The Western news. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1890-1977, 1910-11-29
WHITE ASKED TO HAVE HIS
OWN CHILD DESTROYED
Damaging Development in Murder
Trial Came Yesterday in Testimony
of DR.. Casserly.

own. Under cross-examination she
retained her composure and clung
rigidly to her original story. Clad in
house dress and wearing a kitchen
apron. she made motherly appear
ance, and her qualifications to offer
expert testimony as to babies was not
called into question.
A Fully Developed Babe.
Mrs. McCrossin, a daughter of Mrs.
Likens, corroborated her mother
testimony. She said that Mr.. and Mrs.
White were accustomed to ride horse
back shortly before the birth of the
child, and at such times rode at a
rapid trot. Evidence to the same eff
feet was given in a deposition by E.
M. Walker and by Stella Grant.
Mrs. J. A. Warren testified that no
| preparations had been made in the
White home for the reception of the
baby; that there were no clothes for
| it; that the child was strong and
healthy. J. A. Warren was the last
witness called Saturday. Adjourn
ment was taken by the court until yes
terday morning and the jury, in charge
of Bailiff R. H. Smithey, passed Sun
day in their quarters in the Ravalli
hotel
The States Star Witness.
Dr.. Casserly the states star witness,
was called upon the convening of
court yesterday morning and the TAX
| ing of his testimony consumed the
| entire forenoon. He was called to at
tend Mrs. White at the time of her
accouchement.
The physician said that in March or
April of the present year-he was not
sure of the date-White called at his
office and consulted him with refer
ence to performing an abortion on Mrs
White. DR.. Casserly told White that
he would not perform an abortion;
could not be avoided.
In July he was summoned to at
tend Mrs. White during her illness.
After the delivery of the child, the
doctor testified, White asked him,
Casserly, to destroy it. He indignant
ly told White he could not do such a
thing. 1t was at his suggestion, the
witness testified, that Mrs. Likens was
sent for to nurse Mrs. White and the
baby.
When the doctor left the White
home to return to Hamilton the child
was perfectly we'll. 1t was strong ma
ture, full-term baby, he said, had no
deformities whatever, and presented
every indication of living.
His Suspicious Aroused.
The following day, according to the
testimony, Walter White came to Ham
ilton and called at DR.. Casserly's Of
flee. The physician asked him how
everything was, and was surprised
when White told. him the baby had
died during the night Casserly i'm
mediately replied that its death must
| have been due to gross carelessness.
White paid Casserly for his services
and left, and the doctor went to the
law office of R. A. O'Hara, related the
circumstances to Mr.. O'Hara, told
him of his suspicious and asked him
what he, Casserly, should do. He
| felt, he said, that he owed a duty to
the county and state.
DR.. Casserly's evidence, the strong
est offered by the prosecution, was a
wholly new development in the case,
so far as the public was concerned
Other Witnesses.
! Stella Grant followed DR.. Casserly
on the stand. Her testimony was prac-
/ tically the same as that given at
the coroner's inquest, and which was
published in this paper at the time
Sheriff Ward took the stand and
told of the arrest of White and the
holding of the coroner's inquest At the
inquest he dug up the little box in
which the child was bruied, and he
described it's meagre clothing. Part
of the box, constructed of boards one
quarter of an inch thick, was exhibits
ed as evidence in the case.
Kenneth Romney verified an inter
in The Western News in July
1 A. H. Downing, Walter Whites
father-in-law, was the last witness
examined yesterday. His knowledge
of the case was limited to a visit
which he made in company with w. P