Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-17
lAMPHERE BREAKING DOWN
MAY NOT TAKE THE STAND IN
GUINNESS MURDER CASE.
Defense Will Try to Offset Dentists
Testimony-1ntereating Evidence
s~e@ Expected Today.

LA PORTE, Ind. November lit is
not likely that Ray Lamphere on trial for
the murder of Mrs. Guinness and her three
children. will take the stand in his own
defense Attorneys Worden and Weir,
when asked If Lamphere would tell his
story on the stand. said that they had not
decided positively. but from the present
indications he would not. 1t is said that
his attorneys fear that if Lamphere. in
his present nervous condition, undertook
to face a rigid cross-examination he
would break down. The state cannot re-
uuire him to testify. Prosecutor Smith,
therefore, will have no chance to question
him. unless he voluntarily goes on the
stand or does so at the bidding of his at
torneys.
The defense as an offset to testimony
offered by DR.. Norton, dentist is prepar-
ing to introduce expert testimony that
when the head of Mrs. Guinness was con-
sumed by fire that destroyed all OF the
bones excepting that of the jawbone
and that any bridge. work in the mouth
and all the teeth would have suffered
the same disintegration. DIR. Norton
testified that bone would become brit
tie and break to pieces in heat long be-
fore the gold. and the teeth which were
somewhat protected would be thus af-
fected.
Lamphere's eliminating Remarks.
John Wheatbrook resumed the stand 10
day. He. testified to Lamphere's arrival
at his place at $50 o'clock on the MORN
ing of the fire, and Lamphere's remark
that he saw the Guinness house burning.
Interesting testimony was expected to-
day from 4 Bessie Wallace, to whom
Lamphere. few days before the fire, is
SAID to have cOnfided that he intended to
go after Mrs. Guinness, .intimating it is
alleged, that he would kill Mrs. Guinness
or burn, her house. The defense will try
to discredit this testimony and will try to
1mpeach the character OF the witness.
Big Change in Lamphere.
Interest in the. trial of Ray I.amphere
charged with the murder of Belle Gun.
ness and her three children is rising to
fever heat with the passing of each
day. 1t was difficult to maintain order in
the courtroom yesterday afternoon and
special bailiffs were commissioned to clear
the aisles and hold back the mob of peo-
pie surging through the corridors Of the
courthouse in futile attempt to gain ad-
mission.
The feature of the day was the visible
weakening of Ray I.amphere The pris-
0iler is very nervous. Sheriff SmutzeI
stated last night that he had never known
a human being to change so much as this
man Lamphere has changed in the las,
fortnight. 4 =;
The main portion of yesterdays session
was taken up with the introduction of let
ters written by Belle Guinness TO Axel
Heleglkin, brother of Andrew. one of the
guinness victims Axel stated that his
brother left Mansfield, S. D., on the first
of last January, since when he was never
seen or heard from by him. He then
identified three letters which ne had re-
ceived from Belle Guinness during the
months of last March and April.
John Rose, cousin of Lamphere. told
the story of LAmphere's arrival at. his
home at g O'Clock on the morning OF the
18th, two hours after the fire. and repea t.
ed several remarks which Lamphere had
made to him, including comments OH the
fire Lamphere stated that he had first
believed that the fire was over at the
Dreilling house, but his second version
had corrected this belief and he realized
1t was the home Of Mrs: Guinness.