Evening star., 1909-03-14
ENRAGED IN THE WITNESS BOX
MANN LOSES TEMPER AND DE-
NoUNCES LAWYER.
Vehemently Denies He Murdered
Mrs. Thompson, as Charged-Ad-
mits Marrying Maud Shanks.

CHICAGO, March 13.-His bursts of
anger. his desperate attempts to control
his emotions and an appearance seeming
to tell Of nerves strained almost to the
breaking point made Luman c. Mann,
accused of the murder Of Frances G..
Thompson, curiously suggestive Of Harry
K. Thaw today. Mann resumed the wit
ness stand in his own behalf. He had
been warned to avoid the outbursts which
characterized his testimony yesterday,
and his effort to do so was obvious. But
under the scathing questioning of AS
sistant States Attorney Day his forti-
tude soon gave way.
The witness lost control of himself when
the prosecutor asked him II. while trav-
cling for a clothing firm in Kansas, he
had not sold his samples and If his
father had not been compelled to square
the matter.
BE gentleman: don't be a rat.
shouted the witness.
Attorney Day rose from his chair.
you think everybody who tries to en-
force the law is a rat, don't your he
snapped.
mo. did not say that" again shout
ed the defendant, despite the warning
gestures of his attorney.
DO you think Fannie Thompson was
rat when you bound her with rope
when you gagged her and then choked
Il did not do 1T, 1 didn't do it," cried
Mann, in rage.
At this point Judge McSurely warned
both Mr.. Day and the witness to control
themselves, but with little effect.
Asked where he had met Maud Shanks,
who afterward became his wife. Mann
Eat Britt. Iowa She was doing a
dance in feshlings with a theatrical
company and getting s12 a week for
doing it. 1 used her as a cloak model
to show off my samples. Later she came
to Chicago and we were married"
Mann's direct testimony yesterday did not
take more than five minutes. He said that
he was twenty-four years Old and that
he never had known the woman who
was found strangled with a rope. July l.
He said he never had visited the rooming
house where he is accused of accompany
ing the woman and registering as j.
H. Raymond and wife" He denied all
knowledge of the choking to death of
Mrs. Thompson.
On cross-examinaton, Mann admitted
that ne had consorted with negro women
in New York. and that he was known
there as Bull He denied that he was
known as the white Coon" His cross
examination will be continued today.
The hope of breaking Mann down is
about all that is left to the state, for
during the day a procession OF alibi wit
not be shown to be mistaken. Little girls
in short dresses. high school girls in
big hats, and gray-haired women assist
ed in building the alibi.
The man who sold the rope that was
found around Mrs. Thompsons neck
failed to identify Mann as the purchaser.
Court adjourned until Monday morning
after Mann had told more of his exploits
lin the gay life. He continued to break
into spasms of rage at his pitiless cross
examiner. Once he stepped from the
stand to get drink of water.
Don't lose your temper so. Luman,"
admonished his sister Jessie. Your life
is in the balance"
you lavished your money on liquor
did you?' asked the states attorney after
the young man had taken his seat again.
II spent as high as $1,000 for wine in
one night"
Did you ever shoot craps with gang
of coonS?
mo, but I won a few thousand bucks
from the police at the Harrison street
station
After court Orville c. Mann, father
of the defendant. created a scene in the
corridor when newspaper man asked
him if it was true that his son had spent
$1,000 a night
''He is my boy and if you dare to
talk to me again I will smash the life
out of YOU" the father is said to have
retorted.