Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-08
ACCUSE HUSBAND
OF GRAVE CRIME
MRS. CRESSEY IN A SERIOUS
CONDITION
Attorney Files Affidavit That the Man
Was Slowly Killing His Wife.
Woman Afflicted with
Paresls

Sensational charges of attempted
murder were made yesterday In de-
partment eight of the superior court,
when attorneys representing Mrs. Nell
lie Il. Cressey declared through affi-
davlt that they believed Captain
Frederick J. Cressey was endeavoring
to kill his wife, before u hearing on the
petition for the appointment of 70. Il.
Paine as her guardian or the question
of her competency could be made.
Before the examination was COM
pleted Attorney Parke, representing
Mrs. Cressey, said that he might have
to take the case up with the district
attorney.
Yesterday, when the Cressey case
was called, 1t was transferred to de-
partment eight for hearing and those
concerned and their attorneys went to
that department..
At the beginning of the trial the at
torneys announced that Mrs. Cressey
would not appear in court because of
a sudden attack of paresis developing
from her organic cerebral troubles ard
that the case of her competency or In
competency would have to be deter
mined by the court without seeing her.
Cresseys attorney moved for a con-
tinuance, but 1t was denied and At
torney Parke filed an affidavit to the
effect that he believed that Cressey
was endeavoring to kill his wife be-
fore the case then pending could be
considered.
Judge Considers Charge Grave
"That charge is grave and amounts
to charges of attempted murder" said
Judge Wilbur.
II know it is," responded Attorney
Parke, but here are the facts. Since
Mrs Cressey left the sanitarium,
where the court put her, she has be-
come steadily worse and also she has
been under the care of her husband.
A few days ago her husband refused to
allow a physician to see his wife, ne
has taken out q $4,000 life insurance
policy on her life, made out to him
self as beneficiary and all these facts,
together with her condition, which con-
tinues to become more critical, led me
to no other conclusion than that the
man is trying to kill his wife"
"Then why don't you take up the
case with the district attorney" said
Attorney Valentine, who represented
Captain Cressey.
"We may have to do that yet" re-
torted Attorney Sparks, and the court
nterfered and ordered the case to be
tried.
A petition from women in the neigh
borhood of the Cresseys Gramercy
place home was presented in which 1t
was asked that Mrs. Cressey be taken
away from the influence of her hus-
band and given over to the custody of
her sister, Mrs. Jessie Baxter.
In the afternoon the examination of
witnesses to learn the condition of Mrs.
Cressey with a view to appointing a
guardian over her $4,000 estate, was
begun.
Many of the neighbors were in court
and the women were very bitter against
Captain Cressey and his alleged harsh
treatment of his fourth wife, but the
captain only smiled and paid but little
attention to them.
Mrs. Elizabeth Horn was the first
witness called.
II met Mrs. Cressey last February"
she testified. I'VE called at each 9TH
er's homes for awhile and finally
| noticed that Mrs. Cressey was be-
coming i'll and that from time to time
she became worse and complained of
pains in her head.
Admits Giving Whisky
zone day when Captain Cressey came
to our home l told him that l be-
lieved his wife was either under the
influence of drugs or whisky and that
she ought to be sent to q sanitarium.
He became confused and finally ad-
mitted that he gave her whisky and
Inen promptly CndnSeQ Ine SUBJECT,
and when my husband attempted to
talk to him about his wifes condition
Captain Cressey had nothing to say
and hurriedly changed the subject.
From that time on Mrs. Cressey's
condition became more serious She
became nearly bald from her spells of
dementia, during which she would tear
her hair out by the handfuls. Captain
Cressey would send for neither physi-
clan nor nurse until the neighbors be-
came interested in the case and COM
PEELED him to.
His wife became so horribly de-
pressed and afflicted that she was sick
in bed most of the time. She could
generally recognize her friends and
frequently talked to them, but she al
ways appeared dazed as though she
were under the influence of some drug
and finally she was sent to the sani-
tarium by the court.
Since her return her condition has
become considerably worse and Cressey
has forbidden any of his wifes friends
to see her."
physician testified to Mrs. Cres-
sey's mental condition, stating that the
woman was suffering from paresis and
the case was continued until today,
IAWa f.w-.k L.