Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-27
Woman and Husband Involved in
Conspiracy to Secure Wealth.
PHYSICIAN HELPS DEFENSE
Says There Was No Indication that
Poison Caused Death.
HEARING ATTRACTS BIG cRI
Prisoner Evinces No Distress Oh
Opening Day aad Cftimes Smiles
jury Composed of Mar
ricd Men.

ST. LOUIS, May 2e.--Mrs. Dora E. DoXey'
accused Of poisoning William ]. Brder'
heard herself. described as an 'aVarlcious
ana cold-blooded murderess," with the ut
most composure today, when Assistant CIR
cult Attorney c. A. Newton made his open
ing statement in Judge Grimm's court bN-
cept for a slight indlspostion in the early
hours OF the session, due to sleepless
night. she ovinced much interest In the pro-
ceedings
when the states first witness, DR.. f.
Arthur Friedeberg, the physician who at
tended Erder during his last illness, proved
an excellent witness for the defense under
tn gruellng cross examination OF her at
torney she smiled.
The physician admitted that there was
nothing In Erder's condition before his
death to indicate he was being poisoned
Mrs. Doxey, deprived Of the company OF
her father and sister in the court room
because they are to be witnesses turned
her attention to the states evidence and
offered many suggestions for questions to
her attorney, Judge orrick c. Bishop.
A crowd which packed the court room and
the corridors adjoining kept deputy sherlffs
busy. Adjournment was taken at 6 o'clock
after two witnesses had been examined.
Husband Also Accused.
1he state and Rosslsopf expect TO show
that Mrs. Doxey Matched plot and
through the aid OF her husband. DR.. Loren
b. poxey, who Is awaiting trial, carried 1t
out He said the state would prove Mrs.
Doxey deserted her first husband for DR..
Doxeys
He said the state would introduce as
evidence Mrs. Doxey's signature to a GER
tificate when she married Erder.
RosslSopf detailed the eacodylate OF soda
which, 1t is alleged, Mrs. Doxey gave TO
Erder He said he expected to prove that
while the strong arsenical compound was
being administered Mrs. Doxey was most
affectIopetes / Il Asya5s d
Mrs. DoKey's 's dather and sister were ex-
cluded from the court room with other
witnesses. M
Miss Kate Erder, sister of the man al
legged to have been poisoned, today an
ncnncad her purpose of pushing one Of the
two other charges of perjury and bigamy
in the event Mrs. Doxey is acquitted In
the murder case.
Mrs. Doxey took more active interest
In the court proceedings this morning
after her day of rest yesterday during the
recess
Jurors Married Men.
Ino jury Wnlcn VIII near lne IeSllIuOnS
in the Doxey trial follows:
Frederick A. Gerdlng, electrician; VIII
liam ]. Murray merchant; John NJ. San
ford. freight agent; Charles ID. Todebuss
bookkeeper; Robert A. Tupper, machinst
George F, Bepleer. candy maker; Absom ]
Carr. stationary engineer; Louis F. Dusard
clerk, Albert F. Ecoff. insurance inspector
Guitav NJ. Haupt. carpenter; William J
Mansfield, tnillner; Cha1es II. Meyer
carpenter.
All OF the jurors are married.
Assistant Circuit Attorney Henry
Roeskepf begen the opening statement 70
the state
Plan Of Defense.
Medical experts are ready to testify t.
tho mental and moral effect OF morphine a
the part OF Mrs. Doxeys defense according
TO former Lieutenant Governor Charles p
q 1ohnson, wlio was retained by Mrs. Doxey'
family. Mrs. Doxey will take the wltnes
stand, II the present plan of the defense /
carried out, and will declare that she mar
ried Erder. not with the intention OF mur
dering him for his life insurance, but be
cause he urged her to marry him. KNOWN
she was DR. Doxey's wife, in order tina
no might live openly with her and nc
offend his mother and sisters.
Use of Morphine.
She will say, II sho takes the stand, tha
sho did not know he had any life insul
ance. but 1t was due to the use of morphin
that SHE consented to a bigamous marriag
rHow shall speak Of herr asked d
Friedeberg, nodding TO Mrs. Doxey. e,
Mrs. Erder or Mrs, Doxey?''
Better inst speak of her as the defen'
ant" said Assistant Circuit Attorney
A. Newton, who did the questioning.
DR.. Friedeberg said that prior to Erder
last illness his health was fair,
He was on the stand three hours and WI
followed by william ]. Roberts, the unde
taker who buried Erder, and DIR. j.
Hartmann OF the city dispensary. The la
Ter vas not examined, court Rdjourning Z
the day after he was sworn.
The defense brought out in the eros
examination that Erder's symptoms did n
seem to DIR. Frledeberg 10 resemble I