The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-10
ACTOR ON THE STAND
DENIES
RAYMOND HITCHCOCK DE
 STORY or GIRLS.
9hxs Their Mothers Knew of Rides
 With Him and His Wife, J Florn Zabelie, Knew If Too.

Nav York. June 9.--Taking the wit- ness stand today in his own delehse, Raymond Hitchcock. the actor, nsIy denied the charges made against nm that he had been improper m ms con. duct with two young girls neien soA Hagen and Elsie Voecks.
 Hitchcock appeared as witness shortly after the closing or the otAts case in the trial of the actor today.
 It is expected that the case will go to the jury tomorrow. Hitchcock made an excellent witness and answering the questions clearly and unhesitatingiy ne stated that he first met the von Hagen girl in 1904 and that long afterward she recognized him at the Garden the- atre and asked to ride with him In his automobile. The actor said he told the girl to ask her mother if she might so and she returned with Elsie Voecks. saying she had obtained consent to make the trip. Hitchcock said after reaching the house in Great Neck, Long Island, he put the girls on a train for New York,
 The next time he saw the girls. the actor testified was late one night standing on the steps of his house and that they said their mothers knew where they were. The last train hav- ing departed for the city, the actor said, the girls remained at his home that night
 Later he met Elsie voecks and Helen von Hagen on the street. he testified. and told the girls that he wanted to talk to them. He took them to the house on West Forty-drst Street and there told them that he had heard that they made remarks refiecting on his character. The two girls. he declared denied making any disparaging re- marks. Hitchcock denied that his re- 1af puff All 0f ha kuuo oIr a been improper.
 Flora Zabelle, wife of the actor. tes- tified briefly, stating that at the time of the alleged occurrence her husband told her of meeting the two young girls and of the automobile ride.
 Of the several witnesses called today. the most Important was Elsie Voecks. one of the defendants alleged victims. She told of visits made in company with Helen von Hagen who testified yesterday. to HItchcock's home at Great Neck. l.. l., and to house on Forty first Street. where they met the actor on several occasions. In some respects her Testimony corroborated that given by Miss von Hagen, but on cross ex animation she became badly confused several tImts.
 Tn reply to a direct question by Hitch cocks counsel whether Hitchcock ever wronged her. she replied that he never utd. She said also that Helen won Ha- gen never told her of anything wrong having taken place when she had first visited the Forty-hrst Street house.
 She contradicted the testimony of Miss von Hagen with reference to the alleged attempt of Hitchcock to enter their room one night waen they were at Great Neck, L. l.
 She said she never told any one, not even the grand jury. that Hitchcock had attempted to enter their room.
 In the course of her examination yes- terday Miss yon Hagen said she met a MT. William Chanler in Hitchcock's Great Neck residence on a certain Sum day night.
 Today counsel for William Astor Chanler had a conference with Hitch cocks attorneys at which the testimony was discussed and as a result 1t is ex- pected that Mir chanler will be called by the defendant to contradict the girls testimony.