The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-11
Attempt Will Be Made to Im-
 peach Girls Testimony
CANADIANS WILL TESTIFY
Letter From Ella GingIes' Pastor, in Which Girl Is Highly Spoken Of, Will Be Offered To Off
 set Other Testimony.

Chicago, July 10.-(Special.) l.)-With testi- mony dealing with Ella Gingles' life in Canada, the state will play new card the hearing Is resumed on Monday, un- less the plans of Assistant States At torney Short go awry.
 The year spent in Beleville Ontario, the state contends, furnishes a mount import tant index to the character of the young Irish girl, whose remarkable story that the larceny charge was part of a plot to sell her into white slavery at French Lick Springs, Ind, has become an inter- national puzzle.
 MT. Short announced today that he had sent detectives to Belleville and Mon treal to bring back several witnesses to impeach parts of the girls testimony. The state has no power, however, to re- quire their attendance but MT. Short was hopeful they would come voluntarily.
 One of the witnesses desired by the state is David S. Thornton of Belleville in whose home Ella Gingles worked for several months.
 Other Canadians whose testimony is de- sired by the state are Dr. W. J. Gib- son, who is said to have attended her at the Belleville hospital, and members of the hospital staff.
 Through Dr. Gibson the state hopes 10 impeach Miss Gingles' testimony as to the nature of her illness. MT. Short has a written statement from the physician to the effect that an operation was per formed.
 Reports Against Girl. "All our reports from Canada show that Ella Gingles was not the innocent and unsopnsticated girl she would have the jury believe" said MT. Short. ''Dr. Gibson would make a most important witness and l am now exercising all my powers of persuasion to induce him to come here. He Is one of the most prom inent and wealthy surgeons in Canada and has been loath to become involved in the case.'
 As an offset to the testimony of the states Canadian witnesses, if they ap- pear, Attorney O'Donnel will seek to in troduce In evidence a letter he received today from the Rev. J. Kennedy, min ister of the Old Presbyterian congregation of Larne and Kilwaughter, in Ireland, formerly Ella Gingles' pastor.
 Letter Speaks Well.
 It was dated June 20 at Larne and read as follows:
 Last evening two American ladies, Sara M. Hopkins of Chicago and Mrs.
 - of Minneapolis, called on me with reference to the poor young woman, Ella Gingles, whom like a chivalous hearted Irishman you have and are doing so much to protect and defend. I know her well. Her father is a member of the congregation of which I am minister, as were his ancestors before him. He is large farmer, well off. as Irish farmers go here in the north of Ireland and his wife, Elias mother, is an exceeding nice gentle-hearted woman.
 "They have had large family-13, if my memory serves me, and as their minister I christened them all and have seen them grow up from infancy. Ella was frequently under my roof as she was on friendly terms with two young ladies-my adopted daugh hters-who re- side with me.
 "I always found her bright, cheerful, well principled girl, clever in many ways with her needle, etc., and especial ly in the art of croch eting and manu- featuring lace. In the latter branches know that she won prizes at our local annual industrial exhibitions in the town of Larne.
 Sought Land of Promise.
 "But the family being large and not particularly prosperous here In Ireland. she and other young members of the family, like many other young people of energy and enterprise. have sought a land of better promise across the At lantic, with sad results to her, unfor- tunately.
 "She herself, so far as I know, has always been respectable and well con ducted in every way with large in fusion of enterprise and determination in her character; so you may proceed with the entire belief in her integrity in every respect
 Accept for yourself and convey to those truly Christian people who are associated with you in the defense of an innocent but much injured young girl the assurance of most sincere gratitude and admiration, not only of the writer. but of the sorely stricken parents and friends of poor Ella"
 The letter was written In long hand and will be presented in court with the postmarked envelope attached.