Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-04
WOMAN ON TRIAL FOR LIFE
Taking Of Testimony Commences in the
Case of Emma Ripke.
DEFENDANT VERY NERVOUS At TIMES
During Afternoon seastoa Woman sits
by Her side and she Appears
More Cheerful, but Cries
at Times. Ill.,, -, ..

+. Parish, FARMER, HEzel Dell. '-- t.
Charles O'Neal, farmer, Rockford
Otto Fulfs.t Farmer, Rockford,
John Sandel teamstef, Council BLUFFS.
b. S. Terwilliger, agent, Council Bluffs
C. j. Skpton, locomotive fireman, Council
A. j. Manderson, retired railroad agent,
]. s. Gretzer, fruit grower, Kane.
r. Morrison, retired farmer, Nicola.
John Handbury, farmer Boomer.
Hiram Sigler, farmer Rockford.
nd Howe, travelling salesman, Kane
These are the twelve men in whose hands
rests the tate Of Emma .Rlpke, the I-year-
old girl charged with murder in the first
degree for the alleged shooting and killing
Of Frank Keith Potts on the night OF Oc-
tober Is, in a room at 54t West Broadway,
where they were living as man and wife,
whose trial was commenced yesterday
morning in the district court, with Judge
Green on the bench
The young woman is being defended by
Attorneys A. w. AsSwith OF this city and
w. l. Baughn, jr., Of Omaha, while the
case of the state is being conducted by
County Attorney Hess.
The impanellng Of the jury occupied a
little over three hours and proved a most
trying ordeal for the young woman, who
sat alone with her attorneys during the
forenoon session, but was attended during
the afternoon by Mrs. L. Diffenbaugh, one
Of the women who conduct the Fifteenth
Street Gospel mission, and who will be
constantly at her side during the remainder
Of the trial.
On Verge of Collapse.
When the question, "In case the guilt of
the accused Is Established, have you any
prejudice against inficting the death pen
alty7" was put 10 each successive Juror,
It proved too great Il strain on the young
wOman's nerves and her attempt at self
control soon gave way and she showed
such evident distress that at times it looked
as II she would collapse. The companion
ship Of Mrs Diffenbaugh, however, after
the noon adjournment did much to restore
the young woman's composure, although at
times during tho testimony Of the witnesses
she broke down and cried, hiding her face
behind her HANDKERCHIEF or resting.it upon
the shoulder Of the friend at her side.
The witnesses. INTRODUCED by. the state
yesterday afternoon we're =. H. b. Russell
employe of Undertaken Cutler; Mr.. and
Mrs: r. J. Joehrendt, from whom Potts
and the defendant rented the room which
they occupied as man and wife under the
name Of Morris; On. V. L. Treynor, coro7
,neE and Undertaken Lewis Cutler. DR..
Treynor and Mr.. Cutler will be recalled
this morning for further. cross-examination.
The testimony OF, Mr.. and Mrs, Joeh-
''rendt was substantially the sane. They
told Of how shortly before midnight Of
| OctoberJ15, Miss Ripke,. who was known
to them as Mrs. Norris. came to their
apartments and told them that her ius-
band was very Ill; how she said he was
suffering from heart trouble. attacks of
which he had been subjected to before.
Mr. JOehTendt told of going into the
room, occupied by Potts and the young
| woman and turning on the light, He
/ described the position of Potts in tho
/ bed and stated that he was breathing
heavily Mr.. Joehrendt then telephoned
for Doctor Smith Bellinger and returned
\. to the room where Potts lay until the
larrival Of the doctor. Potts he said,
was lying slightly on his right side with
| the coverlid pulled uL under his chin and
his left arm outside the covering. Miss
Ripke, he said appeared somewhat ner-
y. yous.. but not what he would call ex-
cited ' f
,,.. Saw revolver. s.,
! Mrs. -Joehrendt, In her story of the
events of the night that Potts was shot
told of how the young woman stayed IN
their apartments all night and refused
to return to her own room. She told OF
how, When the. doctor questioned Miss
Ripke, the latter told him that her hus.
band had had heart trouble and that his
father had died the same way. The wit
ness identified the revolver which was
found by II. b. Russell the employee OF
Undertaken Cutler near the bed where
the dead. man lay as one she had seen
on 1.-The bureau IN the room occupied by
| 'Mr and@ Mrs. Morris" Her attention
had been called ito the revolver by the
young woman. who. a hsw days befors
the tragedy had asked her II she had
seen Il in her bureau drawer. The wit.
ness said that s9ne told the ouhg..womar
that she had not, as she had not looked
into the bureau' Tue. next day she no
ticed the weapon on the top OF the bureau
When asked by County Attorney Hesi
II Miss Ripke. cried when 1the doctor IA,
fotRedS her. that her husband" was dead
the witness replied; "She did not era
as much as would H. my husband wa
dead" -.r, ~
Both Mr. aud Mrs. JOehTendt testified
that they had not heard any shot ant
did not know OF any fl-feeling between
fhe young woman and her supposed hus
band.
Shot Through Heart.
DR.. Treynor, who as coroner, held a pos
mortem on the body Of Potts. described thj
nature OF the wound, He said the bullet
me OF small cafiber, had pierced the bot