Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-05

"There are certain facts produced
by the prosecution in this case which
lead me to believe that Roland b
Storrs of Monrovia did not come to his
death from a self inflicted gunshot
wound. If the defense does not pro-
duce evidence to offset these facts OF
to prove to me that Mrs. Storrs had
nothing to do with her husbands death
/ shall be compelled to hold the case
for Investigation in the higher courts
Such was the statement in brief OF
Justice W. M. Northrup of Monrovia
late yesterday afternoon, following ar
appeal by Attorney Frank James, who
asked for a dismissal of the murder
charge against Mrs. Alberta Storrs, his
client, on the grounds that the evidence
was insufficient to require further in
vestigation.
The well-known case had dragged
out slowly during the day and the dis
NAL little court room had become
nearly sitting as the people anxious
to catch glimpse of the young de-
fendant or to hear some scrap of tes-
testimony crowded one another and
packed the room to the doors.
In a Crowded Room
Outside over the tops of the trees
up through the tiny little canyon OF
the Sierra Madre foothills toward the
little home where she had spent heI
honeymoon, the young woman, Mrs
Alberta Dabney Storrs, accused of the
=, murder of her husband, gazed thought
fully but without emotion.
The close, stuffy court room with its
hard board benches and tiny desk
seemed all the smaller because chairs
and board seats had been rugged up in
the hall and ante-room and a fringe
of human faces blocked every entrance
and exit.
The front windows had been thought
fully left open, permitting the revivi-
flying air and the warbling of the
birds to enter.
At times the artillery of a nearby
bowling alley sent rumble, causing
the StenographerS to strain their ears
and the counsel to cast weary glances
at each other.
II thought maybe some one was
blowing the safe downstairs" said At
torney Jones at one interruption. not
knowing whence the noise came. There
is a bank on the ground floor of Mon
rovia's city hall and a bowling alley
next door.
All Monrovia was aStir early because
of the trial Nesting under the shad-
ow of the mountains is the home of the
Storrs family and only a few blocks
away stands the court house. FIRE.
quently witnesses pointed out Sec
tions of the road or other points in
volved, they being visible from the
court house windows.
Defendant in Rocker
Mrs. Roland Storrs, garbed in black,
occupied the only comfortable chair in
the court room, a worn but substantial
rocker. Near her was her sister, Mrs.
%. Kendall Cutter. Between the sis
ters there is evidently a strong bond
of affection. At times Mrs. Cutter
would caress her sisters arm when
trying moments arose and she was free
in prompting Police Commissioner
Frank James, counsel for Mrs. Storrs
Rev. M. Bentham and wife, of Sierra
Madre, appeared as comforters. The
Cutters and Storrs families are COM
municants of the Episcopal church
over which Rev. Mr.. Bentham pre-
sides.
For the state, Deputy District At
torney Edward j. Fleming appeared
Sheriff VIM. A. White and Deputy
Bert Franklin were seated at his side
prepared to suggest questions wher
needed.
Benches Collapse
With not an inch of space to spare
the stenographers and reporters crowd.
tribunal. Spectators were wedged il
between chairs and lean-to benches
made of boards, Embraced, which oc
casionally collapsed under the weight
of intently listening men.
When finally the court came to or.
der the hearing was opened with City
Marshal j. f. Miller of MonroVia on the
stand He told of being called to the
house by telephone on the night o
April 26 Immediately after Storrs was
found dead, of examining the body, the
room and the surroundings and of tax.
ing charge of the pistol found on the
bed.
Marshal Miller testified how the
young widow told him that RolanC
Storrs had tried to frighten her by
placing the weapon against her brea st
had threatened to kill her and him
and how after she had fallen into {
doze she had heard a shot and founC
her husband dying beside her.
David Flynn and II. S. Howarth
who had dined at the Storrs home two
hours before the killing, told of ROLAND
Storrs drinking some and that Mrs
Storrs had INDUCED in one glass OF
whisky anG one glass of beer.
Pastor oreaves Testlhes
Pastor II. r. Greaves, who was
later to be the center of an oratorical
fusillade. was the principal witness OF
the morning, he being called shortly
before noon. Rev. Mr.. Greaves is a
serious-looking man, quiet but force
full in his answers. Throughout the
eross-examination he remained un-
rufiied
Here is his story Of the events sue
ceeding the shooting
"When reached Mrs. storrs she was
I'm a condition bordering ON hysteria,
evidently in great distress, and
helped assist her into the house. She
had run down the road barefooted and
in her night dress, and with two men
who half carried her L helped ia NM