Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-01-01
THE ACCUSED HAS FRIENr S
MANY ON HAND :wHo BELIEVE IN HER
lNN0C-NCE,
DR.. STEWART TESTIFIES
District Court Room al David City Crowded
Throughou; the Day Dr.. Stewart the
Principal Witness

David City, Neb., Dec. 30.-The
preliminary hearing Of Mrs. Lena
M. 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 q. M. Skies Monday
morning.
The county court room was too
small to accommodate the large
crowd In attendance, and the case
was heard In the district court room
which was crowded tn it's utmost
capacity. The attorneys for the
state were County Attorney Walling
and County Attorney elect Evans,
and for the defendant, Judge Matt
Miller.
Mrs. Lille is woman OF medium
height, rather slender, small black
eyes, dark hair and has the appeal
ance Of lady Of refinement and one
would not think she would even be
charged with crime ST. serious as
that Of murder in the first degree.
She returned from Bellwood Monday
morning, accompanied by her father
and mother, Mr.. and Mrs j. S. Hill,
who occupy a seat with her in the
court room.
DR., A. j. Stewart was the first
witness called. He testified chat he
was called to the Lille home on the
morning Of October "a about 5 O'Clock.
"TO Tx the time" said he 81 exam
ined time piece after | arrived at
the Lille residence and it was just
twenty minutes after 5 o'clock When
l went into the house | found Mrs.
Lille standing at the telephone. |
asked her what had happened and
she said that some one had shot Mr..
Lille and l took her by the arm and
she led me through the sewing IT ON
and upstairs. | said eve have for
gotten to get lamp" and she said
there Is d light upstairs, When we
arrived at the bed room | found Mr..
Lille with the right side Of his head
all covered with blood He was lying
on the west side of the bed with his
head to the south. Upon examina-
tion | found wound in front Of and
above the right ear penetrating the
frontal bone. The wound was a
small round hole. | also examined to
find the place OF exit of the bullet
hut could not find it. | then asked
some one to call DR.. Beede to assist
me.
SIN preparing the wound for an
operation | noticed that about one
half inch around the wound was
blackened. SoUn after l went into
the bed room Mr.. Burt Hall and
Night Policeman Taddiken came in
Mr. Lille was not conscious at any
time after / saw him that morning.
The bed in which MI. Lille lay as
In the southeast corner Of the room.
The head Of the bed was about ten
inches from the wall and the foot
was pulled out some two or three feet
from the wall. The lamp was on the
dresser. The top drawer was open
just little bit. Mr.. Lilies body
was entirely covered with the bed
clothing.
"The body was moved to the hos
pital about O'Clock. | found Mr..
Lilies body living on the back the
head lying slightly On the left side {"
Counsel for the state attempted to
have the witness demonstrate 10 the
court by using a human Skull and
pillow the exact position of the head
of Mr.. Lille, but was not permitted
to do so.
The doctor continued:
"AfteT arriving at he hospital we
took him to the operating room when
we made further examination for
the bullet but did not find it. re.
NAMED with HIM until about twenty
minutes before his death, and he was
not conscious at any time.n
Witness was also present and as
sist ed in the autopsy. H. said.
"When ] was at the Lille home
that morning | overheard Mrs. Lille
telling some one the details Of The
shooting / now remember she said
the burglar shot M. Lille and tried
to shoot her. She said the man WIS
near the he'd; that she awOke when
MI Lillir was shot and the man
cIouched down aud tried to push the
IevO yer against her: That the man
StOnd Oh the west side OF the bed and
Immediately after the shooting the
man very quickly and quietly went
down stairs. She Sain when she saw
tie man pointing the revolver at her
ihe dropped down behind the bed. -