Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-06
Interprets in Her Favor


court said, just as frankly:
MANY of the points in evidence
make a case strongly against the de-
fendant.
eff Mrs. Storrs had told the true
story from the start she would have
saved herself this uncomfortable pro-
ceeding.
What actually transpired in that
room and the reasons for her conduct
may never be known.
Yet, with so many points uncertain,
their being uncertain necessarily
makes 1t necessary to interpret them
in favor of the Defense
And these deliberate words ad-
dressed to sober-fa ced audience dis
posed of a mystery that has tested
the shrewdness of detectives, deputies,
men and women with spites to vent
and community outraged because of
the unproven accusations made
against young matron.
Women in Numbers
The second floor court room in Mon
roVia, the two ante-rooms and the hall
and stairway were filled before 1:30,
the hour for reconvening court and as
many women as could crowd in occu-
pied seats, the men finding standing
room as best they could.
Opening for the defense Attorney
Frank James put two witnesses on the
stand, solely for the purpose of showing
Storrs' demeanor to his wife.
Storrs' partner in the drayage busi-
ness, Howard, testified that their rela-
tions had always been kindly and
loVable
H. J. Wharton steward of leading
club in Los Angeles, told of instances
of Storrs' quick temper, after stating
emphatically that his demeanor toward
his wife was kind.
Once prior to their marriage, Storrs
was summerng in Venice and seemed
greatly put out because Miss Dabney
and her sister, whom he expected had
failed to pay visit to the beach city.
Threatens Suicide at Venice
He had met all cars and finally in de-
spOndency said to Wharton that he be-
lieVed he would kill himself Wharton
dissuaded him.
Rev. Charles f. Bentham, who with
Mrs. Bentham sought to comfort Mrs
Storrs on the night of the tragedy and
afterward, always firmly convinced of
her innocence, testified to knowing
Storrs four years and Mrs. Storrs only
since the night of the tragedy. They
were communicates of the Episcopal
church and had assisted at church en-
tertainments.
Rev. Mr.. Bentham, in describing the
bed surroundings, dwelt lightly on
the hairpins.
Theology and Hairpins
'I saw them, yes, and paid no atten-
ton to them. Knowing the cussedness
OF inanimate things 1 understood how
they got there" said the witness. He
might have said more. but Assistant
District Attorney f. j. Fleming OBJ
jected.
While the attorneys argued how far
Mr.. Bentham was drifting from the
oIogy the reverend gentleman left the
thin ice and stated that Mrs Storrs
had acted as any other grief-strcken
woman would. He saw no signs of in-
toxication about her, but noted two
beer bottles. Answering Attorney
Fleming, he stated that he did not re-
quest that the bottles be removed.
Coroner Trout was recalled mainly. IL
developed, to show that 1t was possible
for Storrs to have spoken TO his wife,
is had been testified to, even after he
shot himself through the left yentricle
OF the heart.
Dr. Trout cited cases from the COR
oner's records in Los Angeles where
several victims of knife and gunshot
wounds in the vital organ had walked
toOntinueo on ruEs rwoJ