens. The defense will de-
manI these letters in court. it IS said. on
the theory that they may support the sui
eide theory.
Air. Felix testified that when he returned
to his store after supper he found Miss
Docl sitting in a chair near the rear door
She at once exclaimed: I'm so glad you
came" and a moment later she sprung
from her chair. screamed loudly and went
into a CONFUSION.
i caught her by The wrists and held her
until the convuis;cn was over. when ! asked
caniy was So litter. and when | as!:i
what candy she meant. she replied, The
candy iona Dunlap gave me"
\ hard fight was made by the defense
words as a dying declaration. One DAY
was occupied in hearing the evidence On
this part Of the case. in the absence Of the
jury. and another day was taken up by the
arguments OF the lawyers. before Judge
Ramsey decided in favor cf the State. Then
The testimony of Nj. Felix. MaynarI Mar
qui.; and Dcstor REYNOLDS was heard again.
Miss Emrra Riddeil. Il Tiliiner. who
CHANGED to enter the stG-e shortly after
Mss DooI showed the first symptoms ri
testified to finding the piece Of candy where
Ala Dool said she laid il. TIE discovery
vas made while the girl war dying. and The
pace os candy is destined to play IN i'll
portant part in tire case;
Miss Riddell declared that the piece was
fattered out; as though by action of the
heat. II will be urged by the defense that
this fact support the theory that Miss Dooi
might have been poisoned by some Of the
chocolate candy given her by Miss Cora