The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-02
Letter by Rife to Son of His
Sweetheart Shown by De-
Tense to Substantiate the
Insanity Plea.
MANY LOVE LETTERS
INTRODUCED TODAY
In One Murdered Woman Asks
Slayer Not to 'Dress Up"
Fearing He Would Attract
Other Women.

Eaton, Ohio, Sept. 2.-Following the
Introduction Of Rites testimony to
Coroner P. II. O'Hara of Lewisburg a
letter from Mrs Ida Griswold to Har-
ry Rife, while he was at Lebanon,
Ohio, in April, 1908, and testimony by
DR.. G. w. Flory and DR.. s. M. Michael,
both OF this place, the state rested its
case this morning in the murder trial
OF Harry Rife. the Boston, Indiana,
young man who killed Mrs. Ida Girls
void in the public library, July 8. The
defense Immediately proceeded with
its case, by the introduction of letters
from Mrs. Griswold to Rife, showing
her love for the murderer and also ex
amined few witnesses. The morn
ing session was productive for the de-
Tense and 1t is believed they have be-
gun to score in the case. Court ad-
journed at II o'clock, until / 80 this
afternoon.
Attorney Wilfred Jessup of Rich
mond, had charge of most of the direct
and cross examination. He is thor
oughly investigating every detail of the
testimony by witnesses and put them
through a severe ordeal.
Miss Hart on Stand.
The first witness for the state this
morning was Miss Edith Hart, a ste
nographer, who took Rifles testimony
when given to Coroner O'Hara, follow
ing the shooting. Rife said IN his ev-
idence to the coroner that he had no
intention Of killing the woman when
he visited the library on the afternoon
OF July 8. He could not remember OF
even pulling gun from his pocket and
could not remember the circumstances
surrounding the shooting. Follow
ing Miss Harris dismissal from the wit
ness chair. attorneys for the defense
severely arraigned Coroner O'Hara for
being over jealous in his examination
of Rife. Rife had not been given OPP
portunity to consult counsel when ex-
amined by O'Hara.
Marshall Harris OF Eaton was re-
called to the stand and told Of going
through Rife's effects at the hotel, fol-
lowing his arrest. Harris was also
censured by the defendants attorneys
for being over jealous in regard to the
matter. Harris told the proprietor of
the hotel that he had been given an
order by Judge Fisher Of the common
pleas court. before whom the case is
being tried, to search Rites effects at
the hotel. However, 1t was after
wards shown that Harris had received
no such order from the court.
A Searching Letter.
A letter from Mrs. Griswold to Rife
dated April "a. 1908, which was deliv-
cred to Rife while residing at Lebanon
was next introduced by the state.
Probably the most important testi-
mony brought out from the reading of
the letter were the following senten-
ces: Il would never marry you at the
point OF a revolver. There has never
been any reason FOR the horrible
scenes through which you and have
passed. Your conduct and your
thoughts are unbecoming to your man.
hood" The gist of the remainder OF
the letter is that Rife should recover
from his nervous condition and con-
duct himself in normal manner.
Dr. G.. w. Flory and DIR. s. NJ. Mich
ael were the last witnesses called by
the state They were simply called
upon the stand for the purpose of
stating that Rife was not intoxicated
Mt the time the murder was commit
ted. The states attorneys did not an
nounce to the court that they had rest
ed their case but it is the belief among
the court attaches that such Is fact.
Show Eleven Letters.
The defense Immediately assumed
the offensive. It introduced eleven
letters from Mrs. Griswold to Rife.
written during the summer and fall
OF 1908 All Of the letters were In
the nature of the correspondence be-
tween two lovers. The defense has
fifty-four letters which 1t will intro
duce as testimony for Rife. tending to
show the intimate relations between
him and Mrs. Griswold. Nearly all OF
these letters are addressed to Rife
while he was racing horses at differ
ent county fairs. Some are addressed
to Hagerstown, Ind, Sidney. O.. and
Lebanon. Ohio. Every letter which
has been introduced by the defense
up to date begins with MY Dear Har-
ry'' or similar salutations. Each OF
the letters ends with love expressions
and all of the letters are merely sign
ed Il"
jealousy is Shown.
One of the letters, which was writ
ten to Rife while he was at Lebanon.
Ohio. during the summer of 1908. urg-
ed Rife not to rent a certain house
which he referred to in previous
letter to her. In another letter. Mrs.
Griswold requested that Rife would
not wear his good clothes because he
might excite the admiration of other
women.
Town marshal Harris was called to
the stand by the defense and forced
to give the effects of Rife which he
found In room at the hotel. following
the murder. to Mr.. Jessup. One of
the notes in the note book was refer.
ence to present which he had given