Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-03
ARGUMENT IN LILLE CASE
State Finishes Up Its Testimony in Short
Order in Forenoon.
CASE TO GO TO THE JURY IN MORNING
Court Room and HaIIs Leading 10 II
Are with People Anx-
iOus to See Closing
scenes.

a large NUMBER were greatly dlSappoluteu
when the defense in the Lillio murder case
rested its side Of the caso Saturday even
ing, in that the defendant, Mrs. Lena NJ.
Lille did not go upon the stand and affirm
or deny the numerous statements II is al
legged she made to different parties on the
morning of the murder and subsequent
thereto.
When court convened his morning the
large district court room was well filled.
The housewives, chambermaids and servant
girls postponed their customary wash day
and came out to witness the closing OF he
most important case in the history of Butler
county.
The jury, when brought in court, pre-
scented the appearance Of having enjoyed
the Sunday rest.
Mrs. Lille had the appearance this morn
ing Of one who is undergoing a severe
mental strain. and who no doubt appreciates
the fact that the trying ordea! is nearing
the close.
Arthur Pepper was the first witness this
morning. He said: Il live about 100 feet
south Of the Lille residence. On the morn
ing Of the shooting l arrived at the Lillio
house about $3.50. I assisted Mr.. Heath with
the bloodhounds. After they left the lille
house they went south, part Of the line on
the sidewalk. The dogs went where the
campers were, barked and then went over
to the campers wagons. l do not think
they had any trail. They acted like hey
were glad to get out.
81 was present when the dogs were
started out on the second trip. l held one
Of them. They went down the center Of
the street this time about twenty Ave or
thirty feet from where they went the trst
Tina Thpr uyoDt IN the nornparaf uaTons
again. The dogs waned to turn in again
and Heath would not let them. There was
a dog tied under the wagon. This seemed
to be the reason they wanted to stop. The
dog that was tied under the wagon was
a female"
w. d. Westover and I. j. West gavo
some very strong rebuttal testimony con-
tradicting witnesses w. R. Heath AMI Ar
thur Warren.
Commence the Argument.
At 10 o'clock the state concluded the in
PRODUCTION Of rebuttal testimony. mi the
arguments of counsel was commenced. Fly
agreement the arguments were not limited.
County Attorney A. J. Evans opened tho
argument for the state. He congratulated
the jury in their patience in listening to
the testimony introduced, taking into con-
u ~ Nv AoNN Ahot Ahbg o. pNNA lANS
tically in close confinement for more tran
two weeks. He impressed upon their
minds that they alone were the judges Of
the testimony and in quoting the testimony
he would give 1t as near correct as he pos
sibly could. He said in part:
Remember your oaths, remember your
responsibilities, and render a verdict in &C
cordance with the evidence, that in after
years you will not regret what you have
done. The witnesses IN the case have all
been before you and you are the sole judges
Of their evidence. The. attorneys for the
defense have criticised come OF the cvi-
dence for the state, but they were EN-
ployed by the officers of Butler county
and their acts in running down the person
who committed the crime were perfectly
legitimate. l believe that Mr.. Rem rrd
Mr.. Derby have been in Butler cornty too
long, their regulations have been wrll C2-
tablished and there is no reason chat they.
should be attacked rs they have been by
the defense in this case.
The principal wltne sses for the de-
Tense have testiicl trait the domestic re-
lations Of MIR. and Mrs. Lille were pleasant,
affectionate and loving. l do not know
how it affects you, gentlemen, of the jury,
but to me 1t is not sufficient. The fact
NAAU NhNg az NV NAtA III NhO t1NhNO
of hired help and %vis!torr is not suhl-
Client; the evidence shows that the de-
PENDANT was living a double life, the
letter in evidence proves this to be an
absolute fact.
when has the defendant showed one act
Of affection. of love. l have failed to dis
cover it; the ordinary wife would not be
transacting business and the husband know
nothing about 1t.
Seine Peculiar circumstances.
ION the 2Sd day of October she iele-
phoned to Mr.. Runyon about the deals she
had with him. she kenw about 5000 or $500
in margins were due; she met Mr.. Runyon
that evening, but said nothing to him about
paying this. She went home and told the
sewing girls about having a large amount
of money in the house. There is a circum-
stance that is very peculiar. Another pc
culiar circumstance-on this same day she
spoke TO her husband about the dogs being
poisoned.
She knew hat she owed Runyon at
least 5000. Why was 1t that she departed
from her usual custom OF putting the money
in the postofice that evening, but said she
wanted to deposit 1t in the bank?
Another circumstance is the door across
the hall on that particular evening was
closed"
Mr.. Evans here discussed in detail the
shots that we're fired and the statements
made by Mrs. Lille.
she walks across the ROOM" said Mr..
Evans, tells the girls TO get up and light
a lamp, walks downstairs, without return
ing TO the room where MIR. Lille lay. She
is found at the telephone. She tells Mr..
Rem that the reason the burglar could see
to fire the shot in a vital spot was the
moon was shining on Mr.. Lilies face.
This was at an hour in the morning when
wagons were upon the street and people
we're on he. sidewalks. Do you believe.
gentlemen, that a burglar would wait until
this particular time in the morning to
commit this crime?
Mrs. Lille says that the man stood on
the west side of the bed and north Of the
stovepipe. Again she said he was Just
south of the stovepipe, and another that
he was standing close to the head Of the
bed.
"She gave a complete description Of the
man to several witnesses. The girls across
the hall heard the shots: they did not
hear Mrs. Lille fall On the floor, nor the
man run downstairs. They did hear Mrs.
Lille come out in her stocking feet and