Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-05
EMMA RIPEE TELLS STORY
On Verge Of Utter Collapse Twice During
Hsr Direct Examination.
STANDS STRAIN Of cROss-FxAEINAnON
Denies Positively that she shot Frank
Potts, and says she was Asleep
and Did Vet Know at TIne Ne
Had shot Himself.

The second day OF the trial OF Emma
Ripple, the young woman charged with the
murder Of Frank Keith Potts was almost
sensational tn its features. The young
woman presented a most remarkable con
trast during the time she was on the Wit
ness stand In the morning she was In
state OF collapse and a recess had 70 be
taken while she recovered. Again during
her direct examination BY her counsel, A.
W. Askwith. she presented a most pitiable
sight and many In the large crowd in the
court room were visibly affected. The
young woman, with heaving bosom and
trembling hands which tried TO grasp the
arms OF the chair. appeared 10 be on the
verge Of another collapse and her answers
TO the questions OF her counsel bordered
on the hysterical But there was a re-
markable change when County Attorney
Hess took up the cross-eNannination- After
a few questions the young woman sud
denly regained her composure her nervous
ness seemed to leave her and her answers
to the questions Of the prosecution were
almost defiant in the yehemeBce with which
she made them. When court sdjourned
for the day shortly after o'clock, at
which time the cross-examination OF the
young defendant WIS completed, Miss
crossed over 10 where the three women
who had attended her during the days
ordeal were standing with what seemed
TO be almost a smile on her face. But the
ordeal had been a trying one and when the
young woman was returned TO her cell In
the county Jail she again collapsed.
II was whe nthe clothing Of the man she
Is accused OF shooting was introduced In
evidence at the morning session that the
Young woman collapsed. and Judge Green.
noticing her helpless condition. ordered a
recess. Her faithful women friends helped
her 70 a side room, where she was fol-
lowed by DIS. Treynor and Bellinger, who
attended her.
( story of Defendant
/ When she took the witness stand in her
own behalf in the afternoon the defendant
was still in a most nervous condition,
which increased as the examination pro
ceeded. To most OF the questions pro-
pounded 70 her by her counsel her answer
was almost invariably, Yes, sir, I did" or
sir, I did not" Bit by BIT. however. her
/ attorneys drew from her her story. which
/ in substance was as followc:
She first met Potts while in a train go
ing from her home 81 Hanover. Kan. TO
visit a relative in MAryvine. He spoke t.
her and later called on her at her relative
home. She attended a dance With him an5
this was followed up by his suggestion tina
they elope- She went to Lincoln, Neb.. an
met him with the intention OF getting mar
ried It was late and they took the traiI
TO Omaha and stopped at hotel, Potts
promising to get the marriage license ir
the morning, which he failed 20 do Com
ing up to the night Of the death OF Potts
she said that that day she was sick an5
stayed in their room all day. Potts came
home shortly after 10 o'clock IN an intox-
icated condition, as he had done before
and she helped undress him. His revolver
fell from his hip pocket and he picked it VI
and plscsd il under the pillow. She fell
asleep and was awakened by uoise which
1 she later supposed vas that Of shot. She
Jumped out Of bed picking up n skirt, and
jacket, which she hastily put on and
started to call Mrs Joehnrsndt. As she left
the room Potts said. Emma. have shot
myself through the heart" but she did
not pay any attention to this as she did
not believe It At the time. The rest Of
her testimony was mainly denials Of state
ments Of witnesses for the state.
Denies the shooting.
| While under cross-examination the younl
woman at times became somewhat en-
tangled In her answers and they con
hicted with her answers in direct examina-
ton
When. however. County Attorney Hess
said. Emma, tell the jury, did you shoot
Frank Potts." her answer rang out oleai
and str0Rg NO. Sir; did not"
did you have any hatred or IN vii
towards Frank Pottsy" WAS the next ques
ton.
No sir; did not. came the answer
again. clear and strong and almost dehan
In its tone.
In the cross-examinstion Mr.. Hess dwell
strongly on the different and contradictory
stories told by the defendant and ques
toned her closely as TO why she had told
one story TO him and Sheriff Canning ant
another one on the witness stand. Ais
Ripke denied making the statements al
tributed 10 her and said If she had don,
so she was nervous and under terribl,
strain following the tragedy and she dit
not know what she said or did
At one point the state tried % intrOduo,
letter addressed 10 Potts from a mystic
rious woman named "Rica" with a view
OF showing that the defendant had cause q
be jealous Of the dead man. Mas Ripki
denied any knowledge OF the letter. which
Il was said. Was found ia the bureau il
their room. ana the state failed TO secur,
the introduction Of the letter as evidence.
A number OF letters said TO have beel
received BY the defendant in reply u
answers 70 advertisements in a matrinOnis
journal were introduced and the defenoan
admitted writing them but said she a,
% for a friend
one more for Defense.
me defense Nsll -rest this morning Wit
the introduction Of a local witness. WI
Is expected 10 testify Is 70 nesting Pott
in an intoxicated condition the night b
Ras shot
The state yesterday morning recalled In
dertaker Cutler and DR.. Treynor and othe
witnesses intrOduesd BY Il were Detectiv
Callahan. sheriff Canning Deputy sherii
W0Olman and Dr.. smith BsIinger. Tn
testimony OF the ohicers related chiefly {
the contradictory stories told By the de
fendant
Al the close Of the evidence FOR the stats
counsel for the defendant moved for
directed verdict. but this was overraled b
the court The four Witnesses from Han
over. Kan. the former home OF the AZ
PENDANT. testih6d a. 70 her good eharacteI
Charles Guthrie. an elevator oonducto
IN The Bee building, omzhA. ana Chic