Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-12-30
PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY TAKING SIDES
Relatives Of Murdered Man Express the Be-
lief the Wife is Innocent
us BROTHER AND MOTHER ATTEND HER
Court Room is Crowded with Spectators
When Hearing Commences.
WITNESSES TELL WHAT DEFENDANT SAID
First Dsy's Proceedings Develop No
Testimony of a startling Nature
or Facts Not Already
known.

known.
DAVID CITY, Neb.. Dec. 2s-(speoiaI)-
The preliminary hearing OF Mrs. Lena NJ
Lille, charged with the crime of numbering
her husband, Harvey Lille, on the morning
OF October "a Of this year, was commenced
before County Judge c. N. skiles this
morning. The county court room was too
small to accommodate the large crowd in
attendance, and the case is being heard in
the district court room, which is crowded
to its utmost capacity. The attorneys for
the state are County Attorney walIlnK and
County Attorney elect Evans, aud for the
defendant Judge Matt Miller
Mrs Lille is a woman OF medium height,
rather slender, small black eyes, dark hair
and has the appearance OF a woman OF re-
nnement and one would not think she would
even be charged with a crime 90 serious
as that OF murder in the FIRST degree.
She returned from Ballwood this morn
ing. accompanied by her father and mother,
Mr. and Mrs J. S. Hill, the latter Of whom
occupies a seat with her in the court room.
A large crowd from BellWood, the former
residence Of Mr.. and Mrs. Lille, lie attend
Ing the trial. Sam Lille and his aged
mother occupy seats inside Of the railing
They do not believe Mrs Lille guilty of
the crime.
Mrs. Tabitha Stafford. president, and Mrs.
NJ. z. Beach, secretary OF the womau's
Christian Temperance union, occupied front
seats and are taking an active interest in
Mrs. Lilies behalf
1t is hardly possible to approach the
many groups Of people scattered along
the main street OF David City and on the
70 he
a relative Of one or the other Of the prin-
cipals. The town is full OF relatives Of
either the Lilies or the Hills, Hill being
Mrs. Lilies maiden name.
There have been marriages among the
different branches OF the different families
until 1; seems to be fact that nearly
every household in the town contains a
relative of either the Lilies or the Hills.
The prosecution will not only attempt
to show the impossibilitIes In the story
Of Mrs. Lille. but will also present mo-
tiSs for the murder. ,.,. -. ~
Creates Great Interest.
This case is creating more interest than
any case for a number Of years. The last
criminal case OF any great Importance was
in 1892, when Mrs. Mary A. Armogost was
tried, charged with poisoning her husband.
She was held to the district court but
after two weeks trial was acquitted by
the. jury.
When Judge skiles raped for order the
large court room was crowded to its ut
most capacity.
All of the witnesses were excluded from
the court room.
DR.. A. J. Stewart was the first witness
called. He testified that he was called to
the Lille home on the morning OF Oc-
fOhar A ~ a.
I examined a timepiece after l arrived at
the Lille residence and it was just 4:2O
o'clock. When / went into the house 1
found Mrs. Lille standing at the telephone.
| asked her what had happened and abe
said that someone had shot Mr.. Lllie,
took her by the arm and she led me
through the dining room and upstairs I
said, We have forgotten TO get a lamp
She said. There is light upstairs
Examined Injured Man.
when we arrived at the bedroom wa
found Mr.. Lille with the right side of his
head all covered with blood. He was lyin1
on the west side Of the bed with his head
TO the south. Upon examination I found
wound in front Of and above the riRht
ear, penetrating the frontal bone The
wound was a email, round hole. also ex-
amined to find the place Of exit OF the
bullet, but could not find It. then asked
someone to call DR.. Beede to assist me.
I'm preparing the wound for an opera
tion noticed that about ohe-haIf inch
around the wound was blackened. soon
after ] went into the bedroom Mr.. Bert
Hail and Night Policeman Jaddikep came
in. Mr.. Lille was not conscious at Anv
time after / saw him that morning. The
bed in which Mr.. Lille lay was IN the
southeast ~ ha
of the bed was about ten inches from The
wall and the foot OF the bed was pulled
out some two OF three feet from the wall
The lamp was on the dresser, which was
covered with brushes. The top drawer was
open just little bit. Mr.. LAllie's body
was entirely covered with the bsdelethes
The body was moved 10 the hospital about
7 o'clock. I found Mr.. Allis's body lying
on the back. the head lying slightly ON
the left side"
Counsel for the state attempted 70 hSvs
the witness demonstrate TO tine court. nv
using a human skull and pillow. the exact
position OF the head Of Mr.. Lille, but was
not permitted 70 do 90.
"Afer arriving at the hospital We teok
him TO the operating room where We made
a further examination for the bullet bst
ala not and "a. I remained with him until
about twenty minutes before his death
and he was not conscious AZ any time
Was also present and assisted IN the
autopsy.
when I Was A. the IAilis home that
morning. ! overheard Mrs. Hiie tsllius
someone the details % the shootinE. 4
nov remembor she said thu burglar shot
Mr., Lille and tried 10 shoot her she aaid
ths man vas near the hsd. that shs suoks
vhen Mr.. Lille uas shot and the nan
eFouchei fovn and tried 70 push The -.
voiSeF aEainst her. that ths man siosd On
he set side 81 the bed ana imnsdistsly
after ths shooiinE ne man very suiskiy
anf quietly ssut tovn stairs. thai ubfn
shs saw ne man pointiug ne revolver 81
her she dropped tosh bshiHf ths tss
FtFst Arrivals sa sesas
whsn couft soavsnsf this sttsrnosa Dr.
sisuaft sas recalled Hs testified thai "a
ftf mnruias of tts mr-dsf b. Heart M.
iAlnr saf that 80 ~ tssn staisu ttst
hra flIlia taIf fks nan ska "a a. 49,