The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-21
FR|TC H DEFENSE
TRAINS GUNS ON
BUSINESSMEN
string OF Witnesses Testify That
"oman's Reputation for veracity
Is Not Good-0ne Believes Her
Dope Fiend."
Judge Phelan Is Anxious To Hurry
Through Trial and Night Session.
May Be Held.

Inc defense In the Fritch man.
/ slaughter case continued its afyor,.
TO impeach Mrs. Mignonnette G Me-.
senger, one OF the prosecutions star
witnesses, when the trial was resumes
monday morning. Ii hammered swsv
numerically, producing witness after
witness to testify that the woman's
reputation was bad and that thew
would not believe her under oath
IL developed, however. that In most
instances, this opinion was based ON
very meager knowledge and very
olten on the fact that Mrs. Messen.
ger did not pay her bills. One OF
them, Charles Weeks. OF Battle
creek acknowledged that Mrs. Mes.
senger still owes him $40 for gro
cerles. He expressed the opinion
that Mrs Messenger Is addicted 10
the dope habit. but would not swear
positively on this point when pinned
down.
Prosecutor Van Zile was not I'm tho
least perturbed By the mornings de.
velopments.
Il think this testimony has strength.
ened Mrs. Messengers story" he said
after adjournment. and | shall ~
argue to the jury"
Judge Phelan announced that he
had received letters from employers
OF two OF the Jurors urging that they
be permitted to return to their du.
ties at the earliest opportunity, and
told counsel to be prepared for longer
sessions In the future. An effort will
be made TO finish the trial this week.
II Is four weeks Tuesday that the Sc.
lection OF e jury began.
Judge Phelan intimated that night
sessions may be held II IL is found
necessary to complete the .as- WIN.
in reasonable limits.
Crowds Trimmed Out.
For the first time since the taking
OF testimony started there were sew.
eral empty seats in the courtroom.
Interest seems &C. have fallen on
somewhat since the prosecutions
case was submitted.
In accordance with Prosecutor Van
Tiles promise, Mrs. Mignonette G..
Messenger was on hand, ready to re-
turn TO the stand ut the request Ui
the defense, Attorney Lodge insisting
that he wished TO cross-examine her
further. The defense, however, first
called Joseph c. Smith. of Wayne
whose testimony that Mrs. Messen.
gers reputation for truth and veracity
was bad was discounted very largely
when he admitted that he had previ.
ously told the prosecution that the
only thing he knew against Mrs. Mes
senger was that she didn't pay her
debts.
Weren't you employed by the de.
| Tense TO look up witnesses TO impeach
| Mrs Messenger" asked the prose-
cutor.
NO" replied the witness.
Smith admitted. though, that Attor-
ney Lodge had paid him $3.50 on FRI
day and 81 on Saturday. 1t was
merely his witness fee, he said.
Mrs. Rebecca Ruddoch, also OF
Wayne, was the next witness. She
declared that Mrs Messengers word
wasn't good for nothin'."
Anvil Chorus Continues.
Continuing the attack on Mrs. Mes
senger. the defense shifted the locale
! to Battle Creek and called TO the
stand DR.. II. w Conklin, an osteopath
! I'm the health town, who had been
called 10 attend Mrs. Chene. the In
valid aunt OF Mrs Messenger, In Sep
TENDER. 1907. Asked II he knew the
general reputation OF Mrs. Messenger
for truth and veracity. he replied:
only slightly"
what IS IT,"
AS far as | am personally concern
I ed. ii Is very bad
On the prosecutors objection, the
answer was stricken out
After considerable wrangling the
witness was permitted TO say that ne
wouldn't believe Mrs. Messenger I'M
der oath
On cross-examination 1t was brought
ont that Mrs. Messenger had not paid
his bill for attending Mrs. Cheney.
How soon did Mrs. Cheney die af-
ter YOU attended herr" was the prose
cutors last question.
II don't know answered the doc
tor
I'm view OF that question. | would
like 10 ask the doctor what sugges-
ton. n any. Airs Messenger made TO
Won about giving her aunt laudanum?"
said Attorney Lodge.
The question was objected To and
ruled out
Mrs. Messenger then took the stand.
Have YOU ever been a victim OF
the drug habit?' Lodge asked.
MI Dope Fiend.
81 have not" She replied.
"IIave YOU ever been in the habit or
using laudanum and have you not SO
stated to persons In Wagner
Il have not
That's all
sheriff CASTOR was recalled to the
stAnd bv Attorney Lodge, who asked
tContInued ON Page Nine.D
NEW YORK PRODUCE.
NEW YORK Feb. 2l.-Pork-Strong
80. xqgd rs so Isdrd--Duli. middle
west spot. st8N 1919. Sugar-Raw.
...rpaN Nrfrt gomea--Rfn