Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-04
LENA LILLE SHOWS COURAGE
Prosecution Expects to Prove Case al
Preliminary Hearing.
SHERIFF WEST TAKES THE STAND
Testimony IL Mostly as 20 Details Con-
nected with the Crime-LOng List
of witnesses Yet to
Come.

DAVID CITY, Neb,, Jan. ESPECIAL Tel
egram. willis d. Westover, a member Of
the coroner's jury, was on the stand most
Of this morning at the preliminary hearing
Of Mrs. Lena NJ. Lille on the charge Of
numbering her husband. This afternoon
Sheriff West was called, and testified in
detail as to his Investigations at the house
on the morning of the crime. Court ad-
journed until Monday before the sherin's
cross-examination was completed.
From the list of witnesses yet to testify
1t is not thought that the hearing will be
concluded before the last Of next week.
While Mrs. Lille is beginning to fully re-
alize the gravity OF the awful crime with
which she is charged, she is standing the
ordeal with remarkable fortitude.
Prosecution Is Confident.
Counsel for the state consider that they
scored a strong point yesterday with the
witnesses who were on the stand, DR.. S. G.
Beede, DR.. II. E. Burdick and ]. d. Sprague.
These are the best witnesses for the pros
ecution that have yet been introduced. The
attorneys say their best and strongest ev-
idence is yet to come and that they have
plenty of 1t. They evidently believe that
Judge Skiles will hold the defendant to the
district court. In his testimony yesterday
afternoon ]. d. Sprague said that Mrs. LII
lie testified before the coToner's jury that
all that was stolen out Of the house on the
morning Of the murder was $500 In money
belonging to her and a small amount Of
money from Mr.. Lilies trousers pockets,
and some notes belonging to her, and that
nothing else in the house was disturbed.
This morning throngs Of people were
making their way to the courthouse for
more thar ana hour hafora fha ftuna for
court to convene. some carried their lunch
baskets, evidently intending to spend the
entire day as spectators in the temple of
justice. Mrs. Lille arrived at the court
room promptly at 8 o'clock, accompanied
by her parents, her sister, Mrs. Grisinger,
and Sam Lille. Mrs. Mary Lille, mother
of the murdered man, is not present to at
tend the hearing for the reason that she is
subpoenaed as a witness for the defense.
Mrs. Lille reads the morning papers care
fully and seems much interested in them.
AS usual, the attorneys were late and court
did not convene until near 10 o'clock.
Repeats Mrs. Lilies story.
Willis d. Westover was the first witness
He was a member of the coroner's Jury
Witness said:
MRS. Lille said she wal awakened thai
morning Dy u lOuu uOlSts 9hN saw q mai
standing by the bed pointing a revolver al
her. She rolled OF the bed, and heard tbs
man run out of the room and down stairs
The first thing she thought Of was help
She commenced screaming and called to the
girls, saying that her husband had beer
shot, and telling them to go for help. She
said they lighted a lamp and they all wen
downstairs. she preceding. The girls wen
across the street to get help and she wen
to the telephone.
Mrs. Lille described the man as about
the size of Harvey. She said he might have
had a beard and might not; he might have
worn a mask and might not. The revolver
she said, was a bright one"
Witness then portrayed to the court the
position OF the man as he stood by the
bed. saying: Il saw DIT. sprague place
pencil through the hole in the glass, ant
the hole in the screen and the outside o.
the pencil was the highest. indicating tina
I the range Of the bullet was slightly up.