Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-18
LAMPHERE MAKES THREATS
Prosecution Weaving Strong Web
Around Alleged Murderer,
SEVERAL WITNESSES TESTIFY
IL f. shown that Couple Had Fallen
Out and that Defendant Had
Been Seen Sinking About
the Place.

LA POtIE, lnu., NOV. IL nay
Bamphere made numerous threats against
Mrs. Belle Guinness was testified to by a
number of the states witnesses today, and
through them also Prosecutor Smith made
an effort to bring out that a strong motive
existed for the defendant to annoy Mrs.
Guinness and that this annoyance termi-
mated on the morning of April Is in Lam
phere setting fire TO the house.
The love affairs Of Mrs. Guinness and
Lamphere were also told in an interesting
manner by william Slater. The state
sought through his testimony to show that
It was because OF the falling out between
the two that Lamphere sought to harm his
former sweetheart and mistress. Joseph
Maxson. the man who escaped alive from
the burning house, told the first part of his
story of the fire today. II differs but little
from the story which he told following the
fire.
Peter Colson testified that Mrs. Guinness
was at times unkind to Jennie Olson. The
way in which he related his conversations
with Lamphere, his own experiences with
Mrs. Guinness. his love for the woman and
his suspicious. were UNIQUE and straight
forward, his broken English adding to the
effectiveness of the story.
Three Actions Against L~amphere.
The troubles OF Lampherc and Mrs. Gun
ness, as shown by the records Of Justice
Grovere's court. were then offered In evil
dence. The court records showed one tres
pass case, one surety of the peace action,
and proceedings to have Lamphere ad-
judged insane, all instigated by Mrs. Cum
ness.
Joseph Maxson. the hired man, described
the premises and the Guinness family cir
] clio He told Of coof,o 7 or,rb,ro eiD,,yiy{,r
around the premises at night and that he
ran when discovered. He also testified to
depredations committed by Lamphere on
the place, such as cutting the wire fence.
etc.
Maxson told of Mrs. Guinness going to
La Porte on the afternoon of April %. and
her return with a supply of groceries. Sup
per was eaten at $3.50 o'clock, the menu in
GLIDING bread and butter, dried beef, sal
mon. beefsteak and potatoes.
All ate heartily. In the evening Mrs.
Guinness and the children played several
games which she had brought home, and
at $3.50 o'clock Maxson retired to his room.
Maxson then told Of being awakened i'm
the morning by the smoke. of the brick
part being all aflame when he got up. Of
his efforts to break into the main part of
the house. His testimony will be concluded
tomorrow.
Defense VIII BE Suicide.
The first positive statement OF the de-
Tense In court to show its line OF defense
was made by Attorney Worden when,
cross-exarnining a witness, at which tim ,
he remarked that an effort would be made
TO show that Mrs. Guinness was a suicide.
Along this line II follows then that tho de-
Tense will contend that she first murdered
her children and then set fire to the house.
William Slater told the jury that Lam
phere worked for him in the winter after
he had left Mrs. Guinness employ. He
said: -",'~l paI T'"l- 'f"o@
"Lamphere told msnAbout Andrew Helge-
Iein coming 10 Mrs. Guinness place and
that he admitted that he had drawn a
gun on Helgelein and told him he must get
out. He said he was Jealous of Helgeleir.s
attentions to Mrs. Gunness. Lamohere
told me that after Helgelein had left FRS.
Guinness had most of his clothes there.
Lamphere told me one time that he was
in the cellar and heard Mrs. Guinness and
Helgelein plotting to poison him. Lam
phere told me once I know something
sbout the old woman and she has to come
my way He also told me that once while
in the barn milking, before two witnesses,
Mrs. Guinness promised to marry him"
Bessie Wallace testified that Lamphere
visited her in March and in conversation
said that Mrs. Guinness owed him some
money and that he would get it or make
1t unpleasant for her and would get even
with her. On cross-eXamination the de.
Tense, by showing the character of the
place the witness lived in, tried to dis
credit her testimony.