Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-03
Also Declares that She and Alleged
Victim Were Not Married.
MORPHINE CAUSED HER ACTIONS
llames Her Husband for Drug Habit
that Proved Master Over Her.
WEEPs WHILE GIVING TESTIMONY
Not CrOss-Examined by Lawyers,
who Say that Evidence Dis
credits ItscIf-Mrs. Grace
Latham Questioned.


ST LOUIS June o - Mre Dora f
Doxey told in Judge Grlmm's court today
the story Of her tragic acquaintance with
William j. Erder, for whose death she Is
on trial.
She denied that she and Erder were
married but said they agreed to pretend
they were in order that they might openly
live together That was after DR.. Doxev
had cast her off, she said.
Intense stiffness reigned in the packed
and sitting room while Mrs Doxey ner
vous, detected and pale, told her story
Once or twice she burst into tears the
tirst time when her aged father stood up
30 he Identified by her. She threw all the
blame for her slavery to morphine on Dr.
l.. y, Doxey. Jointly indicted with her for
Erders death She denied that she had
administered any arsenic tc Erder
Mrs, Doxey said Or Doxey knew Of her
relations with Erder and that ErGer read
Ier letters to and from the doctor When
she concluded her testimony Assistant
Circuit Attorney Newton. to the surprise
Of all present, announced that he would
not cross-exannine her.
Omaha Woman TestifIes. y
Mrs. Morris and Mrs. Grace Latham
of omaha, another sister testified to hay.
ng seen DR.. Doxey give his wife NOR.
lhinc. Jefferson Fuller, the accused wo-
mans father, told of his efforts to break
her of the morphine habit
With the testimony of three rebuttal
witnesses who testified to having known
Mrs. Doxey In 1906 as Dora Dodge. the
presentation of testimony ended and court
adjourned
Tha ilIAu i,nuf Ions ktstn hn nerttsa 80
lhe jury tomorrow morning. Each side will
have two hours for arguments and the case
Will so to the jury tomorrow afternoon.
Mrs. Doxey began her story by telling of
Aer marriage to Dr. Doxey August %. 1906.
Prior to this she had been in st. Louis.
Ter relations with HIM she said. were
,ften unpleasant she testified she became
addicted to morphine in March 1907, when
ar. Doxey supplied it to her.
sometimes ! would take fifteen or six
leen grains in single day" she testified.
II never took less than half a grain at a
slime on some days DR. Doxey gave 1t to
Ne every hour. ] remonstrated with him
and begged him not to do Il, but he in
sisted that he knew best what ought to
have. He pretended at times to be giving
me other medicines, but it was really NOR
mime / tried to break the habit, but he
wouldn't lot me-
"AIy father saw how the drug affected
me" said Mrs. DoXey, "and 1 promised
him l would quit taking it. He knew all
my trouble was due to 1t, but somehow
= could not quit, When | was without it |
was wild / was nervous that l could
not bear it
Letters to Erder.
Mrs. Doxey said she continued to coTe-
spond with Erder after her marriage to
DoXey She became acquainted with Erder
on a visi. here.
Mr. Erder knew of my suffering and o
my life with Dr. Doxey she testified
"He wrote for me to come here and h,
would take care of me. | was thinking
of final separation from the doctor
when Mr.. Erder kept urging me and
finally consented
"A came here in April, 1909. Erder me
me at the station and took me to hi
4 Nome where l remained almost a week
\ when / returned to Des Moines Dr
Doxey had gone TO Columbus Neb., an,
] followed him.
Mrs. Doxey related how Dr. Doxey il
his flight from creditors informed her sh
must lake care OF herself and expect n
assistance from him. and how she in des
peratlon consented to accept Erders pro
DOSal 10 i've Will lllil dS MS Wilts
She said she was introduced into tn
Erder family at first as Mrs, Dodge a
Erders suggestion, He did not want hi
mother to know Mrs, Doxey was mar
rled woman. She denied she marie
Erder, but she said she consented to hav
Erder tell that they were married becaus
of Erders family,
Attorney johnson then exhibited 10 tn
witness copy of the marriage licens
affidavit made at Clayton. Mo- an
signed by Erder and Mrs, Doxey
Did you ever see that paper before
he asked
mot that | have any recollection o
until the other day when / saw il
court"
She said she first learned of Erdei's III
insurance after they went TO Housekeeping
Erder, she said, told her he was going
have his policies changed 10 her as he wa
not wen.
Erder Mrs. Doxey said, knew DR.. DoX,
was writing to her and that Erder male
most of her replies to the doctors letter
Ate Part OF PIE Herself.
Mrs Doxey, in relating the events OF Il
Sws days before Erder became in. said 81
herself ate "A part OF the blackberry p
Nhch figured In the case. She denied n
pie made Erder Ill.,
She said she did not give aim any med
= cline other than thar prescribed by Il
physician, She denied giving Erder arsen
in any form The money she said she wrC
10 Des Moines about was TO come from Il
estate OF Df DoXey's father.
Mrs. Doxey was followed on the stand /
her sister. Mrs. ID. NJ Morris OF Evansto
an, who has been her companion during Il
trial.
Her statements We're TOO incredible
s,ood" said Assistant states Attorn
Newton, when he was asked why he did n
eross-eXamine Mrs. DoNey.
uunarea Stx In Oklnhouaa